Sticky Floor Under Houseplant = Scale Insect Honeydew

Tacky, cupped wood floor under a 1–2 ft plant with 6″ green/white leaves = scale insect infestation. Honeydew (sticky excretion) drips from leaves → floor damage.

Scale Identification

• Crawlers: Tiny, translucent, mobile ovals on stems/leaf undersides.
• Adults: Brown, immobile, hemispherical bumps (like tiny moles).
• Honeydew: Clear sticky film → sooty mold (black).

Treatment (Repeat 3–4× at 7-Day Intervals)

1. Spray to drip point all surfaces with one:
• Rubbing alcohol: 1:5 with water + dish soap.
• Horticultural oil (SunSpray Ultra-Fine).
• Neem oil (dilute + Pine-Sol for odor).
• Hot Pepper Wax.
• Brand X Foliage Cleaner (silicon-based; southwestplantscape.com).
2. Repeat in 5–7 days for crawlers.
3. Weekly monitoring thereafter.

Rules

• No spray in direct sun or >75°F.
• Test patch first.
• Isolate plant.
• Check all nearby plants.

Email photo for plant ID. Scale is persistent but eradicable with thoroughness.