- Getting rid of aphids - tips for ecological control
- Eliminate scale insects - effective methods without chemicals
One of the most common pests on the birch fig are lice. So that the sucking pests do not deprive your Benjamini of the vital plant sap, they have to give way. The control method depends on whether you are dealing with aphids or armored scales. There is usually no need to use chemical insecticides, because the following home remedies put an end to the plague.
A Ficus Benjamini infested with lice should be separated from other plants
Getting rid of aphids - tips for ecological control
They are tiny, black, brown, yellow or white, colonize leaves and shoots. Aphids suck up the plant sap and weaken your Benjamini, which can lead to leaf shedding and the death of the entire plant over time. The sooner you intervene against this disastrous activity, the more effective the fight will be. These home remedies have proven themselves in practice:
- Wrap the root ball in a plastic bag to rinse the fig upside down
- Alternatively dust the Benjamini with rock dust
The soft soap solution has emerged as the most effective weapon against aphids on indoor plants. It is very easy to produce: add 1 tablespoon each of soft soap (€44.90) and spirit to 1 liter of rainwater and a dash of washing-up liquid as an emulsifier. Spray the top and bottom of the leaves 2 days apart.
Eliminate scale insects - effective methods without chemicals
Scale insects are not disturbed by the soft soap solution because they are protected by a stable shell. The pests, on the other hand, have little to counter high-proof alcohol. Once you spot the little bumps on the leaves, soak a soft cloth in alcohol and wipe off the lice.
If the pests are in hidden niches, cotton swabs become an effective tool. Briefly dipped in alcohol, dab the scale insects repeatedly. The alcohol dissolves the carapace, whereupon the soft bodies underneath dry out and die.
tips
If the leaves of your birch fig are covered with silvery speckles, thrips have attacked the plant. The larvae bore into the leaf tissue to cause considerable damage there. With a modification of the classic soft soap solution, you put an end to the hustle and bustle. The mix consists of 20 g of soft soap, 50 ml of denatured alcohol and 1/2 teaspoon each of rock flour (€14.13) and salt in 1 liter of boiled water.