Unidentified disease in Ficus Benjamina
 

Hi everyone,
I have an indoor cultivated ficus benjamina which used to grow
perfectly well until a few weeks ago, when its leaves started (by
great numbers) to turn yellow and fall. I first thought that I was
giving it too much water so I stopped watering it but it didn't change
anything to its plight.
Having a closer look to it I observed a strange thing, which I think
maybe the cause of the 'disease': accumulation of dried latex
specifically located under the petiole of the leaves. Almost all
leaves have the symptom. Sometimes the part of the leaf attached to
the petiole seems wet or greasy, as if latex had leaked on it. Usually
there are dark scars underneath the dried latex beads, sometimes there
are scars and dried latex elsewhere too on the leaves. No visible
bugs, even under a magnifying glass.

Pictures of the symptome are visible at
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/1.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/2.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/3.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/4.jpg

Does anyone know:
- first, if the latex bead syndrom is common?
- second, if is it the sign of a disease and related to leaves
dropping?
- third, what in this case I should do to cure my ficus.
Many thanks for your help.
Bruno

That's called false cause, Sherlock.

Leaf drop is a common problem for Ficus benjamina, especially in the dead of
winter.

Do a Google search for enlightenment.

You didn't discover anything new at all.


"bruno m" wrote in message
om...
Hi everyone,
I have an indoor cultivated ficus benjamina which used to grow
perfectly well until a few weeks ago, when its leaves started (by
great numbers) to turn yellow and fall. I first thought that I was
giving it too much water so I stopped watering it but it didn't change
anything to its plight.
Having a closer look to it I observed a strange thing, which I think
maybe the cause of the 'disease': accumulation of dried latex
specifically located under the petiole of the leaves. Almost all
leaves have the symptom. Sometimes the part of the leaf attached to
the petiole seems wet or greasy, as if latex had leaked on it. Usually
there are dark scars underneath the dried latex beads, sometimes there
are scars and dried latex elsewhere too on the leaves. No visible
bugs, even under a magnifying glass.

Pictures of the symptome are visible at
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/1.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/2.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/3.jpg
http://www.brunodenis.freesurf.fr/ficus/4.jpg

Does anyone know:
- first, if the latex bead syndrom is common?
- second, if is it the sign of a disease and related to leaves
dropping?
- third, what in this case I should do to cure my ficus.
Many thanks for your help.
Bruno