Hi, I have a Ficus Bonsai for a few years. For Some reason it didn't look the best. When I checked, the leaves re very sticky and they have some black dots on them that seem to rub off. I wanted to see if anyone might know what's going on and how to treat it?
Here are pictures.
Thanks,
E van Meiskin

Hi,

Your ficus unfortunately is host to a variety of sucking insects. Predominantly I see scale, but probably thrips is there too. I would recommend going to your favorite plant store and get treatment from them. Which products are available are very much location dependent. In general: An insecticide that works on scale and other biting / sucking insects is what you are after!

Remember: Treat twice. Once to kill current living animals, and a second time after a few weeks to catch the ones that hatch from eggs!

Hi, I have the same problem with scale on my ficus too little. I used a dish soap and water solution as a first treatment, but my bonsai really didn’t like the solution and dropped a lot of leaves from that. I would like to avoid that with my next treatment. Any recommendations for what insecticide to use and how much? My ficus just can’t seem to shake these scale!

Thanks!

Like previous poster mentioned, what is aeailable locally differs a lot. Most producs sold everywhere in the US is prohibited or licensed in EU.