Gooey, sticky ficus leaves

JLK

Hey Guys,
Several of my ficus neriflolia have developed a clear, sticky coating on the upper leaf surface. I can't see any visible parasites or other pests. What's the deal? Any thoughts on how to remove it?
Thanks
JLK

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Tony

Look real close for aphids, they'll be on the under sides of the leaves during the hot part of the day [if outside]. A spray with safers insecticidal soap wouldn't hurt anything.

Earl

I seem to get hit with the sticky stuff every year on my ficus. I use Neem Oil and it seems to knock it but I have found you have to spray the trees every week for three or four weeks. The Ahpids or whatever they are (I'm not sure) look like they are gone after one appliation but they always come back unless I zap them several times.

This time of year, I also put them outside (55-60 degrees) and start spraying them with the hose. That seems to help clean them up after a winter inside. I think the dry, no fresh air indoors really breeds the bugs.

I used to live in a geothermally heated house (free heat-70-75 all the time!) that had old leaky windows. It was warm but plenty of fresh air. My indoor bonsai thrived and loved it. Now in a new air-tight, forced air (gas heat) house about half of my indoor bit the dust. The ficus are about all that survived.

Moni

Sounds like a classic case of scale to me. They leave the same honeydew that aphids do and you have to really look for them to see them. AND.........neem would help control them. I often get scale in my ficus. I have never had a problem with aphids in my ficus. Now, depending upon how big these plants are, you can just rub them off with a cotton swab dipped in either alcohol or mineral oil. Or just keep using the neem.
Moni