Question
Hi Darlene,
any suggestion re. how to deal w/the incredibly sticky leaves that have developed on my otherwise healthy ficus plant? i'd like to treat it naturally.  Thank you very much!
Lauri:)

Answer
Lauri,

You have some sort of insect attacking your plant and it is their excrement that is so sticky! It could be aphids, scale, or mealy bugs. You can go to google and put in each of those then click on images and you can see pictures of them. It really doesn't matter which insect it is, they all cause the sticky

The sticky stuff you are finding on the leaves and your floor is not sap, it is called 'Honeydew'. Honeydew is a waste product produced by insects such as scale, mealy bugs and aphids. 'Sooty Mold', a black mold that looks like soot, can often be found growing on honeydew.

You have two options for getting rid of the insects. You can mix a spray of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 1 part of water and add 11 teaspoon of dish detergent. Then spray the plant with this mix every 3 days for at least a month making sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves and the surface of the soil.

For a less labor intensive insecticide you can go to your nearest garden center and buy a bottle of Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed. This should cost around $20.00, maybe less at Wal-Mart. It is a systemic insecticide that you mix with water and follow the instructions on the bottle for potted trees. You water your ficus with it and it travels up through the roots and into the entire plant and kills any insects on the plant. The effects last a year. This is a costly method but a lot less labor intensive.

If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck!

Darlene