Question by Sarah M.
Hi, I would like to find out if my Ficus can be saved. It got infested with scale and has lost all of its leaves and there are no more green branches or new shoots. When I saw the scale, I sprayed it with pest oil regularly and brushed off all the scale that I could see.
Sarah's answer
Oh dear! The easiest way to tell what is dead or alive is to gently scrape back the bark to see if there is any green wood underneath, working your way down the branch. If you find any, prune between the brown and green wood above a bud or leaf node to remove the dead wood. Giving the plant a seaweed tonic can help the recovery from stressful situations. A good mulch will ensure the soil stays evenly moist and at an even temperature to reduce the stress from inconsistent watering and temperatures as it recovers. Make sure you have removed all the scale and then hope for the best.
It may or may not bounce back. If you can’t find any green wood, then the plant is dead or close to it and it would be better to remove it and start again. With pests like scale, it is best to treat as soon as you can, so check your plants often and if you see anything untoward – act as soon as you can. I hope this helps and it isn’t too far gone.
Cheers Sarah
