Boy Have I got a problem and I can't find any info on this problem. My ficus tree is 3 years old and is 5' Tall. He goes outside for 7 months and inside for 5. He is dying and I have found these dime size dirt dobber looking cases stuck to the actual tree limbs, not the leaves. They are about 1/4" tall as well. What can I spray my tree with to kill them or is it too late to save Mr. Green. It is trying to grow new leaves but they are only growing for about 2 weeks and then they die/fall off. I can't see this bug at all but it has cases/houses so to speak stuck to the tree limbs. Any ideas what this is? And how can I get rid of them. Thanks, nursesrangels
You can try pulling off those mud houses. They are made from some kind of wasp I believe. I remember seeing those things up in the rafters of a barn with some kind of bee making them. By bringing your ficus in and out of the house it's going to lose it's leaves. The leaves growing outside are actually thicker and larger than ones in the house, so the tree sheds those outdoor ones when moved inside so it can grow leaves that can survive the lower light and humidity change. Indoors keep giving it bright light with some sun and keep the soil a little bit on the moist side, Eventually, new leaves will grow and stay on the plant, (as long as it's watered correctly) The new leaves will be ok unless it's moved outside and back in again.
