Firstly, I know I'm horrible for doing this... Background story: (scroll down to the bolded question if you do not want background story) - After buying a ficus alii, I left it in the plastic pot that it came in, with the store's bag around the bottom - for over a month. I did buy a new ceramic pot and soil but was too lazy to repot immediately as recommended by the store's greenhouse worker. So I just 'placed' it in the ceramic pot. - During this time, it was near the window for direct/indirect sunlight doing okay. Then I wanted fresh air and opened the window a few inches, incoming temperature was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A few leaves fell off so I moved the plant away from the window but still in some indirect sunlight. - Also during this time, I did some over-watering because it was a drier season here (fall season) and I thought it would be a good idea to give it more water. What happened: - Soon enough, I notice these little black gnats (Fungus Gnats) flying around. I stopped watering the plant hoping it would dry the soil out, thus eliminating the gnats. But these gnats kept growing new batches. When I checked the plant's area, there were a lot of little dead gnats in and around the plastic bag and ceramic pot, with living ones in the soil. - I freaked! - Knowing these gnats would not go away anytime soon, as they were getting out of control, I threw out all the soil and left the plant on its side across a chair with a plastic bag tied around the roots so that gnats would not get at the roots. - I left it like this for a week as I learned that eggs take a few days to hatch and I didn't want the current gnats to lay anymore eggs. - Leaves would fall off, at first just a few a day. Then up to 10 a day. I'd collect them and throw them out. - Just tonight, I decided to repot it. Before I started, I shook the plant to rid it of all the brittle weak leaves. This resulted in the photo you see. (Yes, there are only 4 leaves left.) - Regardless, I finally put the new bag of soil in the ceramic pot and repotted it. I did water it again and made holes in the soil thinking this would give air and perhaps dry out any additional moisture if it was too much. My question is: Does anyone know if I have a chance of reviving it? Here's the status of my Ficus Alii, now... It's had over watering, gnats and then excessive trauma from no soil for a week and thus drying out. All of the leaves fell off, except for 4. Just now, I snipped off a few small branches to check what they looked like inside. One was completely brown right through and snapped easily apart. The few others are still green, light green inside and seem to bend well and not snap. The roots were reddish brown and seemed dry but not falling/crumbling apart. Though I didn't really examine the roots, nor did I untangle or trim them down. I just sort of spread them out as I poured soil over them when I finally repotted the plant. - How long will it take for the leaves to grow back? Do I need to wait until Spring season? - When I gently pat down the soil, it's moist and somewhat sticks to my skin. I don't want those gnats back or to 'over-moisten' the plant so I used a stick and made the top half of the soil fluffy and light. This way, I'm thinking, the air can get in and dry out any excess moisture. Should I pat it down? Or wait a bit for it to dry out and then pat it down? What is best for the roots? - Also, is there any way to perhaps cut a piece off and start to grow another version? If so, where is the best place to cut. Right now, there are 4 branches braided from the root. I know I've been horrible to Mother Nature and I'm trying to fix my mistake. Thanks for your time and any input you might have.
