The Ficus benjamini is not exactly easy to care for, as it can quickly become infested with mealybugs or mealybugs. If these are not combated, the ficus will quickly wilt and may even die.
How do I fight mealybugs on Ficus Benjamini?
To save a Ficus Benjamini from a mealybug infestation, isolate the plant, treat it for several days in a row with home remedies such as dish soap or use biological predators such as ladybirds, lacewings or parasitic wasps.
How do I recognize a mealybug infestation?
Mealybugs, as mealybugs are also called, form a typical coating on the leaves of infected plants. It is the cottony white web of lice that is also sticky when touched. Look for it especially on the underside of the leaves, in the leaf axils and also on the root neck. If you suspect a lice infestation, you should isolate your Ficus benjamini from other plants.
Can I fight mealybugs with home remedies?
The chemical treatment is not immediately necessary in the event of a lice infestation. Simple home remedies such as dish soap, lemon balm spirit or alcohol can help just as well. However, they have to be used several times. Choose one of the products and spray your Ficus benjamini with it for several days in a row. You can also wipe the individual leaves with a soaked cloth if the entire plant is not affected.
If the leaves of your ficus also show black discoloration, then very rapid intervention is necessary. Because the lice have been joined by the sooty fungus (also called sooty mold fungus). It feeds on the honeydew that the mealybugs secrete.
What is biological control?
The natural predators of lice are used specifically as a biological control. You can easily order these online and they will come to you in the mail. Once the lice have been destroyed, the beneficial insects usually disappear on their own. You can use ladybugs, lacewings or parasitic wasps to combat mealybugs.
The most important things in brief:
- be sure to isolate affected plants immediately
- Explosive proliferation of lice possible without control
- can be easily combated with home remedies
- Predators: lacewings, parasitic wasps, ladybirds
Tip
Don't react to a mealybug infestation, then the sooty fungus often comes along and causes additional damage to your Ficus benjamini.
