Why are the leaves of the ficus benjamina plant sticky? What to do and how to deal with pests?

Ficus rubber - main diseases and their treatment

What to do if your rubber ficus is sick? Diseases of rubber ficus appear due to improper care of the plant. That is why the first recommendation of specialists on the way to overcoming plant diseases is balanced care, timely watering, proper fertilizing and replanting. There are diseases of ficus rubber that are caused by various parasites. These are spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs and many others. In this case, the main thing is to notice the disease in a timely manner and diagnose it correctly. Only specialists can understand the nature of the plant disease and recommend the correct treatment. So, diseases of rubber ficus with photos. Consultation with specialists and proper treatment of the plant.

How did she get on the ficus?

Scale insects appear on Ficus Benjamin in different ways. Among them:

• purchasing an already infected plant, because at the initial stage it is not easy to detect a pest without a thorough examination, and in flower shops an epidemic of scale insects is not uncommon;
• together with a bouquet of flowers brought into the house - purchased or collected independently;
• Rarely does a scale insect enter a room through an open window if it is brought in by the wind;
• a ficus moved to a balcony in the warm season can become infected with pests if there are pests on neighboring balconies;
• if the house already has plants on which scale insects live.

Therefore, it is very difficult to protect plants from infection.

Reproduction of Ficus Benjamin

My gorgeous ficus became the envy of my friends - flora lovers, and then I had to think about ways to propagate ficus Benjamin. The easiest way is to cut off the apical cutting with leaves and root it in water, and then plant it in the ground. But you can root the cuttings immediately in moist soil - thanks to its aerial roots, the ficus takes root very easily.

The method of propagation by air layering is also common among experienced gardeners: a circular cut is made on the ficus stem, which is tied with damp moss; the moss and part of the stem are hermetically sealed on top with a film or a transparent plastic bag so that the moss does not dry out, and after two months, when the bag with moss is full roots, the stem is cut below the layering and planted in the ground. There is one caveat: Benjamin's ficus needs to be propagated in the summer, since in other seasons it is busy either growing or resting. And, by the way, try to move the ficus as little as possible - most of all it loves peace.

Video on the topic: Diseases and pests of ficus

The presented video talks about how to save ficus from various diseases.

Ficus is a picky plant. Does not require special knowledge or care skills. But if you don’t pay attention to it at all, and don’t follow the basic rules of maintenance, the flower will begin to fade. Some ficus diseases can cause not only deterioration in appearance, but also its death.

Ficus benjamina transplant

A plant brought from a store is usually transplanted from a shipping container into a permanent pot only after two to three weeks, giving the plant time to adapt to its new home. But sometimes the ficus still begins to lose leaves. Professionals say that this is how the tree reacts to changing conditions. If you don’t know how to transplant Ficus Benjamin, follow these rules:

• You can replant a flower from a transport pot 2-3 weeks after purchase;
• for replanting, use universal soil or a special soil mixture for ficus;
• after transplantation, the plant is not fed for two weeks, although in general ficus Benjamin needs frequent feeding;
• It is recommended to replant an adult plant once every two to three years, and this is best done in the spring, using a loose substrate for ficuses and not forgetting to place a drainage layer in the pot;
• old ficus can be rejuvenated by removing dried branches.

Despite following these rules, the ficus may still lose leaves for several weeks when transplanted - but there’s nothing you can do about it, you’ll have to wait for the plant to take root.

Emergency aid and control methods

If you find harmful insects on the plant, do the following:

1. Isolate the flower from other plants to prevent infection.
2. Prepare a soap solution and use a soft cloth to remove insects and sticky residue from the leaves and stems.
3. Rinse the foliage in the shower, cover the soil in the pot with film so that washed-off pests do not get into it.

