Ficus benjamina--help!

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by Desperate, Aug 3, 2006.

  1. Desperate

    Desperate Member

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    My ficus which is 25 years old has recently started to drop leaves. I repotted it and the root bulb was surprisingly small. Does anyone know the natural life span of these trees? or have any other suggestions?
     
  2. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    How long ago did you repot? What kind of soil did you use? How often do you water and how much? How much sun is it getting? Life span should be a LOT longer!
     
  3. Desperate

    Desperate Member

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    It was recently repotted because of the rapid leaf loss. I used sterile potting mix from
    David Hunter. I think I used to water it too often, so now I'm giving it a small amount approximately once a week. It is in a south facing window where it used to thrive. It may get less sun now because of an overbearing apple tree outside.
     
  4. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    Hi, I suggest watering less often as potting soil is too heavy and hangs onto water too long for a ficus - adding a lot of grit (perlite) or aquarium gravel would have been a better idea to make a fast draining mix. Don't let the plant sit in the saucer drain water either or roots will rot. And, it needs a lot more light, all day long - many people grow ficus 6" below full spectrum fluorescents x 15 hrs/day (certainly in winter).
     
  5. Desperate

    Desperate Member

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    Thank-you. I think you're right about both the watering and the light. I have plans to increase the lighting and will water less often and add something to aid drainage.
     
  6. Ken R

    Ken R Active Member

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    I'm no expert, but I've had my current Ficus benjamina for perhaps 15 years, and I've observed that it sometimes responds to a change in conditions with leaf drop but then quickly springs back.

    For example, I have moved the tree outside to light shade to spend the summer then back to a south-facing window to spend the winter. Each move triggered a leaf drop, followed by a flush of new growth.

    I hope you find that your plant also recovers quickly.
     
  7. Arthur

    Arthur Member

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    May I chip in a couple of questions regarding watering and root problems.
    I have a FB (about 2 meters high) in a large pot indoors since years using hydroponics. In many offices they seem to thrive well although hardly nobody takes care of them except adding water when levels are down.
    I did same and - well until recently with success.
    Since about 3 months however, more and more leaves are turning yellow and drop off. The remaining green leaves have lost their glossy green surface and turning into a sickly looking mat, dull green. The water level in the pot remains almost at same level for 3 or 4 weeks as before I had to refill quite often.
    As opposed to plants in potting soil in case of hydroponics the roots of trees are in water constantly and still can do well.
    Why then would my tree shed so many yellow leaves and virtually stop new growth?
    Does anybody use hydroponics and has some advice for me?
    Thank you.
     
  8. abonneau

    abonneau Active Member

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    Just for fun I googled Ficus benjamina hydroponics and found lots of webiste. Maybe you want to try it?
     
  9. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    I should have also said - water less often, but do it well when you do it, so all the soil and roots get plenty.
     
  10. Canadianplant

    Canadianplant Active Member

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    did you move it to a new location with differnt heat or light? Apperantly some of the ficus family hate hbeing moved after theyve been in a spot long enough. They are also drought resistant. they also like being root bound. I have a elastica and it was in the same pot for 15 or more years.
     
  11. cactus6103

    cactus6103 Member

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    They also drop their leaves when there location has been changed. Soon you will see new leaves start growing. As for watering, every couple of weeks works fine. It's a tree, they do not like wet feet. Red
     

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