What kind of soil is it in? Virtually all containerized houseplants need regular nutritional supplementation; so YES, you should have a good fertilizer on hand and have a strategy in place that includes regular fertilizing that is adjusted in relation to the changes in growth habit as the plant makes it's way through the growth cycle. No one can tell you how to fertilize w/o knowing something about your soil and your watering habits, because those factors determine how much you use and how often you use it. If I guessed you were just getting interested in learning how to best provide for your plants' cultural needs, would I be right? In most cases, the manner in which a person addresses the issues for which you seek guidance will depend on your level of experience. I use, as do many others, and highly recommend Dyna-Gro's Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 fertilizer. There are a number of reasons for this, and I can direct you to a thread that lays out those reasons if you have interest. Your plant probably shouldn't be fertilized until you see signs of new growth. My guess is, the soil has been kept overly wet, which accounts for a very high % of the problems for which folks eventually arrive here in search of resolution. Once all the leaves fall, the amount of water your plant uses will be minuscule, so make sure you do not over-water. If you don't know how to use a wooden dowel/skewer as a tell, and want to, just ask. Many folks here use or have used that method with good results. It doesn't lie and will tell you when your plant does/doesn't need water. Al

If you buy one, you must keep it in a closed terrarium until it gets established. I lost the first one I bought by putting it in this same terrarium, but did not cover it. Second one went in the same place, but with a cover of Saran Wrap. As soon as new growth started to show, I started peeling back the cover a little each week. It will grow nicely under office lighting uncovered, but will grow SUPER FAST if you keep it covered and give it a little full sun each day. It is absolutely the cutest tiny ivy ever!

You can used the faucet (especially if you have a set-up with a hand sprayer). Make sure the water temp is well below body temp, which is too warm. If you suspect the soil has been adulterated with something phytotoxic, you have little choice other than to flush the soil and then try to mitigate any subsequent tendency of the soil to retain too much water. Look at B and E to see how much excess water you can remove by tipping the pot and using a wick. Also, if the pot is a 7" pot, you can hold it over the sink and move it down then sharply upward to rid the soil of virtually ALL excess water. Think of what you do after pouring pasta in a colander - after it stops draining. You grab the colander and move it up and down to remove LOT of additional water. Do that with your little plant. If more growers applied that technique they would help their plants realize significantly more of their genetic potential. The pot should be detached from the reservoir, and the plant should never rest in the effluent that exits the drain holes. The purpose of flushing the soil when we water is to rid the soil of an increasing level of mineral salts from tap water and fertilizer solution. If the plant rests in its effluent, the level of salts very quickly reaches a state of isotonicity (balance in the salt levels between the water in the collection saucer and the soil solution), which in the end is like the soil was never flushed at all. Al

Based on the photos you provided, it appears that your Ficus Ginseng is experiencing some stress. It's possible that the plant is suffering from root rot due to the soil being too moist for an extended period of time. However, this could also be a natural response to acclimating to its new environment. To check if there is root rot, carefully remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Healthy roots should be white or light brown in color, while rotted roots will appear dark, mushy, and may emit a foul odor. If you do find signs of root rot, you will need to repot the plant to save it. Choose a pot one size larger than the current pot and use fresh, well-draining soil. Gently remove any rotted roots, being careful not to damage healthy ones, and plant the tree in the new pot. If you don't find signs of rot, then it's likely just the plant adjusting to its new environment. Keep an eye on it and make sure not to overwater it. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings and only water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.