You can fight insects using folk remedies intended for spraying:

1. Pour 100 g of citrus peel into 1 liter of warm water and place in a dark place for 4 days.
2. 1 head of chopped garlic per 1 liter of water, leave for a week. Add 50 ml of infusion to 10 liters of water.
3. 1 chopped onion per 100 ml of water, leave in a closed jar for 8 days. For 10 liters of water, 20 ml of infusion is enough.
4. Pour 150 g of onion peel into 10 liters of boiling water, after a day the infusion is ready.
5. Grate 100 g of laundry or green soap and dissolve in 5 liters of hot water.
6. 50 g of tobacco dust, 5 liters of water and a little soap solution.

If folk remedies turn out to be ineffective, it is necessary to use insecticides. You will notice the result immediately; a minimum number of repeated treatments will be required.

1. "Aktara" is a systemic insecticide used to protect indoor plants from aphids, scale insects, scale insects, and thrips. It has a worse effect on whiteflies and ticks.
2. “Fitoverm actellik” is one of the most powerful common drugs.
3. "Arrivo" is an insecticide of contact-intestinal action, has high initial toxicity, and has a long period of protective action (up to 2 weeks).
4. “Iskra” - several options made on the basis of different toxic substances. The most modern drug Iskra Bio (Akarin) is an environmentally friendly product that is harmless to people and animals.
5. "Inta-vir" is an effective means for destroying adult individuals, but is not capable of destroying larvae and eggs.
6. Etisso Blattlaus-Sticks are sticks that are placed in the ground. After watering, the active substance is released and distributed through the root system to all tissues of the plant.
7. “Commander” is effective both when applied to the soil and when sprayed.

When processing with chemicals, follow the instructions and safety rules:

• use protective equipment - gloves, a respirator;
• process outdoors, on a balcony or in a well-ventilated area;
• Keep chemicals out of the reach of children and animals.

Read the instructions carefully, adhere to the recommended dosages and processing times.

To avoid pests, inspect the plants, paying special attention to the back surface of the leaves, because this is a favorite place for insects. Follow the rules of care, do not disturb the watering schedule, feed indoor flowers in a timely manner. These simple measures will protect plants from pest invasion.

Diseases of indoor plants with sticky leaves immediately reveal their cause and pathogen.

A sticky leaf on any plant means that organic secretions with a large amount of carbohydrates are deposited on its surface.

In a healthy plant, this is only possible if something that sticks to the outer integument of the leaf gets onto the leaf blade from the outside. This happens rarely. And if all the leaves of a plant suddenly become covered with something sticky, these are signs of pathology, which develops so quickly that soon not only several leaves and the entire plant, but also the immediate area around it are covered with a sticky mass. This indicates the presence of a constant process of violating the integrity of the leaf blade.

This phenomenon has causes and consequences. The reasons are simple - microorganisms grow on the plant that damage the leaves. As a result, juice constantly flows from the leaf wound.

Having reached a certain number, the pest forms a sticky coating on the leaves. Because he drinks juice, his discharge is not only runny but also sticky. As a result, the leaf is covered with a continuous layer of a mixture of its own juice with secretions of the organisms that eat it.

Such a process may have the following consequences.

1. 1. The plant loses water and nutrients.
2. 2. Fungi, bacteria, and viruses can settle on permanent damage, which can cause a new disease.
3. 3. The sticky cover clogs the stomata, making it difficult to breathe and evaporate water.
4. 4. Since the plant is not provided with sufficient amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the formation of organic matter during photosynthesis becomes unproductive. This leads to leaf loss and gradual wilting of the entire plant.
5. 5. The stomata, closed with an adhesive substance, stop evaporating water. As a result, the movement of water from root hairs to leaves slows down. For this reason, the supply of minerals to the plant’s ground organs also slows down. This is the cause of mineral deficiency. The intensity of bio and photosynthesis decreases. As a result, the plant stops blooming and bearing fruit, gradually dying.

Signs of scale insect infestation

You need to start taking measures to save the ficus if:

1. A sticky coating resembling syrup appeared on the leaves. This substance is called honeydew or honeydew. The scale insect, being voracious, often draws more juice from plants than it can absorb and releases its excess outside. Such an environment is fertile for the appearance of sooty fungus, which also causes damage.
2. Upon careful examination of the ficus (preferably under magnification), you can see the larvae and females of the scale insects, which have a dirty gray or brown color.
3. Damaged areas of leaves begin to be overgrown with new tissue, so bumps appear on its surface. Ultimately, the sheet plate takes on a deformed appearance.
4. Ficus leaves turn red and gradually die.
5. When the infection is advanced, individual shoots begin to die, and the growth of the entire plant stops.

