Hi, I’m Andrew, and Smart Garden Guide is my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants. As root rot progresses leaves turn yellow, wilt, or droop and then become mushy as well. Heavily infested stems or branches should be pruned off the ficus tree and discarded to prevent the spreading of the infestation. One of the most common reasons for a ficus to drop leaves is not receiving enough water. This selection is easily recognized by its thick, glossy, almost black leaves. If you do want to give them a dose of fertilizer make sure to feed plants early in the spring as they begin growing again after the cooler, winter months. I also have a Ficus Benjamina which has shed most of its leaves since I bought it 4-5 months ago. Wh… See also my complete guide to ficus tree care. Both appear as little brown bumps on ficus leaves with soft scale being more prevalent. Day lengths continue to shorten, temperatures drop in response (most homes are kept cooler in the winter than the summer), and the relative humidity levels plummet as winter takes hold. Often, a ficus tree with a fungus will have yellow or brown spots on the leaves. Often times a simple wound on the plant will allow entry of the infestation into the plant but is dismissed as many think the initial swelling is simply a callus forming as the plant heals itself. When they don’t receive enough water when indoors they think a dry season is coming and drop leaves in response. Thin or shape the lower branches lightly to keep your tree strong. Once southern blight symptoms appear in plants it’s best to dispose of the ficus entirely and treat any neighboring, unaffected plants with a fungicide drench as a means of prevention. A viral infection is most commonly detected by distorted or discolored growth leaves and flowers, growth can be abnormally stunted and the plant can die back. Mealybugs are usually found in colonies in somewhat protected areas of the ficus such as on the leaves close to the crook of the branches. This website is filled with useful tips for growing and caring for your houseplants. It started dropping leaves, but they told me this would be normal because it was getting used to the new climate. Encountering trouble with pests is a sure bet your ficus will start dropping leaves, as a stress response to the infestation. Its upright growth pattern make it a good choice in narrow spaces. Besides the notorious left drop, ficus plants infected with scale exhibit yellowing leaves. Ficus Midnight Care Instructions. Although upright “Midnight” still maintains a compact, bushy habit. It has extremely dark, bluish to a rich blackish-green, glossy leaves that sit along the stem with very close internodes. There are a number of fungicides that can be used to effectively treat ficus plants once anthracnose is observed. Aside from being a natural part of the plant's growth, a jade plant drops its leaves due to some other look at the leaves and check if they are turning yellow and begin dropping off. Healthy roots begin to turn brown and mushy as they perish, unable to take in nutrients needed for growth. I freaked out the first year. The Ficus ‘Midnight’ is hardier and easier to grow than the Ficus Benjamina. Occasionally the leaves will have a striking two-tone... both a dark green and light green pattern in them. If the whole base is affected, it may be best to dispose of the entire plant. They also excrete honeydew as they feed, encouraging the growth of sooty mold. An improperly watered ficus tree may have yellowing leaves and the ficus tree leaves may curl. These conditions include underwatering, overwatering, too little light, change in season, fertilization, pests, and fungal problems. Mix an all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer at about one-half the strength recommended on the label and apply when the ficus needs water. To help with this, try to keep your ficus tree’s environment as stable as possible. Often, a ficus tree that is getting too little light will look sparse and spindly. To correctly treat this reason for ficus tree leaves falling off, use fungicide (like neem oil) on the tree. The ficus tree, (Ficus benjamina) is native to Asia and Australia, typically grown as an outdoor tree reaching upwards of fifty to one-hundred feet tall depending on the locale. There are no known, effective, chemical treatments. Why is my ficus dropping leaves? This popular houseplant is sensitive to changes. And in your house, it finds dimmer light and lower humidity than in the greenhouse. Make sure to keep windows clean to allow as much light in as possible and watch for curtains or blinds that may be obstructing light coming in through the windows. If you have a ficus tree, you have probably experienced leaf drop, because if a ficus tree decides it is in stress, one of the first thing it does is drop its leaves to survive, and it will do this fairly quickly. If you notice your ficus tree leaves turning yellow or dropping, it may be a sign of a problem with either the care or the environment. Variations in watering, light exposure, and temperature, as well as pest and disease problems are the most common stressors triggering leaves to drop from ficus. Ficus tree (Ficus benjamina), also known as weeping fig, makes an attractive, undemanding houseplant. If you want to find out about some great resources that can help you look after your indoor plants, check out my recommended resources section. The leaves sit on the stem in close internodes. Leaves may wilt, become stunted, and you may see decreased vigor overall in the plant. This leaves many ficus owners asking, “Why is my ficus losing leaves?”