It starts with sticky stains on the windowsill next to the bonsai. On closer inspection, you will notice a shiny leaf coating that feels sticky. Find out why your bonsai has sticky leaves here. The best tips for effective countermeasures.
Why does my bonsai have sticky leaves?
Bonsai with sticky leaves are usually affected by pests such as aphids, whiteflies, scale insects or mealybugs, whose sugary excretions stick as honeydew. To treat the infestation, clean the leaves and combat the pests with home remedies such as soft soap solution or neem or rapeseed oil products.
Why does my bonsai have sticky leaves?
The most common cause of sticky bonsai leaves isPest infestation. The sticky coating is sugary excretions from sucking insects, known in gardening terms as honeydew. The culprits are these pests:
- Aphid: tiny, green, yellow, reddish, dark brown, winged or wingless.
- Whitefly (whitefly): 2-3 mm small, powdery white, up to 5 mm large, milky-white wings, likes to hide on the underside of leaves.
- Scale insect: 0.6 mm to 3 mm small, sits under a dark hump.
- Mealybug/mealybug: up to 12 mm long, oval, whitish, waxy hairy, reminiscent of a cotton ball.
What to do if a bonsai has sticky leaves?
The best thing to do is to wipe away the sticky leaf coating with an alcohol-soaked cloth, cut off heavily stuck parts of the plant and spray your bonsai upside down with a sharp jet of water. Then fight the pests withHome remedies How to do it right:
- Spray the bonsai dripping wet with a soft soap solution (€24.00 on Amazon) every 3 days (cover the substrate with foil).
- Fight louse infestation on the bonsai with neem or rapeseed oil products from specialist retailers.
- Remove stubborn scale insects with an old toothbrush or dab with alcohol.
Tip
Pruning Ficus bonsai leaves sticky leaves
Pest infestation is not the only cause if you are struggling with sticky leaves on your Ficus bonsai. All Ficus Benjamini species are permeated by a viscous, sticky milky sap. When you cut the bonsai, the sap flows freely and drips onto the leaves. It is best to rinse the bonsai thoroughly after caring for the cut or place cotton wool on the cut wounds.
