Question
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Some of the leaves do have some small brown spots as well as smaller grey spots  on the back of them.
Also, It is sticky with a clear honey like substance on both sides of the leaves, especially on the top side as well as on everything underneath the tree etc. floor & walls.
THX...Kristi




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Followup To
Question -
Hello Darlene,
I've had a large ficus benjamina for a long time.
It is 9 feet tall and in a pot about 1.5 feet deep with a diameter of 15 inches. It is watered once a week.
Within the past few months it has started to drip a syrup/sap from the leaves. Why?
What do I do to make it stop dripping?
Please help...Kristi
Answer -
Kristi,

I have some questions to ask before I can help you. Do you actually see sap dripping? Sap would be a white latex looking sap. Or do you feel a stickiness on everything under the tree? On the backs of the leaves do you see any small brown, tan or gray bumps on the leaves?
Let me know and I will advise you on how to solve your problem.

Darlene

Answer
Kristi,

Your ficus has scale. That is what the little brown and grey spots are. They are insects and the sticky sap is their excrement. Scale is a very common insect on ficus. I reccommend that you get Neem Oil at your local garden center(Lowe's or Home Depot). This is an insecticide that can be used indoors and is not harmful to humans or pets. Use it as the package directs.

The sticky sap can be washed off the table and floor by scrubbing with hot soap and water. If the tree is on carpet I reccommend that you temporarily put a plastic tarp under it until the scale are gone.

If you are still having problems with the scale by June 1st then I reccommend that you sit the tree outside in a partially shady location and cut every leaf off the tree leaving the leaf stems. While the tree is nude spray the trunk and branches well with Neem oil and water the tree one time with several bottles of rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will kill any insects in the soil or eggs. The tree will grow all new leaves within 4-6 weeks and be even healthier. This is also a good time to prune the tree to shape it the way you want it. You said the tree is 9 feet tall, it will not hurt it to cut it back to 6-7 feet and will make the top a lot bushier and fuller because for every branch you prune it will grow 2 new ones.

After that watch very closely for new signs of scale and if you find anything immediately treat them with Neem oil or use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to individually knock off each scale. The alcohol will kill them.  

If you have more questions let me know. Good luck.
Darlene