Scale insects

We have three orchids in pots, in the house. One of them is a new gift and the other two have been around for a couple of years. They regularly get scale insects attacking them. We pick them off with tweezers but they do cause damage, particularly if we have been away for a week or so. Can anyone suggest where they live when out of sight? Is it in the compost, or have the ones that we kill, already laid eggs that continue the problem? Books suggest that they are difficult to eradicate, but there must be a way. Wiping them off with soapy water, only gets rid of the ones that can be seen. I used to have them on two potted Maples, in the garden, and regularly cleaned them off but since we moved to a new home, haven't had them on those, but maybe they have emigrated to the Orchids:D

Thanks
stony

BTW, I'm fairly new to this forum, and I think that it's a really good one:thumb:

 

Spray with provado ultimate bug killer, its systemic and suitable for house plants.

 

Yeah, IMHO I'd go with PG on this one. It even gets rid of scale on Camellias. About the only thing that's effective since they banned Malathion.

 

Thanks, I will try that. Do either of you know the answer to my other questions?
stony

 

What other questions:confused: It doesn't matter where they go. Follow PG's intructions and they won't appear again

 

Stony using the Provado will answer all your questions the scale insects hold their eggs under their carapaces they don't lay them in the soil ,the larae when they hatch that are most mobile and will move from plant to plant the provado being systemic will stay in the plant and remain active to kill any larvae that will settle even at root level,re apply it after a few weeks just to make sure.