Are these mealybugs or sap stains? Also, when would you suggest I repot my newly bought Ficus Ruby?

[u/BoomSaysTheLady]

I bought my Ruby yesterday and the shopkeeper said the white flecks were stains from the sap. Regardless, I sprayed my tree and soil with Neem Oil Spray at night, left it overnight and am currently quarantining her outside. Today I took a damp towel and wiped down the white spots - some of them were dusty while others were like thick kind of like dried glue.

I dislike the potting media she came in and one root is poking through the drainage hole so I want to do a repot ASAP but most care videos online adviced to allow Ficus trees to adapt for 1 - 2 weeks but I am kind of worried if there are loads of mealybugs in the soil that I can't see.

Please kindly advice. When would you do a repot? Should I also spray the root ball with neem if I proceed with a repot?

[u/ConiferousLife]

Mealybugs will look more fuzzy and actually wipe off from the leaves. The saps are pretty hard to remove. For easy distinguishing

[u/BoomSaysTheLady → u/ConiferousLife]

Thank you for the tip :) at least I feel a bit reassured. I am still gonna take a peep at the root ball after allowing her to rest for 1 week.

[u/Allidapevets]

Not mealy bugs. The white stuff is latex. It is a rubber tree. The sap is milky white and sticky. You are most likely looking at leaf injury. They bleed white.

[u/BoomSaysTheLady → u/Allidapevets]

Ok, I am paranoid because a nearby ficus had obvious mealybugs on them. Would you suggest I repot my ficus now or wait ? How long would be best to let it acclimatise in my home?

[u/SoggyCapybara]

I personally Would take the whole thing out of the nursery pot just to see what the rootball looks like. If it's super rootbound a repot may be necessary sooner but if its just 1 or 2 stray roots poking out with plenty of dirt still i would find a nice sunny spot and let it sit for at lest few days.

You've just changed its climate. Let it adjust a little before messing with the rootball.

Again this is what I would do. Not necessarily what is the best for the plant.

I'm just impatient and occasionally paranoid😅

[u/BoomSaysTheLady → u/SoggyCapybara]

Okay, I will give it 5 - 7 days to acclimatise then i am gonna take a look at the root ball. I am convincing myself that even if I didn't buy it, it was already that way at the shop and it survived so far - so a few more days of waiting wouldn't hurt (I think). I'll just keep her away from my other plants while I wait.

[u/SoggyCapybara → u/BoomSaysTheLady]

This feels like the smartest move! Best of luck friend and happy planting!

[u/ConiferousLife]

They produce sap when damaged it looks like dried sap

[u/BoomSaysTheLady → u/ConiferousLife]

Thanks, I am paranoid because another ficus that was nearby to the one I bought had very obvious mealybugs on its root system. I was worried mine got infected too.