If the pest’s “work experience” exceeds more than 2 years, then its parasitic activity leads to massive death of leaves and drying out of branches. The bark on the trunk and shoots begins to crack.

Fungal infections

Gray rot or Botrytis: appears in flowers kept in a warm room with high humidity.

The ficus is covered in places with a gray coating. When shaken, dust rises up. The leaves begin to darken and then die.

To eliminate the disease, remove all affected areas of the flower and allow the soil to dry. Next, regulate watering and ensure frequent ventilation.

Sooty fungus: appears on the surface as a black coating. The precursor to the disease is the secretions of insect pests.

For small affected areas, treat them with soapy water, passing a sponge over each one separately. Severely affected units are removed and destroyed, and the stems and roots are sprayed with fungicide.

Pythium, late blight, rhizoctonia: fungi provoke rotting of roots and stems. The plant stops growing and gradually dies. It will not be possible to save it; it must be eliminated before other flowers become infected.

For prevention, moderate watering is needed, once a month with a weak solution of manganese.

Powdery mildew: appears as white powdery spots. Its appearance is provoked by high humidity and heat. For treatment, spray with a solution of copper sulfate and soda ash: dilute 10 g of soda, 2 g of laundry soap in a liter of water, stir 2 g of sulfate separately, pour the mixture into the main composition. Bring the volume to 2 liters and spray with it.

Rust (anthracosis): expressed by spreading yellow-brown spots, the edges of the leaves look burned, sometimes pitted with ulcers. To get rid of it, the plant is cleaned of affected areas and treated with a fungicide.

Advice! To make an accurate diagnosis, it is better to compare the identified signs of ficus disease with photographs, and then their treatment will be more productive, and other flowers will be protected from infection.

• Spider mite. The presence is indicated by spots of a gray or brown tint, and in places a thin cobweb may be visible. The environment for development is dry and warm, this promotes rapid reproduction. Leaves damaged by it dry out and fall off. To avoid damage to the ficus, optimal humidity should be maintained in the room, the plant should be sprayed with water, and occasionally wiped with a solution of laundry soap. If affected, treat with an insecticide.
• Aphid. The appearance of a sticky coating, yellowing and deformation of leaves is the result of aphid parasitism. Insect secretions become a breeding ground for fungal infections, which will lead to the destruction of the flower. Treatment with soapy water and insecticides will help.

• Thrips. Small black bugs. They settle on the back side of leaves and drink plant sap. Infestation appears as brown, white and yellow spots. To get rid of the pest, they are treated with the following drugs: Actillic, Tanrek, Aktara.

• Mealybug. Appears as white lumps. It can be found both on the plant itself and on the soil around it, quickly moving to nearby flowers. For treatment, insects are removed from the ficus and treated with tobacco or soap solution once a week. In advanced cases, Confidor is used, treatment is carried out twice every 10 days.
• Nematodes. Small bead-like growths on the roots. They release toxins that cause the ficus to become faded and die if not treated in a timely manner. This requires replanting into new soil, with preliminary soaking of the roots in an insecticide solution for 3 hours.

We analyze the reasons for the fall of ficus leaves

Let's start with the simplest answer to this question. The yellowness of the leaves is a consequence of the natural process of dying. The lifespan of each leaf can be about three years, and then it disappears. You may not pay attention to such episodes in your pet’s life.

But, if leaf fall has begun, this trouble requires analysis. Experienced gardeners know that massive loss of foliage is always associated with a stressful situation, and stress can be caused by various reasons.

A common reason for the appearance of yellow leaves is the movement of the ficus to other living conditions.

Let's say you bought a ficus in a store and brought it home. This is enough for a vulnerable plant to react by yellowing and dropping leaves. In this case, it is necessary to immediately create comfortable conditions for the plant. Provide the required temperature, humidity, lighting, and protect from drafts.

