Question
Hello -

I have had a ficus tree for about a year and a half; I have kept it indoors in a bright room with indirect sunlight.  When I first got the tree, it lost a lot of leaves, but was doing great once it got used to the new home.  I repotted it about a year ago.  

Recently, its leaves started to turn yellow, then dry and fall off.  While throwing the dead leaves away, I noticed a whitish, yet translucent substance at the base of each leaf, about the size of a medium seasalt granule (or about a third of a rice grain).  I looked at the rest of the leaves on the tree - about a fifth of them have the same substance at the base of each leaf.  

Any idea what this substance is, and more importantly, should I treat the tree, and how would I do so?  Thanks so much for your time and help!  

Answer
Hi Janna,

Not to worry, those white globules of hard sap are quite common and normal on Ficus benjamina leaves. There is no need to remove or treat them.

Its recent leaf loss may be because it needs to be pruned. When not pruned regularly, Ficus trees often "self-prune" by dropping older leaves so they can grow new ones.

I have written an article on Ficus tree care that I will email to you if you send your request to my address below.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

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