Hi there,

First time here, welcome everyone.

I got a problem with my ficus (please see pictures below), discolouration - mainly bottom side of the leaf - and weird tiny black dots. It started happening a few months ago, looking back some time after I moved house, and got to such point I trimmed off all the leaves hoping to get new growth. I also had a fungus gnat problem, which I thought was the reason for the leaves getting like this, I realised I had wrong soil and was overwatering it, hence the gnats. I repotted the ficus a week ago, used new soil mixed with perlite, and put a layer of leca on the bottom of the pot and top layer. The gnats are gone but is there another reason for leaves getting like this?

Thanks for your help,
P

Welcome:)

I'll wait for the ficus and bugs folks but it still looks good, has new growth.

It looks to me like something has been feeding on the leaves but I'm not great at this.

If so they could be older leaves that have developed since the damage was done a while ago, and the culprits hopefully left after your repotting and watering changes. If it keeps happening to the newer leaves you still have an issue.

I'm pretty sure it's a thrips problem. They are tiny and very fast moving so mostly you see the damage and not the insect.
Fortunately they are rather delicate and almost any insecticide will kill them. Need works well and so does imidacloprid, a systemic. Much like mites they don't like to get wet, so a good spray-down in the shower a couple of times a month can help with controlling them.

Hi,

Thank you both for reply!

Never heard of thrips but I looked carefully and indeed found tiny little insects which are thrips! On my way to get insecticide. The advice is much appreciated John.

Thanks again!