Can I use dish soap to kill them?

Yes, a mild solution of water and a few drops of unscented dish soap works well. Just be sure to rinse the leaves afterward.

Will these bugs kill my tree?

If left untreated for a long time, yes. They drain the plant of nutrients and make it vulnerable to other issues.

Why does my Fukien Tea have bugs? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Inspect the undersides of leaves with a magnifying glass.
Look for sticky residue on the leaves or nearby surfaces.
Check for fine webbing between the branches.

Likely causes

Spider Mites
Most likely
How to tell: You will see tiny white dots on the leaves and very fine webbing between branches.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Spray the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until they are gone.
Scale Insects
Most likely
How to tell: These look like small, brown, stationary bumps on the stems or leaf veins.
What to do: Scrape them off gently with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Follow up by treating the plant with horticultural oil to catch any remaining larvae.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your fukien tea

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

If the infestation covers the entire plant and leaves are falling off, it is a serious emergency. A few bugs are manageable, but they spread fast.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the air around your plant humid and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every 2 weeks to keep them clean.

Fukien Tea: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your fukien tea and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I use dish soap to kill them?: Yes, a mild solution of water and a few drops of unscented dish soap works well. Just be sure to rinse the leaves afterward.
Will these bugs kill my tree?: If left untreated for a long time, yes. They drain the plant of nutrients and make it vulnerable to other issues.

Why does my Fukien Tea have bugs?

Check these first

Likely causes

Spider Mites

Scale Insects

Find out what's wrong with your fukien tea

When to worry

Stopping it coming back

Fukien Tea: pests? Check yours with a photo

Questions people ask

Guides to these causes

More problems with Fukien Tea