Ficus Hedge with Brown Dots and Curling Leaves

9 years ago

I just planted a ficus (nitida, I believe) hedge for privacy. They're about a month in, but ever since they were planted, they started developing these brown spots and the leaves started curling.

We spent quite a fortune on these hedges and to get them established. I'm worried that they're dying.

What's going on? The nursery said this is a white fly problem, and that we should treat it with 2-1 systemic rose fertilizer/poison, but the container of the poison says that plants that were just established should not be given this yet.

What do I do?

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
looks like planting stress .. aka transplant shock ... but it would be good to see a pic of two of the overall plants ...

whats your native soil.. and how are you watering them ...

how did you plant them.. how much sun ... etc ..

i dont know LA.. so i dont know if whtiefly is some bug pandemic ... but i am leery of them wanting to sell you more product ... thats my first reaction ... lets see what others have to say ...

ken
L T thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
L T
Original Author
9 years ago
I will take a picture of the hedge when I get home tonight and post it here.

If it's just planting stress, is there anything I can do to help it along? Or do I just need to wait it out?

Native soil is clay-like (all of Southern California is). We're watering them with a drip system for about 25 minutes every other day.

We planted them on the south and west facing part of our property. The west facing part is next to a tall fence, though.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
We're watering them with a drip system for about 25 minutes every other day.

==>>> insert finger.. and FIND OUT... if this is sufficient or not ...

ken
Sara Malone (Zone 9b)
9 years ago
It's not white fly - if it were white fly, every time you touched the plants you would be enveloped in a cloud of little white insects. However, F. nitida is prone to thrip infestations. Google 'Ficus nitida thrips' and look at the photos and compare to yours. The leaves, especially the new ones, which the thrips prefer, can appear curled.