Is this scale?

[tms]

Newbie here. Is this scale on some of my indoor plants?

 

[tms]

Photos

 

[Marck]

If you run a fingernail over these flecks do they come off the plants? They way they lift up from the edges is atypical for scale, but there are many types. In the first two pictures they almost look like normal plant parts called lenticels, though I'm not sure that is what they are. either. I'm also not certain if what I'm seeing on all the different plants is the same thing. I wish I could look even closer with a hand lens.

 

[tms]

If you run a fingernail over these flecks do they come off the plants? They way they lift up from the edges is atypical for scale, but there are many types. In the first two pictures they almost look like normal plant parts called lenticels, though I'm not sure that is what they are. either. I'm also not certain if what I'm seeing on all the different plants is the same thing. I wish I could look even closer with a hand lens.

Depends how firm we're talking. I was fairly firm. The lucky bamboo didn't seem to budge

 

[tms]

If you run a fingernail over these flecks do they come off the plants? They way they lift up from the edges is atypical for scale, but there are many types. In the first two pictures they almost look like normal plant parts called lenticels, though I'm not sure that is what they are. either. I'm also not certain if what I'm seeing on all the different plants is the same thing. I wish I could look even closer with a hand lelens.

The China doll I feel some moved some didn't. The ones that did seems to take a bit if green with them

 

[tms]

If you run a fingernail over these flecks do they come off the plants? They way they lift up from the edges is atypical for scale, but there are many types. In the first two pictures they almost look like normal plant parts called lenticels, though I'm not sure that is what they are. either. I'm also not certain if what I'm seeing on all the different plants is the same thing. I wish I could look even closer with a hand lens.

And the one I feel most likely to be scale, my lucky bean, came off the easiest

 

[Marck]

These spots are like lesions in which the plant epidermis splits open. Some types of rust fungi do this, but most of them are host specific. This seems to be a generalist.

I agree, some of the spots on the Lucky Bean (Castanospermum australe) do look more like scale.

 

[tms]

These spots are like lesions in which the plant epidermis splits open. Some types of rust fungi do this, but most of them are host specific. This seems to be a generalist.

I agree, some of the spots on the Lucky Bean (Castanospermum australe) do look more like scale.

Thanks for responding. So I should only be concerned about isolating the lucky bean and leaving the others where they are?

 

[Marck]

Continue to investigate the cause of those different spots. You can isolate the Lucky Bean, but more importantly experiment by applying a non-toxic treatment of horticultural oil or soap on all of the plants. If feasible, it is also a good idea to go in and manually remove any scale thay you see with your fingers, a toothpick, an old toothbrush or whatever works. Those lesions that are coming out of the plant's epidermis are different. You seem to have damaged the plant by removing them. I know it is ddifficult to tell the difference, but go in very close with a hand lens and look at the different structures. Consult a local garden center about the lesions. This may be a pest or disease more common in Australia. If you d get a good answer, please do share it with me and the Forum.