The Ficus benjamini is not exactly easy to care for, so it can quickly become infested with mealybugs or mealybugs. If these are not fought, the ficus will quickly wither and may even die.

Mealybugs can be easily combated with home remedies

How do I recognize an infestation with mealybugs?

Mealybugs, as the mealybugs are also called, form a typical coating on the leaves of the affected plants. It is the cottony white web of lice, which is sticky when touched. Look for it especially on the underside of the leaves, in the leaf axils and also on the root collar. If you suspect a lice infestation, you should isolate your Ficus benjamini from other plants.

Can I fight mealybugs with home remedies?

The chemical club is not immediately necessary in the case of a lice infestation. Simple home remedies such as dishwashing liquid, lemon balm spirit or spirit can help just as well. However, they must be used several times. Choose one of the remedies and spray your Ficus benjamini with it for several days in a row. You can also wipe the individual leaves with a soaked cloth if the whole plant is not affected.

If the leaves of your ficus also show black discolouration, then very rapid intervention is required. Because the sooty fungus has joined the lice (also called sooty mold fungus). It feeds on the honeydew that mealybugs secrete.

What is biological control?

The natural predators of the lice are used as biological control. You can easily order them online and they will come to you in the post. Once the lice are gone, the beneficial insects usually disappear on their own. You can use ladybugs, lacewings or parasitic wasps (€22.99) to combat mealybugs.

The essentials in brief:

  • Infected plants must be isolated immediately
  • without combating it, the lice can multiply explosively
  • can be treated with home remedies
  • Predators: lacewings, parasitic wasps, ladybugs

tips

If you do not react to an infestation with mealybugs, then the sooty fungus often comes along and causes additional damage to your Ficus benjamini.

Category:

Indoor plants