The remaining common causes of yellowing and dropping leaves are mainly associated with improper care of the ficus. Let's list them:

• Excessive watering . Watering the ficus should occur at certain intervals, focusing on the condition of the top layer of soil. If it is dry enough, you can “water” the ficus, but if the soil remains wet the next day after watering, remove excess moisture. In a situation of excess moisture, not only can the foliage turn yellow and fall off, but the roots of the ficus may also begin to rot, which will force you to take even more efforts to save your pet.
• Insufficient watering, dry soil and air in the apartment. This situation is especially typical in winter, when hot air can come from heating devices. Place the pot with the plant away from hot air currents.
• Insufficient lighting. Ficus of this variety is a big lover of light. And when purchasing a flower, you should worry in advance about its additional lighting in the autumn-winter season, so as not to provoke the loss of foliage. Also, under the scorching rays of the sun, Benjamin's ficus cannot withstand it for long and sheds its leaves.
• Presence of drafts in your home. When you ventilate the room, try to take the ficus pot out of the room or place it in a place where drafts do not penetrate. It is better to place the ficus away from balcony doors.
• Low indoor temperatures . If the temperature drops below 12 degrees, the Benjamin ficus begins to freeze. You should move the plant to a warmer place as quickly as possible, or you can use a heater.
• Insufficient humidity . The situation can arise both in the summer, when the hot rays of the sun penetrate, and in the winter, when heating devices are operating. Ficus needs constant spraying.
• Insufficient feeding . It is necessary to feed the ficus every month and also maintain the balance of minerals by using fertilizers.

This is a basic list of possible causes of ficus leaves falling. But in Benjamin’s life, sometimes unexpected situations arise that require the experience, knowledge and additional thoughts of flower growers.

Air temperature

Why do dracaena leaves turn yellow and fall off?

Ficus benjamina is very thermophilic. The optimal temperature for its maintenance is +25 °C and above. But it can withstand much lower temperatures for a long time. It is not dangerous for him to lower the temperature to +15 °C and even to +10 °C.

It is not recommended to reduce the air temperature below +10 °C. The leaves of the plant may be damaged by cold. They may partially turn yellow and fall off the very next day after the temperature drops. It is necessary to carefully monitor the temperature regime when maintaining this species.

The tree does not like even a small but sudden cold snap. A rapid decrease in temperature to +10..+15 °C can cause the same effect as a slow decrease below the limit values ​​for this type. A sharp drop in air temperature should not be allowed, as this may cause the leaves to turn yellow. Then their massive decline will begin.

Methods for treating fungal diseases

Fungal diseases can be treated in several ways.

They are:

1. Spraying with fungicides. If simple methods (changing temperature, air humidity, etc.) do not help, then move on to fungicides. Spraying a flower with a solution makes it possible to get rid of almost all fungal infections.
2. Trimming. Pruning is often carried out when fungicides can be dispensed with or they have not had the desired effect. This method is especially relevant for root rot, when some roots can still be saved. In this case, the ficus is taken out of the pot and the root system is carefully examined. Rotten roots are cut off and thrown away, and after that the plant is transplanted into new soil and a new flowerpot.
3. Folk remedies. This technique is good when the disease has just made itself felt. In this case, the flower can be treated with soapy water, garlic or alcohol.

Infectious diseases of ficus

The problems with the flower do not end with pests. Ficus benjamina can easily become infected with infectious diseases. Their treatment is carried out using special solutions. During this period, the plant needs special care and more attention. Such ailments most often appear due to parasite secretions or dew.

In order to get rid of this kind of disease, it is necessary to prepare a fungicide solution. Before treating the ficus, it is necessary to remove the affected leaves from the plant. If after the first spraying the disease does not go away, you need to repeat the treatment again.

Fungal diseases include mold and rot. If timely treatment is not carried out, you can lose the flower, because these ailments affect not only the stem and leaves of the plant, but also the root.

