why are there insects in my ficus tree?

Question

there are little brown bugs in the dirt of my ficus tree. they look like centipedes. one of my cats has peed in the dirt before. does that have something to do with the bugs? what can i do to get rid of the bugs because the tree stays in my house? Nothing looks wrong with the tree, it just has bugs in it! thanks !

Answer 1

Put it in your tub and lift it out of the pot. Shake it to get the dirt off of the roots. Throw all the of that dirt,after cleaning the pot, return it to the pot or to be safe use a new pot and put new potting soil in the pot. The soil has been exposed to exterior insects at some time or you used soil that was not sterile. It didn't come from the cat, but you need to keep the cat out of the dirt because it will make the soil too acid. With the new potting soil the plant should be okay. Make sure the new soil says sterile soil or it could happen again. Did you ever set the plant outside? that could cause it too.

Answer 2

Find an insecticide that is safe for your tree by visiting a nursery. As for why, it's a tree. Trees provide food and shelter to bugs. Also, you may try covering the dirt with small stones,(larger then cat litter), to keep the cat from using it as a litterbox.

Answer 3

spray it with dish soap a table spoon of liquid dish soap to a 14ozold hairspray bottle fill the rest of the bottle with warm water and spray the entire plant along with the top soil.it may help keep the cats from chewing on your plants also.