Question
I live in Alaska and several months ago received my first indoor house plant.  She is a ficus and I'm not sure what kind.  She has been doing just fine and actually looks better than when I received her with lots of new growth.  Just last week I noticed a few leaves drop and can see a small waxy white dot at the base of probably 60% of the leaves.  She is in a pot and in a room with a lot of indirect sun.  She has seemed to be very happy and now I am worried she is sick.  Is this a bug or some sort of disease?  What should I do?

Answer
Hi Lisa,    In general, weeping figs, or Ficus trees can be a somewhat finicky houseplant. They like bright light, and even moisture--not standing in water, but not bone dry either. They can drop leaves at the drop of a hat--any change in their environment. The white spots may be a normal part of the leaf, if they are all attached in the same spot on each leaf, or they could be a scale insect--if the spots are scattered on the leaves or stems. I would try to keep it surviving until spring, and move it outdoors. It thrives in the humid environment outside, and should recover nicely. The only downside to that theory, is you may start all over again next fall when it moves back inside. Fertilize it a few times during the growing season outdoors. Prune it back by one third or more when you move it outside, so that it fills in all over, not just at the top. If the pot is small for the size of the plant, you may also want to repot to a slightly larger container when you move it outdoors.  If it is scale you can use an insecticidal spray, I like Atomic Grow as it is organic.  kathy