. Although upright “Midnight” still maintains a compact, bushy habit. Let’s learn more about outdoor care for weeping figs. Often, you will see ficus leaves drop when the seasons change. Now that you understand the common reasons why your ficus may be dropping leaves, let’s touch on the basics about caring for your plant to help minimize future occurrences. If this is the problem, you will need to treat the plant with insecticide like neem oil. Too much water will also do the same. All of these pathogens favor warm, humid conditions and cause circular or angular water-soaked lesions on foliage. The three most common insect problems are scale, mealybugs, and spider mites — all problematic in most, if not all, houseplants. Six months ago, while still outside, I repotted in a 16-inch pot with a hole for drainage, and no water has ever appeared on dish below it. Why Is My Ficus Dropping Leaves? Ficus Midnight Beauty $ 29.50 – $ 65.00. or 4 fortnightly payments from $ 7.38 with More info. Symptoms start off as a fine, feathery white or brown (depending on the fungal variety) mycelium mat on the surface of the growing media that then make their way onto plant parts. tips for growing and caring for your houseplants. Like the other diseases and fungal problems, the southern blight fungus grows rapidly when soils are wet and temperatures are hot. When the rains return with the wet season, the Ficus grows new leaves and a full canopy. Although it will not grow as tall and it is not likely to have an aerial root system or any fruit you still get a beautiful natural decoration for the room and a natural air purifier. Avoid removing lower branches or leaves. I've trimmed the branches that have lost all leaves. Pest problems tend to rise as you turn your heating system on as temperatures drop in the fall. Crown gall, leaf spot, anthracnose, and southern blight are the most common problems. I have a Ficus Tree in my yard, full sun, and I live in Arizona. Keep it away from drafty windows and doors, air conditioners, and heaters. They will simply turn yellow … 'Midnight' ficus is another new kid on the block. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! (Causes And Solutions), How To Take Care Of A Peperomia Plant (With Pictures), Alocasia Black Velvet Care (Alocasia Reginula). In short, dropping the leaves is a survival mechanism for Ficus trees. It also misses that hot, new ficus that was sitting next to it. It has very dark and bluish (almost black) leaves that have a bright glossy look. These tiny sucking pests are found on the undersides of leaves, wreaking havoc on indoor houseplants. Can I save it? It has been in for about 6 months and all of a sudden it is loosing leaves. Have been trying to not repeat this process with the ficus; however, my instructions of "give it 1/2 a gallon of water every other week and it'll be fine" aren't panning out so well. ... Not Leaves // Complete Growing Guide - Duration: 21:51. Every winter the lighting is reduced, especially indoors, which affects your plant. Now, when grown indoors and faced with fluctuations in care or climate, the plants drop leaves as a survival mechanism, brought on by their natural evolution and adaptation to outdoor growing conditions. If you accidentally let your ficus tree’s soil dry out completely, you may need to soak the tree’s container in the tub for an hour to properly rehydrate the soil. Pest problems tend to rise as you turn your heating system on as temperatures drop in the fall. Skip navigation Sign in. The plant does very … Yes, ficus plants are a common allergen within homes, especially irritating to those with asthma or other pulmonary complications. The OP never says how long she owned the plant, just that the leaves are falling off. Although it is a rainforest giant in its natural habitat, the species and … Low frost resistance and drought tolerant. Symptoms will show first on the roots causing them to turn brown and mushy — classic signs of rot. Encountering trouble with pests is a sure bet your ficus will start dropping leaves, as a stress response to the infestation. This leaves many ficus owners asking, Why is my ficus losing leaves? The best thing