I have a very small 17 year old ficus tree that is dropping leaves like crazy. Because we recently moved to a 6 plex that has no windows with good light (The only light that it gets is indirect) I am wondering if this could be the cause. I am a newbie to caring for a ficus tree, and I would really be upset if it went completley naked. Also, are there any tips to stimulating new growth? The previous owner never fertilized the tree, and I didn't want to do something that might shock the "delicate" (i.e. tempermental) sensibilities of the tree. Any and all help with my fical ficus would be greatly appreciated.
2007-08-13 11:38:11 · 4 answers · asked by The Nag 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Ficus trees are easily shocked and that is what yours is doing. Going into shock. Any time that you move from one climate to another, it will go into shock and loose it's leaves. It may not loose all of them and it very soon will put out new shoots, the thing that it needs right now is time and consistency. Make sure that the place that you put your tree is the place that you want it to stay and leave it alone. You can give it a small amount of fertilizer in the spring, but for now you should just keep it on a consistent water schedule and make sure that it has good drainage so that the roots can get out of the water if you happen to over water it. I do hope that you have some light for the tree, but if you don't think that it gets adequate lighting, you might want to invest in a grow light that can be turned on and off via a timer so that it gets regular UV light.
2007-08-13 11:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by Michael W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ficus trees are very light change sensitive. Move it, even turning it by a window, will cause it to loose leaves. new leaves will come back soon, like in days, if all other conditions are OK. Keep the ground moist, not soggy. Only a little fertilizer is needed if the soil is good. Root bound is OK, but will grow better if the roots have room.
2007-08-13 11:46:53 · answer #2 · answered by rlbendele1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very small and that old?...is it a bonsai?......
give it the best light you can and leave it alone for now... and take heart... even if it loses all but two or three leaves, it will return!!...no fertilizer in winter or fall, only spring and early summer -to get the growth going.... IF you want it to grow, that is.... since the previous owner never fertilzed it, I'm suspecting that it IS a bonsai?....
2007-08-14 02:30:07 · answer #3 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ficus trees are really senstive to being moved and you just moved it ,so now it's gonna drop all of it's leaves like you just said it's doing.They are senstive to insufficient light and lack of water.Once it gets used to it's new home ,it should come back.
2007-08-13 14:07:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