Scale Infestation on Ficus benjamina: Treatment and Renovation Pruning

Diagnosis

Brown/gray bumps + sticky honeydew = scale. Syrup-like sap is insect excrement.

Immediate: Neem oil (indoor-safe) per label. Wash honeydew with hot soapy water. Tarp under pot if on carpet.
If persistent by June 1: Move outside to part shade. Defoliate completely (leave leaf stems). Spray trunk/branches with Neem. Drench soil with several bottles rubbing alcohol. Prune to 6-7 ft for bushier regrowth.
Ongoing: Monitor weekly; spot-treat with Neem or alcohol Q-tip.

Defoliation removes hiding spots; alcohol kills soil pests; hard pruning rejuvenates.

House Plants: Sticky Sap on Ficus? Check for Scale Insects; Maple Tree Dripping Sticky Sap? It's Likely Slime Flux, Not Aphids; Diagnosing Leaf Drop in Ficus Trees; Braided Ficus Tree Decline: Scale, Light Adaptation & Pruning; Reviving a Struggling Ficus Tree: Light, Water, and Pest Solutions; Controlling Ficus Pests: Alcohol Spray and Systemic Options; Sticky Ficus Leaves: Honeydew from Insects, Not Transpiration; Thrips Infestation on Ficus Tree: Identification and Treatment; Sticky Sap on Ficus? It's Scale Insects; White Granules on Ficus Leaves: Normal Sap, Not Pests

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