Mary -
Adeniums do seem bug prone don't they? I am using Bayer's Tree and Shrub Insect Control. One teaspoon per gal of water in a soil drench. The stuff is expensive (WM has it for about $18) but if you consider that you only use it *once per year*, it really isn't so expensive. It is a systemic and should cure all your plant-sucker problems. If I had a reliable organic solutions, I'd certainly share it; but like you, there comes a time when dead bugs are all that count. Good Luck. HTH - Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: BTS

I use Bayer on mine as well (my dose is 1 TBS/gallon for my succulents and my bonsai) with great results. The only exception are mites - in fact, I have been told that using Bayer somehow may make them more susceptible to mites, but I may be misinformed on that point.

Tom

Mary, when you used rubbing alcohol (for scale) did you spray or wipe off individually?
Many ppl spray, but I never saw the point. Before spraying, and I know it's a lot of work, I'd wipe off each scale/mealy..
I know you're not looking for an oil-based product, but I've had the best luck using Fish Emulsion..Plus it's organic.
A few yrs back I ordered an Olive tree from an online nursery..it came late in the yr, too late to take outside in my zone, so I placed it among other plants. A wk or so later, what do I see..a zillion scale..The first thing I did was take to sink and hose..though some scale fell, most hung on for dear life.
I tried rubbing alcohol but it didn't work..then I remembered something I was told by a woman who owns a citrus nursery in Fl..they use Fish Emulsion on all their citrus..1 capful to a 16oz mister of water..Mary, I swear, those darn scale died..and this plant was infested. I applied FE 3 times, but in the end it worked out. To this day, 3 yrs later, I haven't found a bug..BTW, in fall, when it's time to bring plants indoors, I use FE for all my plants as a preventative..
Though FE is basically used as a fertilizer, it works as a natural insecticide, too..If you have any FE lying around, why not give it a try? It can't hurt..Good luck, Toni

Hi Jo & Tom, thanks for the Bayer recommendation. Luckily, I don't think the plant's been hit by mites, but it's not like I can see them with my naked eyes anyway. :P I'm guessing since it's for tree and shrub they probably come in large concentrated container sizes, but whatever it takes to get 'em off. It seems like potted plants tend to get infested more easily, I don't think I've ever had pest problems with plants in the ground. My gaura's dripping in aphids, but it looks like the syrphid flies are taking care of them Go natural predation!

Toni: I sat there for a good hour wiping and picking off the scale with diluted alcohol-dipped cotton swabs and cottonballs. By holding the plant under a light (luckily it's not a huge plant yet), I could easily see the harder to spot clear-bodied scale. Unfortunately, using that method is hard to get at the younger and hidden scale in the growing tips of the plants, so I was unable to get rid of all of them. I should've wiped, then sprayed. Hmm, I'll consider looking into the fish emulsion. I should probably get some for my roses anyway. :) I'll definitely try it on my poor gardenia.

Thanks everyone!

OOPS! Tom is right -- 1 tablespoon (NOT teaspoon) per gal.

Oh why oh why did I go cheap. :P Unfortunately there's no WalMart near me, and the local garden center/hardware store's Bayer Tree & Shrub bottle was $35, which I can't quite afford at the moment. I was in a bit of a hurry too, and didn't see any fish emulsion on the shelves. I went with some Safer's spray, but didn't read all of the fine print, particularly the part that noted to be careful when spraying new foliage. Two of my Adeniums have burnt patches on their leaves now. Bah. I'm not even sure how much good the spray did either.

Mary,
I had a heavy infestation on my pponytail palms so I know what you are going through. I used Neem Oil to finally kill the little pest. I had to spray several times a week at first and scrape away all the dead scale until i was sure that I had killed all of them. Once the little suckers grab hold they are almost inpossible to get rid of. If you keep on top of it and you don't lose the plant in the mean time. Be sure to isolate the infected plant or plants otherwise it can quickly spread to other plants. I would try the Neem Oil it is 100 % natural and can be easily obtained on line, Google it and you should be able to find it at a reasonable price. I hope this helps.

Rebecca