Ficus benjamin and yellowing leaves
This ficus, unlike the others, is continuing to make many yellow leaves (look at how many have fallen by shaking it). In your opinion for what reason? Many were also small leaves just born (indeed there had been an explosion). Maybe because it's the wall side? What do you say? To @tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a) who will surely tell me to prune I ask: do I prune only sideways or also up and shorten? This ficus was born from a cutting and I have never pruned it.
Comments (10)
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
10 months agoMichele Rossi thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
Michele Rossi
10 months agolast modified: 10 months agoI didn't move the ficus from another position. During the last cold season this ficus has lost many more leaves than the other ficuses I have on the same balcony. Now I was surprised because it had produced so many new leaves and they are turning yellow.
It is not a single trunk specimen: there are 5 trunks in the vase as you can see from the photos. Two of these trunks merged into each other because I kept them tied (I hope it's not a problem). From these photos you can also see how the lower branches have unfortunately lost their leaves during the last cold season. I say "unfortunately" because I don't like ficuses with the lower part of the trunk devoid of branches and leaves. The trunk that you see in the last photo and that I point with my finger is the one that had produced many small leaves at the top and most of the leaves that are turning yellow are precisely these (my concern stemmed from the fact that most of the leaves that are turning yellow and/or falling off are small new leaves).
Finally, in case it helps, I'll show you in the photo below what this plant looked like exactly one year ago (June 4, 2022): as you can see, it was much more compact.
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Comments (2)Also, when I was washing off the old soil, part of the root above the soil came off to reveal this... hole? in the root. My first guess would be that it is root rot, but I was very careful to water only when the soil was dry (having lost a previous house plant to root rot a while ago) and this appears above the soil while all the roots under the soil seemed fine. I thought I would include this (bad) picture anyway, it case it helps....See MoreCauses of yellowing leaves on Ficus
Comments (5)You wouldn't see salt dispersed throughout the soil in the form of particulates because of its solubility, though you might see crusty deposits on the soil surface if you have an issue with TDS (total of dissolved solids in your soil solution). Some pictures of the plant would be good, and maybe a close-up of the soil. I thought I commented on this post yesterday, but maybe I did something that caused my contribution to vanish into cyberspace ..... wouldn't be the first time a fair amount of work was spoiled by an inattentive keyboard jockey, I guess. Sometimes things we least expect can thwart our best efforts. At any given time, there is one factor that is most limiting growth or vitality. When you figure out how to correct that factor, another immediately takes its place as most limiting. We never really reach perfection, no matter how hard we try, but we can get to the point where most things are close to where the plant would prefer to be if it had a voice. Surprisingly, it's not difficult to cultivate the ability to keep your plants healthy, good looking, and growing well. The largest obstacle in most cases relates to soil choice. We often select media that can't possibly supply a healthy environment for roots w/o much more knowledge/effort than it actually takes to grow well, then we become frustrated when our plants rebel. I have links to threads I posted that will help you understand the importance of a healthy root environment to the wellbeing of the organism proper. To my way of thinking, this should be the starting point for anyone that hopes to become proficient at growing in containers. If you never gain an understanding of how soils work and what plants need in order to maintain a healthy foundation, their root system, you'll forever be spending time and effort trying to find newer and better ways to deal with the limitations imposed by soil choice, when you could be using that time and effort much more efficiently and with much greater reward. Getting back on track, and back to your plant - we might find out what's causing the problem, and we might not. Sometimes it's best to trust in the idea that if you focus on getting the basics right, the plant will reward you by displaying its favor. That doesn't mean you should abandon trying to figure out what is the precise cause of the dull leaves, but please don't withhold trust in the power that learning how to give plants what THEY want has on the rewards you get from your efforts. I'll leave you with something basic that should help you avoid many of the problems that almost everyone near the beginning of their growing journey will end up confronting at some point. If you would like more info, just ask. Al Here is a link that might be useful: An overview...See MoreHELP!! Ficus leaves turning pale and yellow!
Comments (5)I think the problem could be similar to that of your palm. Ficus benjamina is a tough plant and is hard to kill. It comes from a hot climate but normally grows in forest where there's high humidity. Roots are down in the cooler shaded soil of the forest with the leaves out in the blazing sun. But leaves going like yours could be from too much water. What is the soil like? Does it drain well? Here when the rainy season comes and the soil becomes saturated the benjaminas lose a lot of leaves. Then they readjust to those conditions and grow normally. Rainwater has a lot of oxygen which the plant roots need. That's not usually the case with town water. One thing to remember is that most benjaminas start off as epiphytes, their roots are exposed to air. So they don't like heavy soil unless they can run roots over top of it as in rainforests. So in general, I think you'd need to repot into a lighter fast draining soil and try to keep the roots in a cooler situation....See MoreFicus leaves turning yellow, plant root bound, not absorbing water
Comments (4)Couple things: this is the edible did section. You'll get much more help in the houseplants section. Those moisture meters don't work well and aren't very accurate. Where you have the tree placed does not provide enough light for your ficus and that's probably why it's shedding leaves. its probably in need of a full repot. Did you remove all the roots from the soil, untangle them, prune them, etc? If you just removed the soil mass with roots intact and simply placed in a larger pot with new soil on the bottom and sides, that's called potting up and won't help your tree....See Moretapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
10 months agoMichele Rossi
10 months agoBy virtue of the things I've learned in the last year from reading what you write, I guess the problem is that I've never repotted it (as well as never pruned it). The cuttings were planted 4 years ago.
I grow all ficuses the same way and this is the one that is suffering. Anyway, I'll try to answer your questions.
I don't use a tell like you suggest. I have about 10 ficus benjamin and although I have been taking care of them for about 5 years I have acquired the ability to know how often to water depending on the climatic conditions. When I water I always let the water out of the holes (I can't tell you if it's at least 20%) and I never leave the water in the saucers. As you taught me, I tilt the pots to let more water flow out.
This year the temperatures are below average, but it's not cold.
I don't use a tell like you suggest. I have about 10 ficus benjamin and although I have been taking care of them for about 5 years I have acquired the ability to know how often to water depending on the climatic conditions. When I water I always let the water out of the holes (I can't tell you if it's at least 20%) and I never leave the water in the saucers. As you taught me, I tilt the pots to let more water flow out.
I use a liquid fertilizer which here in Italy is the closest to what you use:
I fertilize every 3-4 waterings all year round (even in winter and even in midsummer). Sporadically I use Algatron , a product I know you find useless.
Now I can't find the data on the composition of the water, but it's not very calcareous (however, we have a condominium tank and I don't know if it can change its composition). The ficus trees that I have on my balcony in the summer are watered with water from the air conditioners.Michele Rossi
10 months agoMichele Rossi
10 months agoI also pruned this other plant: you can see this ficus before and after pruning.
1. Do I have to lower it further?
2. I have been pruning for a few days but many leaves continue to turn yellow (photos taken today): is this normal?
3. In two weeks time can I try to loosen the roots or are there still too many leaves?tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
10 months agoMichele Rossi thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)Michele Rossi
10 months agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
10 months agoMichele Rossi thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)