Fern scale appears as white dashes on the fronds. The size of scale … The honeydew accumulates on the foliage and can cause it to look shiny and feel sticky. Scale insects can look hemispherical, oval, or flat, and they can ruin a plant and stunt its growth by sucking out the sap. Ficus Scale insects Large brown bumps on Ficus indicate an insect problem on Weeping Figs. This is a good description of scale insects on indoor ficus (Ficus benjamina, F. retusa, F. indica, etc.). “Sap” dripping from a ficus houseplant, which is actually honeydew from an As with all issues that affect fiddle leaf figs, it’s best to treat this early. Since the ficus benjamina is a little finicky what is the best way to get rid of the scale. One little area has very sticky leaves and there is a sticky film on the floor under this area. If left untreated, scale can stunt your plant’s growth and eventually kill it. White Scale. Scales can often be seen if you flip a leaf upside down and check out where the leaf portion of the plant joins the stem. Hard scale can be brown, white, tan, reddish or black. They do not secrete honeydew. How to Treat Scale on Fiddle Leaf Figs. We have a five-year-old Ficus plant that has sentimental value to my wife since it belonged to her mother. Depending on the species, scale insects may be found on plant stems, twigs, trunks, foliage, or fruit. The rubbing alcohol is very effective not only for scale but for the white insects that attack the leaves leaving a sticky residue behind. So if your ficus is dripping a sticky substance best to hose it off every week for two weeks according to nurseries for the small insects and alcohol for scale. Soft brown scale occurs on ficus, scheffleras and other indoor plants. Thanks I’ve seen scale on citrus trees, myoporums, different ficus’ both … There are many others. Actual size 5mm. As scale insects feed on the sugary sap of a plant, they excrete some of the sugar as a liquid called honeydew. Some species of scale can also look like white bumps. Soft – Secrete a waxy film (up to 1/2 inch long) that is part of the body. Most scale insects are small and inconspicuous. The most common pests on ficus are scale, which look like waxy, fish-scale-type masses stuck to the stems or leaves, and aphids, which are tiny, soft-bodied pear-shaped insects. I have a friend with a 6' over 10 year old ficus benjamina. Scales on a ficus. The hard scale lives and feeds under this spherical armor and does not move about the plant. These damaging insects may also infest other houseplants, so it is important to manage the problem and prevent their spread. Scale is far easier to treat if the infestation is light. Ficus are also prone to pests such as mealybugs, scale and spider mites. 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