Spots on ficus leaves
Ficus usually does not require complex maintenance. But, like other house flowers, it is susceptible to various diseases. For example, if spots appear on a flower, this should alert you. This phenomenon cannot be ignored, otherwise the plant will get sick and die.
Why do spots appear on ficus
Ficus will not cause any problems if you carefully examine it before buying and then properly care for it. Therefore, when choosing a tree, pay attention to the leaves, look at them from all sides. If there are even small signs of some kind of disease, it is better to refuse to purchase.
Ficus stains can indicate serious problems.
There are many reasons why spots appeared on the leaves of the ficus. It can be:
- improper care – the tree stands near heating appliances or in a draft, it is fed with unsuitable fertilizers or watered abundantly;
- disease or the appearance of pests – spots on the leaves can occur due to gray rot, fungal infections, as well as due to the activity of such plant enemies as spider mites and scale insects.
In addition to the listed reasons, the appearance of spots on the ficus can be caused by root decay.
What to do if spots appear
Ficus treatment methods depend on what is causing the spots. If the cause was improper care, you need to provide the plant with suitable conditions:
- put in a place protected from drafts, away from central heating batteries;
- change fertilizer, giving preference to fertilizers containing a large amount of nitrogen;
- reduce watering, inspect the roots of the plant, cutting off the rotten tips and sprinkling them with activated carbon, and then transplant into new soil.
In case of diseases or the appearance of various parasites, the plant must be treated with an insecticide, which you can buy at a flower shop. If the ficus is affected by gray rot, the damaged leaves must be removed before processing. In case of fungal diseases, you should also remove the darkened leaves, and then stop spraying for a while.
In addition to insecticides, the plant can be treated with a soap-copper solution. In order to prepare it, you need to grate 20 g of laundry soap and dissolve the shavings in 1 liter of warm water. In a separate bowl, dilute 3 g of copper sulfate in water. Then mix both liquids. The resulting mixture is recommended to process the leaves of the tree on both sides.
Knowing why spots appear on the leaves, you can help the plant and save the ficus. But it is important to start treatment immediately and choose the most appropriate method.