to do is to maintain a consistent, even watering schedule during the active growing season in the warmer months and a reduced, albeit still consistent, schedule in the cooler winter months. The yellow spots appear on the tops of the foliage while the insects suck sap and chlorophyll from the bottom. Ficus trees are a popular houseplant that can be found in many homes, but the attractive and easy to care for ficus trees still have a frustrating habit of dropping leaves, seemingly without reason. It was in my porch which gets good light most of the day, but there is no new leaf growth. Charlotte Gerber (author) from upstate New York on October 09, 2011: When it comes to ficus leaf yellowing and dropping it may be a sign of malnutrition. Try to maintain as even an ambient temperature as possible with no more than a 5 – 10℉ swing in temperature. It was expensive and I can't afford to replace it. Leaf drop will be the most extreme as homes move from fall to winter. Water the soil only when the very top of the soil is dry, but also make sure that your ficus tree’s pot has good drainage. Ficus benjamina 'Midnight Beauty' - weeping fig DESCRIPTION: Weeping fig featuring dark glossy foliage and dense foliage, ideal grown as a standard, bonsai or potted shrub. You need to find a new spot with plenty of sunshine. While it is an easy to care for, attractive plant, it’s known to drop its leaves for seemingly no reason at all. Fungus – Ficus trees are also occasionally affected by fungus, which can make the tree drop its leaves. This is the time when your Ficus will most likely lose some leaves. These drastic swings in temperature trigger that survival mechanism in plants, resulting in the dreaded leaf drop. Changes in their native climate signified the plants needed to prepare for an upcoming dry season when water would be scarce. The humidity and temperature in your house also changes at this time and this can cause ficus trees to lose leaves. These finicky plants do not like to hang out in wet conditions but instead, prefer to be planted in well-drained growing media when grown in containers. While most houseplants appreciate a dose of all-purpose fertilizer every four to six weeks during their active growing season, ficus trees don’t like being fed regularly. Stress from bacterial diseases and fungal infestations will cause ficus leaves to drop too. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. To tell the difference in types of scale look for honeydew secretions; soft scale secrete a large amount of honeydew, armored scale do not. Insect sizes range from ⅛ to ½ inch in length; color, shape, and texture vary amongst different species. As the temperature changes and day lengths shorten your plant will gear up for what it thinks is an impending dry season, triggering survival mechanisms. The causes for dropping ficus leaves are many, but when you know what they are, this can help you pin down the reason your ficus tree leaves are falling off. Please help. There are many reasons but they all occur as the ficus adjusts to maintain performance when conditions vary, through a process of acclimatization. It thrives in a wide range of soils and conditions, but prefers a sunny, open position in moist, well drained soil. Ficus benjamina is its scientific name, but there are many different varieties. Incorrect watering – Under watering or over watering both can cause a ficus tree to lose leaves. It drops leaves to prepare for the dry seasons that occur in its native habitat, to reduce foliage that needs moisture to live. Too little light – Another reason for ficus tree leaves falling off is that the tree is getting too little light. Once symptoms are visible in the leaves the problem may be past the point of rectifying, endangering the entire plant. In the summertime, if possible move your ficus outdoors to allow access to maximum sun exposure. Ficus trees are popular indoor plants for homes, lobbies and offices. Ficus ‘Midnight’ as the name suggests has extremely dark, almost bluish to black glossy leaves. New growth is brilliant green, and the contrast between the two is stunning. Native to tropical areas, ficus trees thrive in full sun locations and require high amounts of sun exposure when grown indoors. Use a humidifier in the winter, when the air gets dry. There are … The sclerotia are used by the fungus as protection to survive unfavorable conditions such as lack of moisture and heat and are resistant to penetration of fungicides. Greenery turning brown due to the sunburn. The reason your ficus drops leaves when underwatered is related to its evolution. Ficus are quick to react if you let the growing substrate in their container get too dry. Read through the following common causes of leaf drop to get a better understanding of why your ficus may be dropping leaves, and how to minimize future occurrences. 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