Big Trouble Little Ficus

[rollwithak]

Hello All,

Need some troubleshooting. My ficus seems to be heading nowhere good very quickly. All the leaves are falling and branches are looking frail.

I haven’t changed any of my care habits. Purchased it last year and it is still in the same soil. Still drains but I have been wanting to change it out. Afraid in this sick stage it is currently in might kill it.

Hoping to get some solid advice from some of you.

Thank you in advance.

Ryan

 

[BrianBay9]

A few questions first - are you keeping this outside or inside? Have you changed the location recently? I'm guessing you need to bring the ficus in during the winter since you pretty regularly get frost? Now that you're hitting 70's at least outside with lows in the 40's have you moved it back outside?

Your soil looks pretty "wet". Once this tree gets back on it's feet and the weather is warm you should consider repotting it into something more inorganic. As for now it doesn't look all that bad. All your apical buds are green. It looks like it dropped some leaves. Ficus are notorious for that, particularly if you move them to different light conditions. If you've recently moved this outside, you can cut back the leggy branches and stimulate some more new growth. The new leaves you get will be better adapted to the new light conditions.

 

[rollwithak]

I was

A few questions first - are you keeping this outside or inside? Have you changed the location recently? I'm guessing you need to bring the ficus in during the winter since you pretty regularly get frost? Now that you're hitting 70's at least outside with lows in the 40's have you moved it back outside?

Your soil looks pretty "wet". Once this tree gets back on it's feet and the weather is warm you should consider repotting it into something more inorganic. As for now it doesn't look all that bad. All your apical buds are green. It looks like it dropped some leaves. Ficus are notorious for that, particularly if you move them to different light conditions. If you've recently moved this outside, you can cut back the leggy branches and stimulate some more new growth. The new leaves you get will be better adapted to the new light conditions.

I was very curious about that. Yes, I moved it back outside as we pretty much starting hitting spring here in Central California during late Feb. However, the leaves shedding (more than usual) started while it was still indoors. I though maybe the warmer air would help dry the soil. It is also under a clear roof covering that slows low amounts of filtered light, so it’s not very direct harsh light.

I will cut back some of the leggy branches and repot in a month or two. Thanks for the reply Brian

 

[rollwithak]

A few questions first - are you keeping this outside or inside? Have you changed the location recently? I'm guessing you need to bring the ficus in during the winter since you pretty regularly get frost? Now that you're hitting 70's at least outside with lows in the 40's have you moved it back outside?

Your soil looks pretty "wet". Once this tree gets back on it's feet and the weather is warm you should consider repotting it into something more inorganic. As for now it doesn't look all that bad. All your apical buds are green. It looks like it dropped some leaves. Ficus are notorious for that, particularly if you move them to different light conditions. If you've recently moved this outside, you can cut back the leggy branches and stimulate some more new growth. The new leaves you get will be better adapted to the new light conditions.

Also, all of the branches aren’t with green buds... several look to be black and the rest of the branch dying off..... they did at one point have green buds, but never sprouted.

 

[Forsoothe!]

While you're at it, you can trim it down to less leggy right now and put it in more sun.

I can't speak to your climate, but for mine, I keep them in full sun in summer. They can handle dry pretty well as well as pretty wet. One day without water won't harm them, so I would get rid of that tray and encourage wet, dry, wet, dry cycling. My houseplant fig are in larger pots, and I water them once a week.

 

[rollwithak]

While you're at it, you can trim it down to less leggy right now and put it in more sun.
View attachment 286427
I can't speak to your climate, but for mine, I keep them in full sun in summer. They can handle dry pretty well as well as pretty wet. One day without water won't harm them, so I would get rid of that tray and encourage wet, dry, wet, dry cycling. My houseplant fig are in larger pots, and I water them once a week.

Thank you. My climate is fairly severe at times. I’m the mid Summer we can reach 110F no problem so during those times, would you still recommend direct sunlight?

 

[sorce]

I'd get rid of the "humidity tray" and just water it once good every day, regardless of if you think it needs it or not.

Check for pests.

Mine been down hill for a while and I just found this scale.

Sorce

 

[Forsoothe!]

Thank you. My climate is fairly severe at times. I’m the mid Summer we can reach 110F no problem so during those times, would you still recommend direct sunlight?

I have nothing on that. A fellow Californicator will have to speak to 110°. I don't drink coffee that hot.

 

[BrianBay9]

Nothing likes 100 +. When it's that hot everything needs some shade

 

[rollwithak]

Here are some additional pictures showing the branches that clearly seem to be dying....

@sorce I checked for scale and I'm not sure how it would appear on this b**ch but the leaves seemed clear and the bark looks like it has some texture but I'm unsure if that's just the way the she goes or if it's a pest.

 

[sorce]

Yeah it looks ok, but they hide well.

Once you see em, you start seeing em.

There's a little looking like mite webbing in the top of the first pic.

Sorce

 

[StoneCloud]

There's a little looking like mite webbing in the top of the first pic.

Sorce

I see this as well. spider mites.

Ficus usually are resistant to them with the waxy leaves...unless they're weak.

 

[rollwithak]

I will definitely look into the spider mites. I know that there are regular spiders around my yard too that run webs from time to time.

 

[StoneCloud]

I will definitely look into the spider mites. I know that there are regular spiders around my yard too that run webs from time to time.

Regular spiders are good. Some insecticide soap will take care of the mites

 

[shinmai]

Here are some additional pictures showing the branches that clearly seem to be dying....

@sorce I checked for scale and I'm not sure how it would appear on this b**ch but the leaves seemed clear and the bark looks like it has some texture but I'm unsure if that's just the way the she goes or if it's a pest.

View attachment 286620View attachment 286621View attachment 286622View attachment 286623

They do not look to me like they are dying. Dropping leaves, perhaps yes, but some trees will drop leaves for no apparent reason. The branch tips also don’t appear desiccated . One simple test is to bend a few of the fine branchlets. If they are limber and flexible, your issue is probably temporary and fixable. When they’re brittle and snap easily, the problem is likely more worrisome.
I would also strongly encourage using a granulated systemic insecticide.

 

[sorce]

Once you see em, you start seeing em.

See that SOBMF?

Sorce

 

[rollwithak]

View attachment 286914
View attachment 286915
View attachment 286916
View attachment 286917

See that SOBMF?

Sorce

Yeah I see that Fer.... You scratch that sombich off?

 

[sorce]

You scratch that sombich off?

Yeah...and what I get for trying to take pictures is losing that MFR when it flipped off! Hell with it.

Bastards.

Sorce

 

[rollwithak]

Yeah...and what I get for trying to take pictures is losing that MFR when it flipped off! Hell with it.

Bastards.

Sorce

It totally was scale Bro!!! Sh*t!!!! What are you doing to treat yours. Any natural oils?

I’m combing over mine with a fine tooth comb to get all of them off.....

 

[rollwithak]

Yeah...and what I get for trying to take pictures is losing that MFR when it flipped off! Hell with it.

Bastards.

Sorce

You think now would be a bad time to repot it?