A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Sticky substance

I am finding a sticky substance on my spider plants and indoor lime tree. What is it? [LIST]

I'm not sure about the spider plant..is it near your lime tree???? I know that lemon trees put off this very sticky substance at certain times and I would assume that the lime tree would also.

I know nothing about citrus trees, but aphids and scale are 2 common plant pests that secrete a sticky substance...and spider plants are susceptible to both of these pests. My mom had a sticky spider plant, I looked at it and found scale. Do a web-search for pictures of aphids and scale and then examine your plants for them.

The lime tree is next to the spider plants but there is definately some sort of entity hosting on the plants. Can I just clean them off with soap and water or do I have to use something stronger?

If it's scale, you'll have to pick them off with your fingers, and then use the soap and water (a few drops of dish soap in water, pref.)to eliminate the more immature scale that are not yet covered by the tough shell...have you seen pictures of scale? They cover themselves with a roundish, tan-to-black hard shell (that protects them from anything you put on) and then remain stationary on the plant, sucking it's life juices. This shell is what you scrape off with your nails, then you can treat the plant. Whether it's scale or aphids, I would recommend adding some rubbing alcohol (1 part, to 3 parts water) to the mixture to make it stronger. Diluted alcohol won't hurt most plants, and definitely not a spider, though I'm not positive about the lime. You'll want to repeat the application, maybe twice a week for a month.