I need help. I purchased two plants from a nursery in August and now it looks like they are dying. I think I may have over water one of them, but I don't know what to do to restore them back to good health. One is a scheffla and I don't know the name of the other. If someone could please tell what to do with these plants. I don't want to loose them. Attached are the pictures of the leaves. thanks Aunt B
If you prune off the branches that are yellowing and let the plants dry out a little bit, they could bounce back. What kind of light are they getting?
Yes, the pic on the left is a Schefflera, the first one looks like ficus benjamina. Scheffs like to almost dry out between waterings and like bright light with a little sun, like 3 hrs or so worth if possible. This is something I copied from another post I wrote about ficus trees. (I have three) Ficus can lose leaves between 1-3 months after bringing one home, they are funny like that! And many people think they are dying or dead and throw them out! The change in light can set the leaf drop in motion, maybe lower humidity as well, but it can adjust to that easily.. If your ficus was in higher light before you got it, like, if it was from a green house, it will shed leaves a few at a time until it looks pretty sad and bare (leaf drop can go on for months) With the right care, it will grow new ones that can survive in lower light, so the leaves might be a little smaller and thinner when they grow back. In other words, the lower light it's in now (compared to the light it was in before) can't support the leaves that grew in that higher light. Keep it where it will receive bright indirect light and a little sun as well during the day. Also keep the soil on the semi moist side, not soaked all the time or dried out. Maybe a little dryer during winter. Let the top inch or two start to feel almost dry and then give it a good drink, just make sure the excess water it emptied out so it's not sitting in water. No fertilizer until you see lots of new growth and only in the spring and summer months using small amounts. In the spring, you will probably have to do some pruning of any dead wood if branches appear dry and wrinkled. Keep it watered correctly and in decent light and you should see new growth when the weather warms. It's always good to check for pest like mites and scale, just in case.
cookie_mccool They are in the family room and there isn't much bright light. I have both near the window.
