I have a very old ficus tree that I keep indoors most of the time, we live in Minnesota. Last summer I put it out on our second story deck, south facing and it flourished all summer, it had been looking a little sparse and tired. When I brought it in at the end of summer it dropped almost all of its leaves and looked worse than ever, after having looked lush and healthy. I put it out again this summer, it is flourishing again, it looks beautiful, I fertilized it once. Now I am afraid to bring it in again!!! But obviouslt have to...any suggestions on how to do it and keep it healthy and not drop all its leaves?
I have found it to be a good idea to bring plants in when the temperature inside and outside is the same. This helps the plant avoid the shock it gets going from the cool outdoors to a heated house. Ficus are real leaf-droppers when stressed, temp. or moisture-wise. Make sure that you keep it evenly moist and try to find a spot for it where it will get a fair amount of light, and enough room so that it's not over a heat vent, up against a window, etc. When did you last repot? I know that with a ficus the size that yours must be that this is no small maneuver---just getting it inside/outside probably requires Hercules. Check the soil condition and pot size. ---Ficus are beautiful trees...I had a benjamina that grew from a unhappy 2' to a magnificent 6'---donated it to the library where I work due to its huge size! Good luck with yours.
Ficus hate change of light. The ficus leaves grow bigger and thicker outdoors and the tree looks great, when moved to lower light, the leaves can't sustain the larger thicker leaves and drop them to grow smaller, thinner ones that more able to survive lower light. The huge difference in the light between indoors and out can cause ficus to drop many, many leaves unfortunately, that's why I like to keep mine indoors. If the indoor light is bright enough, your tree should not look sparse. You want your ficus to get bright indirect light, as well as some sun indoors. Keep it turned once a week and a little on the moist side, not soaking wet, and light feedings, All Purpose Fertilizer in the spring and summer months. Try giving it less and less light until you finally bring it indoors, then as "togata" suggested, a nice bright spot near, not up against a window that also gets some sun too.The ficus might drop a few leaves still, but maybe not as much.
Ficus hates change of any sort. Simply moving it from one spot to another in the same room can cause them to drop leaves. Try the suggestions and maybe you can get it to drop less leaves but don't be surprised if it still loses some.
Thank you for all the advice on the ficus dropping leaves. It all makes sense, yet I can't help wondering why if Ficus hate change of any sort, it loves when I put it outside every summer? It just grows like a weed. I will try all of the suggestions, some I haven't tried before so hopefully it will help it to not drop as many leaves this fall. Thanks again, I appreciate all the time and suggestions.
Outdoor living is the ideal environment for any plant or tree. Bathed in light (low or high) whatever they can take, plus humidity, they will flourish.... Most houseplants will adjust to low humidity indoors.
