I have a very strange problem with a ficus benji. It does not shed at all but over the last year the leaves have ALL turned light lime greenish yellow with green veins. This plant is over 20 years old and gets fertilizer every other week for two months in April and May. Spot fertilizing on occaision through the rest of the year. This ficus has a sky light over it and is far away from any drafts. It has been in this location for about 4 years. This plant has always been healthy. The fertilizer does not even seem to green it up in the slightest. Could it be a virus? I have never encountered a problem like this. If it is a virus is there anything I can do?
Hello Nadine16, welcome to the forum... could you also send a picture? Your Ficus may just be root bound if it hasn't been repotted for a few years?
It may take me about a week to get a photo... The plant is in a building that is across town. I will bring my camera to take a photo. It is very odd. I am sure it is root bound. We do not usually repot because then we have to buy a new decorative pot. I work for a company that provides a service for other businesses. Our watering system consists of a water tight decorative container that serves as a liner a 1 inch thick x 8inches across square of styrafoam, that the plant in its grower pot, sits on to elevate it above the water left in its reservior so it has water for a week without rotting the plant.... Most of our plants go ok without repotting (against my own plant knowledge). We do have some benjis out there that are 30 years old, never repotted and are green and do not shed. I know each plant can be different... Maybe this one needs repotted regardless. I will get a picture as soon as I can. Thank you!!!
I use miracle grow fertilizer that dissolves in water. It does not seem to make a difference. Should I use a specific fertilizer high in iron? Do you have a suggestion on a brand high in iron?
I'm suggesting it might be an iron deficiency based only on the description - far from a definitive diagnosis. If the fertilizer you're using already contains a trace amount of iron and you have been using it on a regular basis, then a deficiency is less likely to be the case. The pending photo of the leaves would make it easier for the experts to make a diagnosis. If it is an iron deficiency, it is also possible that a high soil pH is preventing the absorption of the iron.
Thanks for the info. I will get a picture on here as soon as I can. Check back in about a week and I will have the photo up by then.
So I used two types of tests and tested the pH. It read at 3.8 and 4.0!!! I have heard lime can increase the pH but is there anything else that is more effective or faster at working? Also the fertilizer read almost too high. So I will not have the plant fertilized anymore but I worry nothing will work fast enough to raise the pH before the plant dies!! Does anyone know how a plant could get that acidic??
According to this document, soil pH should be 5.5-7. Other information contained within may give you clues to solving your problem.
Can Cheleated Iron lower the pH? The day before I measured the pH we had added 1/2 tsp of cheleated iron to the soil. Also could the build up of fertilizer in the soil cause the pH to lower? I wish I had tested the pH before the Iron was put into the soil.