Fungicide for the treatment of rubber

The fungicide solution helps control pests well. Today there are several biological poisons that help effectively fight ficus diseases:

1. Copper-containing (iron sulfate, manganese, potassium). Effective against anthracnose, powdery mildew and a number of pests.
2. Organic , based on a number of chemical compounds. Used against fungi. The effectiveness depends on the specific plant and the severity of its damage.
3. Biological - fights diseases, rot and insects well.

In specialized stores you can always find the necessary drug to save the plant.

Thus, spots on ficus leaves are an alarm bell. This means that the plant has been attacked by pests, bacteria or fungi . It is urgent to understand what the reason is and begin to act. Untimely control methods can cause the death of the tree.

Ficus is a picky plant. Does not require special knowledge or care skills. But if you don’t pay attention to it at all, and don’t follow the basic rules of maintenance, the flower will begin to fade. Some ficus diseases can cause not only deterioration in appearance, but also its death.

Chemical treatments

Spraying with potent drugs is especially important during the period of the emergence of new generations of scale insects. Immediately after birth they are most vulnerable, so there is a high chance of death after the first treatment. At the same time, adult individuals can remain undamaged thanks to a special shell on their back, so a set of measures will have to be carried out to obtain a lasting positive result.

Important!

The principle of operation of the drugs is not only in contact with insects, but also in absorption by leaves and flowers. Entering the sap of the plant, they kill pests in the process of their vital activity, so their death is inevitable, it simply depends on the prevalence of the population and its generation.

Preparations with a high oil content have proven themselves in practice. They kill mealybugs, but can be dangerous to healthy parts of indoor plants, so experts recommend treating only those parts where the insects are clearly active (see photo).

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Harmful insects

Some plants are better equipped to handle pests, while others need a little extra help. Before purchasing a ficus tree, it is important to research what problems are common with these beautiful trees.

• Mealybug. They are small white furry sucking insects that gather in large clusters. They may appear after watering as they crawl to the surface of the soil. They can be seen in areas of the plant where branches meet the main stem. There are several ways to treat insects. You can spray the foliage with horticultural oil or treat the soil with chemicals. If you don’t want to use chemicals, then spray a soap solution. The liquid is prepared at the rate of 1 tablespoon of soap per 4.5 liters of water.
• Centipedes. These are brown insects with a long body and many legs. If they appear, it is likely that the soil was not sterilized before the tree was planted in it. The best way to combat this problem is to change the soil and sterilize the new one. The pot should also be cleaned - this is the only way to ensure that the grower is free of pests.
• Shield. Like other insects, scale insects do not tolerate high humidity and soapy treatment. Saving a plant from it is not difficult, you just need to spend a little time on processing.
• Thrips. This is an insect that is difficult to get rid of and even more difficult to see because it is so small. You can inspect the foliage for the appearance of small dark spots, that is, waste that they leave on the ficus. To get rid of them, you first need to water the plant from the shower, then spray it with neem oil.
• Whiteflies . They often attack the flower. They immediately become visible due to their white coating. To prevent their occurrence, it is necessary to use neem oil sprays. Standard yellow sticky traps also work well.
• Spider mites. You can get rid of them with a simple soap solution or a strong shower.
• Aphid . When branches and leaves curl, this may be a sign that aphids have appeared, which, in turn, are also carriers of bacterial diseases. They get rid of it with an alcohol solution, which needs to be used to wipe the trunk and leaves.

Sticky leaves of ficus - causes and how to treat

On Ficus Benjamin, sticky leaves arise as a result of an attack by sucking insects, the secretions of which leave a sticky coating. The juiciness and size of ficus leaves attract many harmful insects.

There can be many reasons: from improper care to insects. But treatment is determined by the accuracy of the “diagnosis”.

The sticky, sweet-tasting discharge is attractive to sooty fungus, which turns the colorless coating into blackness and rot on the leaves. As soon as changes in color become noticeable, you need to carefully examine the entire plant. Which will then help determine the cause, type of pest and select the necessary insecticide to eliminate it.

Spider mite

In order to be able to get rid of pests and treat leaves from sticky plaque after they attack, you need to know not only what, but also from what exactly.

