Mealybugs on Rubber Plant — Identification and Treatment
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Symptoms
- white cottony masses at leaf axils or stem joints
- white fuzzy or powdery patches
- sticky residue on leaves
- ants on the plant
- yellowing or plant decline without clear cause
Causes
Mealybug infestation
Mealybugs (Pseudococcus and related genera) favor Ficus elastica, particularly the leaf axils and the bases of petioles where the leaf connects to the stem. Their white cottony wax coating makes them easy to spot on the plant's dark stems and leaves. Like on all houseplants, they excrete honeydew that leads to sooty mold.
How to Fix It
- 1
Isolate the plant from others immediately.
- 2
Prepare 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs. Apply directly to every white cotton mass, pressing firmly on each insect cluster.
- 3
Follow with neem oil spray to all leaf surfaces and stems. Use a cotton ball to work neem oil into the leaf axils.
- 4
Repeat every 7 days for 4–6 weeks.
- 5
Once the mealybugs are gone, go over the glossy leaves with a damp cloth to remove the black sooty mold their honeydew leaves behind — on Ficus elastica's naturally shiny foliage this residue is especially obvious and worth clearing for appearance as well as leaf health.
Prevention
- Inspect leaf axils monthly — mealybugs hide there
- Quarantine new plants for 2–4 weeks
- Maintain air circulation
Quick Summary
| Plant | Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) |
|---|---|
| Category | Pests |
| Likely causes | Mealybug infestation |
| Fix steps | 5 steps — see above |