Question
I have a mid. size ficus tree and it has been doing poorly for about 6 weeks. The other ficus I have is located about 15 feet away and it beautiful. I has dropped all it's leaves are I more it to get more indirect sunlight. Both trees have a white, spider like web film on tiny areas of the branches. In addtion, they have these gold ball size, brownish red, growths growing from the truck area; that seem to be sme type of woody growth the tree is creating to bond the branches together. This white stuff is between the se woody growth balls and can be removed with a Q-tip. The growth balls can be removed also.

Can you tell me what I can do to bring back my ficus tree and force it to bloom new leaves? What type of soil it should be in? I will send as picture to [email protected]. You will be able to see location of both plants and the difference. I live in St. George, utah about 1 hours from Vegas. My air condition is are 75 and both trees are within 8ft of a door. Both get the same amount of sun light from multipal directions and have been watered the same.

Answer
Melissa,

Sorry, I answered your other email before I received this. I was not sure what I was seeing in the pictures but now it makes more sense. The white stuff is mealy bugs and you should remove them with q-tips soaked in rubbing alcohol.

However the growths are most likely a gall. I have never seen one before on a ficus but it does occur. They are caused by a fungus.  The experts reccommend destroying the trees when they have galls. I would recommend that you remove the gall and spray the area with a generic Lysol spray daily for 2 weeks and see what happens.  

It appears that the one tree is dead but there is a slim chance that it could come back. It appeared that you have a porch on your home. I would try setting that tree out on the porch where it will get more light. Treat it the same as the other tree. Use the alcohol to remove the mealy bug and remove the gall and spray with Lysol. If the leaves do not start growing in 3 weeks it is dead. Heat will not hurt the ficus trees, they come from jungles and love the heat. Let me know how they do. Good luck.

Darlene