Pests and Illness
Whereas leaf drop because of altering environmental situations is way extra prone to trigger issues on your plant than every other concern, you may additionally bump up in opposition to just a few bugs.
Illness pathogens come to name even much less usually, however it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to concentrate on the potential culprits.
Pests
Indoor pests lack pure predators, which permits them to unfold just about unchecked.
What’s one of the crucial widespread signs of a pest infestation? I’ll provide you with one guess…
For those who stated dropping leaves, you win! There are just a few widespread pests that you just’ll see on indoor crops.
Aphids
A big aphid infestation may cause leaf drop and yellow stippling on the leaves.
You’ll mostly see them on the inexperienced rising ideas, however they will feed anyplace.
Spraying frequently with neem oil is a normal methodology for coping with these pests.
As a result of they’re so widespread, it’s best to make sure to discover ways to spot and eradicate these pests for those who haven’t already.
Our article on methods to take care of aphids gives useful info to information you thru the method.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs, bugs within the household Pseudococcidae, are one other widespread houseplant pest. They’ll feed on ficus crops, utilizing their piercing mouthparts to attract sap out of the tree.
Once they congregate in teams, these little wingless bugs are lined in a waxy coating that makes them look extra like some sort of fungal illness than a pest infestation.
Be taught extra about figuring out and coping with mealybugs right here.
Scale
Scale bugs seem as little brown or black lumps on the leaves, stems, or trunk.
You may take away them by wiping with a cotton swab that has been dunked in a little bit of rubbing alcohol.
It’s somewhat tedious, and you have to to do it once more each few days over the course of some weeks, however it’s efficient.
For extra ideas, try our information to scale.
Spider Mites
Spider mites love dry situations, and it simply so occurs that residence interiors are usually drier than the outside.
These tiny spider kinfolk are sapsuckers and so they go away behind extraordinarily high quality webbing – which is normally what is going to first tip you off to an infestation.
The pink spider mite (Tetranychus spp.) is the most typical. Be taught extra about methods to take care of these teeny-tiny pests in our information.
Illness
F. benjamina is never troubled by illness. Rotting roots are actually the one concern it is advisable look ahead to.
Root Rot
Root rot could be brought on by two issues. The primary is standing water across the roots, and the second is illness.
Extra particularly, root rot is brought on by the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum. Each of those species thrive in oversaturated soil – so in different phrases, don’t overwater your ficus!
As a result of it’s not possible to inform whether or not root rot is the results of a fungus or whether or not the roots are merely drowning in an excessive amount of water, you’ll must deal with for each possible causes.
First, take away the plant from the pot and rinse away all the soil. Trim away any mushy or black roots.
Subsequent, deal with the roots with a biofungicide. Mycostop is a superb possibility that’s very efficient. Combine it with water in accordance with the producer’s instructions and spray the roots.
Wipe the container clear and sanitize it with a 1:10 combination of bleach and water (one half bleach to 9 components water). Fill it with recent potting soil.
Repot the plant, and wait two weeks earlier than treating the soil with the identical biofungicide, following the producer’s instructions. Deal with another time two weeks later.
Mycostop Biofungicide
Decide up Mycostop in five- or 25-gram packets at Arbico Organics.
Discover our detailed information on stopping and treating root rot right here.
Discover Success with Weeping Figs
Weeping figs have a nasty popularity amongst some growers.
They’re recognized for dropping their leaves on the slightest provocation – and plenty of have resorted to inserting synthetic ones of their houses to keep away from pointless cleanup.
Hopefully this information has put you on the street to success with this elegant houseplant. Figuring out what to look at for, and what to keep away from, goes a good distance in direction of making your plant glad.
Are you rising a weeping fig? In that case, have you ever had any hassle with leaf drop? What prompted it? Tell us within the feedback beneath so we are able to share our experiences!
For those who’d like so as to add just a few extra ficus crops to your assortment, you could be considering a few of our different guides subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially revealed January 12, 2022. Final up to date February 3, 2026. Product photographs by way of Arbico Organics, Burpee, and Quick Rising Timber. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.
