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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 10/27/2009
Posts: 1
Location: ontario canada
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I bought two ficus trees a month ago and replanted them into bigger pots, but they are losing so many leaves its sad. The leaves are not yellow when they drop so I know its not from over watering them. What can I do to help them. they are really sad looking trees now.
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 12/30/2009
Posts: 2
Location: Boise,Idaho
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Don't give up on the ficus they are delicate. I was given one by a friend that was going to throw her ficus out ,it was down to branches and a few yellow/brown leaves and I nursed back. I fertilized it with some miracle grow just once and watered it and set it right outside my front door where it received mostly shade and some sun and it came back to life, but that was in April when I was living in the east bay in California, they also don't like being moved around.Hope this helps!
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Rank: Member
Joined: 1/2/2010
Posts: 12
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Hi There!
I have a couple of ficus trees..one that was older that I adopted. First, I need to ask if the pot was more than 2 sizes larger then the original pot it was in? If thats the case, you may lose your ficus tree. Roots tend to rot when a plant is placed in a pot bigger than 2 sizes than the original, especially if they are being over watered. Second, are you misting it? Ficus trees love being misted with luke warm water every day. However, life gets busy and if you do it twice a week it should be quite happy with that. Third, How much light is it recieving?? Ficus trees love bright filtered sun..not scorching mid-day sun, but enough natural light that you see a shadow formed behind your tree. Because these trees are VERY sensitive, keep it away from all drafts (heaters, doors, AC, windows, Vents). Important info to remember is, to be sure to check the soil prior to watering. If the leaves yellow and start to drop..decrease watering, increase humidity(misting)! Because your tree has already begun to loose its leaves, it is in shock. It is better to be on the dry side and with hold watering while you increase misting at this time. Your Tree WILL recover. Good Luck!!!!
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 3/10/2010
Posts: 2
Location: chicago
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lisjoe wrote:I bought two ficus trees a month ago and replanted them into bigger pots, but they are losing so many leaves its sad. The leaves are not yellow when they drop so I know its not from over watering them. What can I do to help them. they are really sad looking trees now. Hi, Very likely, it was the re-planting of your trees that made them sad. A ficus is very sensitive to changing conditions; even to the point of losing leaves when it gets moved outside and back inside. I've had a few that were unhappy with just being rotated--as far as I could tell, since plants keep many secrets. Choose a "permanent" place for them to reside, and keep their conditions as constant as possible. Along those lines, and in reading a few posts here, I'd like to suggest double watering trays for each tree in its pot. A somewhat high, first or upper tray for the containment and drainage in watering the tree in the pot. That's absolutely standard. But then have a larger, lower tray to use for water in humidification that keeps the leaves happy. When you then water your trees, you have the choice of the placement of water for the roots as well as humidification water for the leaves. The different heights of the trays keeps the tasks separate and simple. I assume you'll have to add humidification water more frequently, and likely you'll water the roots less frequently, which is in line with the standard advice to not overwater a ficus. Good luck, and don't despair. Despite their idiosyncrasies, they're a pretty tough species. We just have to learn what they think they like best. Bob Wulkowicz
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 3/10/2010
Posts: 2
Location: chicago
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Well here I am; sending a second post to the introduction forum.
After I wrote the post, I went and googled "drainage and humidity trays" to discover an awful lot of them, some expensive and some cheap, that seemed more simple than what I was suggesting. Generally I prefer simple embodiments just for the practice in finding better, cheaper solutions.
Certainly one could take a potted ficus and balance it on some spacers above a tray. That would mean that any water given to the roots would be able to drain into the evaporation tray and provide humidity. In my previous suggestion with a closed upper tray as I thought about it, I worried about being seduced into watering the tree roots more than necessary because I was focusing on providing very important humidity. Have the tree roots drain into the humidity tray, and if there's water left over, take it back to the sink.
Perhaps I'm micromanaging; some might say micromuttering. In any case, provide reasonably consistent care and the wee-beastie will do fine. After you all settle in, if you turn off the TV, the computer, the cell phone, and the refrigerator, listen very closely in the newly available silence and you might hear the ficus purring.
Bob Wulkowicz
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Rank: Administration
Joined: 1/18/2010
Posts: 185
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
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Great ideas bob. mind telling me if your a avid houseplant enthusist?
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 2/22/2010
Posts: 69
Location: Newmarket, On Canada
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My solution for humidity trays is really simple. I take a large (over sized) clay saucer (glazed on the inside), and fill it with pepples... and then sit the plant on the pebbles. I fill the saucer to just below where the pot sits. Viola a humidity tray cheap.
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises ~ PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA
fitmom68
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