It is quite difficult to see spider mites with the naked eye. But traces of their presence have specific, easily recognizable signs that determine the type of insect.

The leaves are covered with light dots, everything that is above the ground is covered with multiple thin cobwebs. The ficus stops its development, loses its decorative effect, begins to wither, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

To get rid of it, you can use acaricides (Flumite, Actellik, Oberon, Nurell D. Vertimek, Agravertin).

Shchitovka

Chestnut or gray oval-shaped plaques are scale insects. Easy to pick up with a needle.

Since the body is covered with a shield, as if made of wax, you can finally get rid of the pest only with systemic insecticides (Confidor Extra, Admiral, Biotlin, Aktara), which can penetrate inside only through ficus juice.

Mealybug

The leaves of Ficus Benjamin can become sticky as a result of the attack of small, whitish, oval-shaped pests called “mealybugs.”

The secretions left behind perform two functions: the sweetish liquid attracts sooty fungus, and the cotton-like lumps are intended to house eggs.

The mealybug is a parasite that can move and suck. Which can only be destroyed with systemic drugs (Mospilan, Tanrek, Commander, Biotlin).

Aphid

Ficus benjamina becomes sticky on the leaves due to the capture of aphids (the foliage turns yellow and curls). These flying harmful insects settle in clusters on the lower parts of the leaves and are able to fly to nearby indoor plants, thereby infecting them.

You can get rid of aphids by wiping the Benjamin ficus with a soap solution or diluted Bordeaux mixture, or by spraying it with a solution of pyrethrum.

Thrips

A sticky coating on the leaves or stickiness appears from an attack by thrips. They are quite inconspicuous due to their steel, black or brown color, especially on the leaves of Ficus Benjamin. The oval body of thrips looks like a small fly.

They settle in large colonies at once. They feed on ficus sap, which inhibits its growth.

Thrips carry many viruses. Also, all parts of the plant located above the ground are stained with secretions, which attracts fungus.

You can only fight with chemical and biological types of insecticides and drugs, such as Actellik, Karate, Karbofos, Intavir.

Nematodes

Nematodes attack the root system, and very small bead-shaped growths appear on the roots.

The toxicity of nematode secretions from the roots spreads throughout the plant and infects it. Which leads first to paleness, and then, possibly, to death.

As soon as the first signs of the disease are noticed, the plant should be removed from the pot, the roots examined, immersed in an insecticide solution for a couple of hours, then replanted in new soil.

Sticky leaves on indoor flowers are scale insects:

Common problems

If you do not comply with the growing conditions, then the ficus will not look healthy. It is not necessary that the bush is affected by insects or disease; sometimes the problem is due to insufficient lighting. Pale and yellowing of the leaves indicates a lack of the required amount of light. In this case, you just need to move the pot closer to the window, and in winter add artificial lighting.

The appearance of brown spots is a sign of a burn from direct sunlight.

Plant pests

Large succulent leaves of ficus are attractive to many harmful insects. Pests of ficus "Benjamina" are: fungus gnats, true and false scale insects, nematodes, spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and aphids.

Spider mite

It is almost impossible to see microscopic pests without magnifying devices. But traces of their activity are very characteristic and easily recognized.

Light-colored dotted specks form on the leaves of an infected ficus, and all above-ground parts are covered with many fine cobwebs. Such plants stop developing, lose their decorative value due to yellowing and falling leaves, and begin to wither and become sick.

Shchitovka

It looks like an oval plaque of beige, chestnut or gray color. It can be picked off with a needle from the surface of the sheet. Since the body is protected by a waxy shield, it can only be destroyed by systemic insecticides that penetrate the body through plant sap.

Photo: scale insect on ficus "Benjamina"

Thrips

Small pests with an oval body that resemble flies. They are difficult to notice due to their inconspicuous coloring - steel, black or brown. They settle in large colonies and feed on the sap of the plant, severely inhibiting its growth.

In addition, they carry many viral diseases and stain the ground parts with their secretions, attracting fungus.

