Thoughts on scale infested Ficus?
#FicusFam #Ficus #FicusGang #PestControl #help My mom gave me this tree around 25 years ago. I have certainly ignored it for the past ten years or so. He spends summers outside on the porch. Over the past several years I noticed black dirt on the leaves. Finally this year I researched it and found that the black was a fungus likely caused by a scale infestation. And my research was correct, there was a bad scale infection of the leaves and soil. Good news is that this plant was never near any of my other plants. I cut this plant back severly to remove dead leaves and fungus, and I have been treating with neem oil and removing scale with rubbing alcohol and a qtip. Will I ever eradicate the scale infestation or should I just discard this plant and start fresh? The photo shows new growth from past month after pruning.
1ft to light, indirect
12” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
6
@nellz4estfairyz Ugh… scale! What a pain in the… you know. Don’t give up tho! She’s looking pretty good and since she’s not near your other plants, it seems like it’s def worth trying! Especially since she was from your mom and you’ve had her for so long! Best of luck! 🍀
@pothosslut I’ve never tried that brand. I will look for it when I finish the one I’m using now. Is there a recommended percentage of neem oil?
@nellz4estfairyz I’m sentimental about plants too, esp ones that were gifted. Lol at your mom telling u to throw it out! 😂
I use Bonide’s Cold Pressed Neem Oil concentrate. It makes like 20 gallons of solution! Plus I like that it tells you in the instructions how much to mix in for various levels/types of infestation and it doesn’t hurt the plant. I mix it up in a clean milk jug according to instructions and then add to my spray bottle. I’ve learned that before re-application it’s a good idea to spray /rinse the leaves of residue from the Neem so as not to get build up. It takes longer as you have to wait for the leaves to dry before re-applying, but I think it’s worth it. 😊
I use Bonide’s Cold Pressed Neem Oil concentrate. It makes like 20 gallons of solution! Plus I like that it tells you in the instructions how much to mix in for various levels/types of infestation and it doesn’t hurt the plant. I mix it up in a clean milk jug according to instructions and then add to my spray bottle. I’ve learned that before re-application it’s a good idea to spray /rinse the leaves of residue from the Neem so as not to get build up. It takes longer as you have to wait for the leaves to dry before re-applying, but I think it’s worth it. 😊