Something is on my baby figs

Annabanana

Well-known member
This is the first year I actually have several trees producing figs. I have been babying them and watering like crazy in this horrible heat. Today I noticed some teeny tiny sticky droplets on the actual fig. It didn't look like a hole in fig but just some sticky stuff I could rub off. Does anyone know what this could be and how to deal with it?
Thanks for your input.
 
Good morning @Annabanana I see this on my figs now and then. @RichardK had a video on YouTube describing it. Thought you might like to see it. Watch the entire video or go to the section where he talks about it. It’s at the 4:50 mark. I loved the entire video.

Hm... He says that those crystals are caused by some mysterious microscopic pest, which he doesn’t name, which also causes his figs being small? Very interesting…. And after two applications of neem oil spread two weeks apart, his trees started to produce more figs, larger figs, and better tasting figs. Really? I better run and start spraying!!! 😂


For anyone thinking of using neem oil on figs , please, think twice. It’s very modestly effective against some pests at best and it may, and with some varieties will, cause leaf burn. It also stinks to high heaven. I personally tried it once and won’t do it again. There are much more effective pesticides than neem oil out there that won’t smell or cause leaf burn…
 
Hm... He says that those crystals are caused by some mysterious microscopic pest, which he doesn’t name, which also causes his figs being small? Very interesting…. And after two applications of neem oil spread two weeks apart, his trees started to produce more figs, larger figs, and better tasting figs. Really? I better run and start spraying!!! 😂


For anyone thinking of using neem oil on figs , please, think twice. It’s very modestly effective against some pests at best and it may, and with some varieties will, cause leaf burn. It also stinks to high heaven. I personally tried it once and won’t do it again. There are much more effective pesticides than neem oil out there that won’t smell or cause leaf burn…
I don't beliveve I've ever used neem in any form.
But I have seen the result of the burn...mostly from using in the heat of the day.
Never really got interested in using it.
 
Candy stripe leafhoppers are making a sappy mess of a couple of my trees. I usually just pick them off and rub them out if I can catch them. Too bad they're pests, they're actually quite colorful and exotic.
 
I don't beliveve I've ever used neem in any form.
But I have seen the result of the burn...mostly from using in the heat of the day.
Never really got interested in using it.
I bought a couple of fig mite infested fig trees from a careless, to say the least, fig grower in my first year fig growing days. Naively followed someone’s advice to use neem oil. Sprayed after sunset. The next day half the leaves on all trees showed signs of burn. And the smell was pretty nasty. The worst part it didn’t do much to eradicate the mites. IMHO neem is/was way overhyped.
 
I bought a couple of fig mite infested fig trees from a careless, to say the least, fig grower in my first year fig growing days. Naively followed someone’s advice to use neem oil. Sprayed after sunset. The next day half the leaves on all trees showed signs of burn. And the smell was pretty nasty. The worst part it didn’t do much to eradicate the mites. IMHO neem is/was way overhyped.
I use water soluble sulfur which also smells bad and will burn your leaves if applied in sunlight. I’ve used it both as a dry powder application and dissolved in water and spray on.and that works better in my opinion. Learned the hard way when I applied as a dry powdered application to stand up wind. 🤣😂
 
I bought a couple of fig mite infested fig trees from a careless, to say the least, fig grower in my first year fig growing days. Naively followed someone’s advice to use neem oil. Sprayed after sunset. The next day half the leaves on all trees showed signs of burn. And the smell was pretty nasty. The worst part it didn’t do much to eradicate the mites. IMHO neem is/was way overhyped.
I just use insecticidal soap.
Not big on chemicals and such but this works fastand no need for repeated applications most of the time.
 
I assume if it kills spider mites it kills fig mites too. Can it be applied in sunlight?
I have applied it in sunlight on my grape vine due to aphids...never see any burnt leaves.
Try a small area of a random plant or fig tree...see what happens.
I have not noticed and detrimental results.
Either way...it can be applied in the later afternoon hrs and by the next morning shouldn't be an issue.
 
I use water soluble sulfur which also smells bad and will burn your leaves if applied in sunlight. I’ve used it both as a dry powder application and dissolved in water and spray on.and that works better in my opinion. Learned the hard way when I applied as a dry powdered application to stand up wind. 🤣😂
Hm... I use sulfur all the time, and I find it nearly odorless. I use Bonide. I've been using it so long and so many times with great success... never had any leaf burn with it. I mostly apply early in the morning or at sunset, but did it a few times during the day without ill effect.
 
Hm... I use sulfur all the time, and I find it nearly odorless. I use Bonide. I've been using it so long and so many times with great success... never had any leaf burn with it. I mostly apply early in the morning or at sunset, but did it a few times during the day without ill effect.
You’re using Bonide that’s why it doesn’t smell. I use pure sulfur powder, smells like rotten eggs. Bought it on amazon. You can dust it on or mix with water and spray it on. Only problem was 25 pounds was way too much. Should have bought the 3.25 pound instead.

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