Mealybug

Small pests with an oval body covered with a whitish coating, reminiscent of starch or flour. They leave two types of discharge - a sweetish liquid that attracts sooty fungus and cotton wool-like lumps in which the eggs are placed.

selo.guru

Why is there a problem with the Benjamin variety?

Reference. Most often, the cause of the appearance of a sticky layer on the leaves of Ficus Benjamin is due to pest attacks.

Let us consider the signs of the appearance of each parasite separately in order to recognize them in time and begin treatment of the plant.

Spider mite

It will not be easy to see this pest with the naked eye. First of all, pay attention to the leaf plates - they are covered with small white dots. The rest of the ground part of the ficus is covered with a thin web. In this case the flower:

• slows down development;
• deformed;
• loses decorative properties;
• turn yellow;
• then it dries out;
• completely dies.

One parasite lives only 45 days, but during this period it manages to lay up to 1000 eggs. The eggs become full-fledged individuals after 3 days. Favorable conditions for spider mites are high air temperatures and low humidity.

Important! Parasites feed on ficus sap. In their habitat, the leaves immediately turn yellow. When weakened plants die, mites move to neighboring crops.

Shchitovka

These are chestnut or gray parasites with an oval shape. Scale insects are easy to pick up even with a needle.

1. The first sign of scale insects is a sticky layer on the surface of the leaves. The sticky layer is a natural secretion of pests, which contains a lot of sugar. Subsequently, a fungus develops on the sticky layer, which leads to the death of the plant.
2. The second sure sign of scale insect damage is the appearance of gray or brown growths over the entire ground surface of the flower.
3. The next sign is deformation of the leaf plate and the growth of tubercles on them.
   Attention! If left untreated, the leaves die first, and then the entire crop dies.

Mealybug

The mealybug is a relatively large pest. Its length reaches 5 mm. The body shape is oval. Distinctive features are a white coating and bristles on the sides. The color of the worm can be different:

• pink;
• cream;
• brown.

There are characteristic stripes (transverse) on the back of the pest.

Reference. The life cycle of males is short. But females are protected from chemicals by a special wax layer. Only females and their larvae cause damage to the plant, and males do not feed on ficus juice.

The first sign of a mealybug attack is white cocoons on the surface of the crop, as well as streaks of white juice.

Aphid

When a ficus is infested with aphids, the foliage turns yellow and curls. The plates then become sticky to the touch and shiny in appearance. These pests live in numerous colonies and are able to fly from one plant to another.

Important! Aphids live mainly on the lower part of the plant. They are easy to notice due to the large cluster on one leaf.

Thrips

Thrips can also cause the sticky coating. It is difficult to notice them on Benjamin foliage. This is due to the color of the pests - they are usually gray, black or brown.

In appearance, thrips resemble very small flies. They settle on ficus in large colonies. The main food for thrips is plant sap. Due to its sucking, the culture stops growing.

The described pests are carriers of a large number of viruses. In addition, the sticky layer attracts fungus.

Attention! After the loss of juice, black dead spots appear on the surface of the flower. Also, the attack of thrips is characterized by deformation of leaf plates and the appearance of an openwork mesh on them. Sometimes yellow or silvery spots can be seen.

Nematodes

These pests attack the root system, causing growths that look like small beads to appear on parts of it. Toxins that enter the roots spread throughout the plant. Because of this, the ficus becomes pale and then dies.

Reference. The development of nematodes is favored by high humidity and air temperature.

Ways to combat insects without “chemistry”

You can try to deal with mealybugs without resorting to chemicals, especially if there are not too many insects. Amateur gardeners have tested many folk remedies for mealybugs, and some have shown high effectiveness.

