Question
I read your response to a question regarding sap on fichus leaves. You stated it was scale.  My tree does have the sap, but it does not have brown and grey spots.  Is it still scale.  There is a lot of sap.  Please help.

Answer
Tracy,

It may not have scale, but it definitely has an insect problem. The insects are either aphids(especially if you also have ants, ants farm the aphids by moving them from plant to plant), aphids can be so tiny that they are nearly invisible. They can be white, black, gray or brown. Or it could be mealy bugs (these look like little bits of cotton on the leaves and stem) or scale (this looks like little circles on the stem or leaves of a plant and they can be flicked off with the tip of a knife). The circles can be nearly any color, the clue is they are circular and flat on the leaves and stems of the plant andd they can be flicked off with a knife tip or your fingernail. Mealy bugs and aphids can be elimintated by mixing 2 cups of water with 2 cups of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and add a teaspoon of dish detergent. Then put the mix in a sprayer and spray each plant making sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves every 3 days for a month. Consistency is the key so you eliminate any insects that have hatched out of eggs before they have a chance to lay more eggs.

It the problem is scale they are a bit more difficult to get rid of. Take q-tips and dip them in rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and wipe the scale off the plant. When you are done spray the plant with rubbing alcohol (straight, not mixed with water)to kill any that are down between leaves. Respray it every 3 days again to eliminate any insects that have hatched out of eggs before they have a chance to lay more eggs. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene