What's eating my willow-leaf fig?

Willow-leaf Fig (Ficus salicaria) is a tropical houseplant bonsai prone to the same pests as other indoor ficus: scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, and thrips. Dry indoor air and low humidity strongly favour mites and scale. Scale insects are the most damaging and hardest to eliminate without repeated treatment.

Brown or tan oval bumps clinging to branches and leaf undersides; heavy infestations cause yellowing, leaf drop, and sooty mould from honeydew Scrape scales off with a soft brush and rubbing alcohol swab; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray; repeat every 10 days for at least 3 cycles

Tiny pale specks on leaves (stippling), yellow discolouration, and fine webbing on undersides — worst in heated dry rooms in winter Wipe leaves with a damp cloth regularly; spray undersides with insecticidal soap or neem oil; raise humidity around the tree with a humidity tray

White cottony masses in leaf axils and at root collar; weakens plant and promotes black sooty mould Dab colonies with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab; drench growing medium with a diluted neem solution; inspect new growth weekly for reinfestation

Silver-grey streaks or stippling on upper leaf surfaces; distorted new leaves and tiny black frass specks; often introduced on new plants Remove heavily affected leaves; apply insecticidal soap or spinosad spray; use yellow sticky traps to monitor adults; isolate newly purchased plants