Sticky substance on my Jasmine Tree.?

I have a small indoor jasmine type tree (not sure of the variety) which has a sticky substance oozing from it - it covers the leaves in the bottom of the pot and is now on my carpet. I'm wondering if it is some type of mite.





Research has revealed that I can spray it with water, an alcohol mixture or soap to try and control the infestation, but I'm not sure which is the best course of action.





This tree also seems rather limp, leaves are yellowing and fall off rather easily - it has not bloomed since we brought it home last fall.





Currently it is in paritial sun (morning sun, afternoon shadier) and receives watering when the 1.5 cms feels dry.





Does anyone out there have any suggestions?

Sticky substance on my Jasmine Tree.?
What you have on your Jasimie are scale which is a sucking insect. The sticky is the honeydue that they secrete and they suck the nutrients form your plant. Once scale get that established, it is very difficult to get rid of. If you are very diligent and are willing to spend a lot of time to devote to the problem, I can tell you how to rid the plant of the infestation. It is very time consuming and unless you are dedecated, you will not get rid of the scale exce[pt by burning the plant(the only true organic method!) I have managed tropical greenhouses for over 36 years.


You need to spray the plant once every 7 days with an insecticide that works on scale. If your plant is an indoor houseplant, Horticultural oil is excellent because it coats the insects and blocks the breathing holes. They can not build up an immunity to it. that is day one. Days two through six, you need to check the plant and scrape off the scale and squish it with your fingernail to make sure it is dead. If it falls live into the soil, it will just crawl back up.


Spray day 7 again.


You need to continue this proceedure until you do not see any insects for two consecutive weeks, spraying day seven again.


Just to let you know, Jasmine are very suseptible to scale. The alchol will do nothing to the scale. Alchol will only kill mealy bug, and no other insect..


If you have a Jasmine that is planted outside in your tropical environment, Orthene Isotox workd very wll on scale. But it is not for inside use. Use it once every 7 days until you do not see any more bugs.


Keep a close watch on all you plants inside and out, and with a weekly check you may never have to use an insecticide again.





Jasming need very bright light all day. Keep the soil moist at all time and mist the leaves daily to keep them hydrated. The yellowing and falling may be because of the drying if the soil and the insects as well as lack of bright light.


If you are interested in learnilng all about growing houseplants and giving them what they need and knowing what they need, you can visit www.nature-in-design.com. Good luck