Thread: Ficus Problem
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Old 15-Oct-2004   #5
RonMartin(deceased)
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Join Date: Jan-2003
Location: Summerville SC
Country: USA
Posts: 4,653
The honeydew comes off easily with a solution of water and liquid dishwashing soap. I usually use Polmolive. (about a table spoon per quart of water)
Spray this on the affective leaves (give them a good soaking) then let it stand for a couple of seconds.Then spay the plant with plain water.
The soapy water helps break down the honeydew allowing the spray of water to work. No need to blast it with water just a spray will do it.
A big point is that you want the soapy solution to stay on the leaves as long as you can but still rinse it off before the soap dries.
If you are worried about getting soap in your soil you can always cover the pot with a bit of plastic. A little bit of soap wont hurt the plant but why take a chance.
Bart is right. A systemic is just about the only thing that will control bugs indoors.
Carl's concoction will work. So will things like Safer Soap. The problem with them is that they are a contact killer. Miss spraying one bug and guess what. They are back in short order.
In order to control most bugs you need something that will last at least 2 generations of the bug. One generation for the adults and one for the eggs. (A good number of poisons will not kill the eggs. ) Just about the only thing with that staying power is a systemic.
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