I bought a ficus tree a few months ago. Now it has some white scales. What should I do?
I scraped them off with a knife. Is there something I should wash the leaves with to prevent further disease?
Answer
I'm sorry to hear about your ficus tree! They are so beautiful but can be fussy customers.
If you are certain that what you saw was scale insets, then you are off to the right start. Make sure that you have removed all of them, checking carefully under the leaves where they can hide. When they are removed, spray the entire plant with insecticidal soap. Keep a close look out for any recurrence, inspecting at least once a week, and remove as quickly as possible.
Good luck with your plant!
Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information
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