Ok I know alot about plants but this one has me stumped.My tree is losing leaves( I suspect sun scorched) as we were moving it had sit in filtered sun several hours.I watered very well and repotted it,now it has filtered bright light and will have to adapt to that spot,its moist but losing tons of leaves.Need advice.Thanks.
2007-08-28 11:20:48 · 5 answers · asked by peppersham 7 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Ficus is extremely sensitive to even the slightest change. For example, even in the same house, if you move it from one corner to the other in the same room, it may lose all its leaves. If I were you, I would be patient (for weeks) and make sure you don't water too much. Water only if the soil is dry to the touch at least an inch from the top. Slightly clip one of the small branches and see if the inside is still green. If it is, it's still alive. DO NOT fertilize or trim at this point to avoid stressing an already stressed plant. Make sure the new soil is not piled around the trunk too high which would suffocate the plant. The safe way to know the level of the soil, if you know which is the main side root, leave the top of the root (where it is attached to the trunk) slightly exposed. Do not move it again, it needs to rest, adapt and recover from the stress. To determine if the leaves are scotched, check if the leaves are burnt on the centers of the leaves as if an iron was put on them. If the leaves are browned from the tips and sides, it means you overwatered it. From the sound of it, the leaves are simply falling while still green, so I won't worry. It will come back.
When the leaves start to come back, you may want to think of trimming (no more than 1/3 of the tree). You repotted which means some roots could have been killed by the disturbance. Smaller root, smaller top. This is a golden rule because otherwise, there is not enough to supply water and nutrients. Trimming would also allow the tree to be lush and not leggy.
One more VERY important point to look for. MAKE sure you have no gas leak. Ficus would lose its leaves when it detects a gas leak however small.
Ficus is the easiest plant to take care when they like their spots and left alone, if not, they are like children at their terrible two's.
If I can be of further help, pls email me. Good luck.
2007-08-28 12:05:29 · answer #1 · answered by cck 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the move plus the repotting was TWO shocks and yes, it's gonna drop a LOAD of leaves..... but if you will just continue to care for it as you have been all along and not move it again, it will take a little time, but it will leaf out again and be pretty once more.... WHEN you see new leaves coming on, feed it with half-strength fertilizer ONE TIME and then not again until it is fully leafed out...especially not over winter!... it will be resting then.... not dormant , just resting.....water can be held to once a week at that point, too....when you do water, soak the whole pot really good, let it drain and then empty the saucer or have it in the tub and let it drain until no more water pours out the bottom... then wait a week.... it will be fine....they may be tempermental, but they are also pretty tough.....I have two... one's been with me for about 15 years and was in terrible shape at one time.... a braided trunk, three trunks and ONE leaf left on each trunk!!!....it's now well over seven ft and about six wide!!.... your's will be fine, too....
2007-08-29 01:15:09 · answer #2 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes ficus dont like being moved. But it sound like to much water since the repotting the soil hold more water than it did before i would try letting it dry a bit more.
2007-08-28 12:43:05 · answer #3 · answered by Mercedez L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ficus trees are bad about shedding their leaves! Any change in their environment will cause this. They prefer filtered bright light not full sun. In the winter a cold draft will cause them to shed; they are fickle plants.
2007-08-28 11:27:47 · answer #4 · answered by jackyblu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have one of the very tempermental indoor plants...It's going to be a hit and miss. I know those like less attention than more. You may have loved it too much. They like to be in a less sunny area I know for sure..but the problem is..even in it's ideal conditions, it will still drop it's leaves if it wants. They are VERY tempermental plants. High maintance if you ask me. I just looked up and found a site for you to go..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_elastica
Hope it helps
2007-08-28 11:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by Perennial Queen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