I think you're right, Ursula. That's even worse than snails, Margaret!
I cut all the leaves and small branches off. We've had such a warm winter, so far. I guess anything could thrive undetected in that hoop. I'll get some Neem oil today and spray around the inside of the pot and what's left of the plant. I Googled brown scale, and yep, the back of the leaves have little pale brown gobs of stuff.
As much as I love this plant, I don't want to risk losing anything else in the hoop house. I may have to think about digging it up and sending it to the dump...in a bag.
Cheryl, you could leave them until you have an impending freeze. At that time, cut off the branches to save and put them in water. We had an early freeze (that didn't freeze anything up here). I cut back most of the brugs and tagged them. It's good insurance for next spring...which is late February here.
