Question
Hi Will,

I live in a small NYC apt that gets a lot of light. I have one plant, I think it's a ficus, which constantly drips sap. I'm not sure if I'm over watering or under watering it. It's about 5 feet tall, some leaves are drying up and falling off. It hasn't really grown much in the 3 years that I've had it.
Thank you

Answer
Hi John,

The sticky stuff that is dripping is not sap. It is called "honeydew" and it is secreted by a pest called scale.

The difficulty with treating scale is that there is always more to deal with than meets the eye.

The key to successfully eradicating these creatures is to spray the ones that are not visible. That means that whatever treatment you select, you must get complete coverage, to the drip point, of all leaf and stem surfaces. If you miss a few, they will live to breed another day.

I do not recommend any pesticides because they are all hazardous to use and not 100% effective against scale. The best non-toxic treatment for scale is called Brand X foliage cleaner (Yes, that's for real). It is available through Southwest Plantscape Products in California (www.southwestplantscape.com ). Their phone is 1-800-333-7977. It is a silicon-based product so it is very slippery. Its ability to penetrate is probably the key to its effectiveness because it gets into the tiny crevices that other sprays miss.

You may want to try spraying with rubbing alcohol. Mix 1 part alcohol with 8 to 10 parts of water and add a squirt of liquid soap. Be sure to spray all leaf and stem surfaces thoroughly. It is also best if you repeat this treatment again in 5 to 7 days to catch any that you missed the first time. After that, you should check your plant weekly to see if they return.

Never spray in direct sunlight or when temperatures are above 75 degrees. It is also advisable to test any spray on a few leaves as a test before you spray the entire plant. Wait a few days following the test to see if there is any negative reaction to the spray.

If it is helpful to you, I do make plant housecalls in Manhattan and parts of Queens for a reasonable charge.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

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