Stages of work:

1. First, the plant is isolated.
2. Cut off the affected shoots and leaves, buds and flowers, ovaries and fruits.
3. Using tweezers, a damp swab or a cotton swab (a toothpick or a match with cotton wool wound around it), remove lumps of fluff and insects from the stems and large leaves, penetrating into the leaf axils and folds, not forgetting to look under the leaves.
4. All affected areas should be wiped with alcohol or a pharmaceutical alcohol tincture of calendula (vodka is not suitable due to the low concentration of alcohol). This will help remove the smallest wandering larvae, as well as sticky plaque.
5. The bottom of the pot and under the rim should also be treated.
6. The pseudobulbs of orchids are wiped with alcohol, having previously cleared them of dry scales.
7. After these procedures, it is recommended to treat the plants three times at weekly intervals. For this, special solutions are prepared, choosing one of the convenient options; They are applied to plants by spraying or brushing. When spraying, cover the soil in the pot from getting the drug.

Folk remedies (optional):

1. Lemon and/or orange peels - daily infusion of 50 g per liter of boiling water.
2. Garlic (cloves) – chop 8 cloves, pour in a liter of boiling water, leave for 4-6 hours, strain.
3. Tobacco decoction: 100 g is boiled in a liter of water for half an hour, after a day it is filtered and diluted 2-3 times with water. The product is poisonous and must be handled very carefully!
4. Pharmaceutical oil extract of horsetail. An infusion of dry horsetail herb is also prepared: 100 g per liter of boiling water.
5. Olive oil – 1 tbsp. l. for half a liter of water. The oil film interferes with the breathing of pests.
6. Soap solution: 1 tsp. crushed laundry soap per 1 liter of water. You can use store-bought insecticide Green soap (1 tbsp per 1 liter of water). It is recommended to add 2 tbsp to the solution. l. vodka. This remedy is used several times every 3 days.

• You can try to destroy the root bug with hot water. The roots are immersed for a quarter of an hour in a large container of water, the temperature of which is strictly +55 degrees.

After treatment, it is recommended to replant the plants. The pots are thoroughly washed with a strong soap solution, and the suspicious soil is fried in the oven.

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Prevention of diseases

Proper bush care will help minimize the risk of ficus disease. You should adhere to the watering schedule, feed with mineral components and cut off dry leaves and branches on time. The plant also needs to receive the daily norm of light and heat; the air in the room should not stagnate.

To protect the rubber ficus from infection and pests, you need to follow a number of rules:

• The newly acquired flower must be kept in quarantine for some time. Typically, the isolation period is no more than a week. It is better to keep the ficus in a separate room so that the disease is not transmitted through the air. If after a week of quarantine no infectious diseases have been identified, the plant can be placed next to others.
• It is advisable to inspect flowers every day. Particular attention should be paid to the lower part of the stem and the inner surface of the leaves.
• Every month, ficus foliage should be treated with soapy water. This procedure is vital for bushes located on open loggias or growing outdoors.

Causes of the disease

Sometimes ficus trees can develop various kinds of diseases. They usually occur due to improper or negligent care. Pests emerge from contaminated soil, quickly attacking the roots and destroying the plant. Or the flower may freeze and die from fungi and other related infections.

The main causes of ficus diseases:

• temperature imbalance;
• excess or deficiency of air humidity;
• untimely or frequent watering;
• lack or oversaturation of essential microelements.

Ficus is never placed near a heating radiator. If heating devices are located nearby, then a moistened cloth is placed on them and on the windowsill for protection, and the surface of the flower is often sprayed with small drops. If the humidity, on the contrary, is high, then it is advisable to wait until the soil dries 2-3 cm, and then continue watering.

You should beware of extreme heat and excessively dry air, strong drafts and gusts of wind. You cannot spray ficus and then place it in the sun - you can cause the leaves to burn.

If the grower takes diligent care of the plant, then the risk of disease is minimized. However, sometimes cuttings and young stems may have hidden diseases that are not noticeable at first glance. Infections and parasites (for example, nematodes) are introduced from the soil. Ficus often dies from them.

It is recommended to fertilize ficus in the warm season - once every two weeks. With the onset of autumn, they feed less often; in winter there is no need to touch the flower. Nourish the soil according to the instructions on the package so as not to overfeed. The leaves also react to excess feeding - dots and specks appear on them.

If rot appears at the base of the root, the leaves wither and curl, the culprit is most likely constant flooding. If the ficus stops growing, the soil is depleted and mineral resources are running out.