Scale Insects on Fiddle Leaf Fig — Bumps on Stems and Leaves
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Symptoms
- brown bumps on stems
- sticky substance on leaves
- black sooty mold on leaf surface
- scale-like deposits on midrib
- honeydew drops
Causes
Introduction from new plant material
Scale insects (family Coccidae for soft scale, Diaspididae for armored scale) arrive most commonly on newly purchased plants. Their first-instar crawlers are mobile but tiny and easily overlooked at point of purchase. Once they attach to Ficus lyrata's stems, they insert their stylets into the vascular tissue and begin feeding.
Stressed plant from overwatering or low light
Scale insects are opportunistic and establish more readily on plants with reduced defensive capacity. Overwatered Ficus lyrata with impaired root function is more susceptible to scale than a vigorously growing plant in ideal conditions.
How to Fix It
- 1
Inspect all stem surfaces and the midrib on the underside of leaves (scale on FLF often concentrates along the leaf's central vein). Use a magnifying glass for thorough examination.
- 2
For light infestations, scrape scale manually with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab soaked in 70% rubbing alcohol. The alcohol kills on contact through the shell of armored scale and penetrates the wax of soft scale.
- 3
Apply horticultural oil or neem oil solution to the entire plant, including stem crevices and leaf undersides. The oil suffocates scale at all life stages by blocking their breathing pores.
- 4
Repeat the oil application every 10–14 days for 6 weeks to catch multiple hatching cycles of crawlers.
- 5
Wipe sooty mold from leaf surfaces with a damp cloth after scale are eliminated — the mold is secondary, caused by scale honeydew, and will stop developing once scale feeding ceases.
Prevention
- Inspect new plants meticulously before bringing them near existing plants.
- Monthly stem inspection during routine leaf wiping catches scale before populations become severe.
- Maintain optimal growing conditions to keep the FLF vigorous and less susceptible to scale establishment.
Quick Summary
| Plant | Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) |
|---|---|
| Category | Pests |
| Likely causes | Introduction from new plant material, Stressed plant from overwatering or low light |
| Fix steps | 5 steps — see above |