Ficus defoliating on its own under lights

[badatusernames]

I have a couple of willowleaf ficus that I've had under (good) grow lights. Good temperature, good humidity.

A couple of them have defoliated one their own - one completely.

I've had this happen over the winter before and were fine, but they were not in these ideal conditions.

Is this normal behavior or am I in trouble here? I still see red buds so I'm thinking it will push growth again, in spring if not sooner, but figured I'd ask...

I took them out and put them somewhere else - a gentler light and on a heat mat - but I'm wondering if they should stay under the more "real" grow lights to help push growth again...

 

[coachspinks]

If they have done this before and the current conditions are even better, they will probably be fine. Most variety of ficus drop at least some of their leaves when their environment changes.

 

[Paradox]

Ive had willow leaf ficus freak out and lose all their leaves.
Doesnt happen every year though, just a couple of times
Did they dry out a bit too much by any chance?

 

[badatusernames]

Ive had willow leaf ficus freak out and lose all their leaves.
Doesnt happen every year though, just a couple of times
Did they dry out a bit too much by any chance?

Very possibly though I thought they could deal with drying out (not for a long time maybe a day or two, and I've heard some folks say a week or more given the amount of moisture in them)

Normally I wouldn't be too worried but they were just in an ideal situation and I wasn't anticipating it

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Mine have done this and still come back.
Under watering and losing leaves is better( I think) than over watering and losing roots.

I have thought a couple of times about heat mats because my grow lights and trees are in the basement. It may be too chilly for them.

With no leaves just watch your watering even more closely since they are without leaves.

In spring mine go outside and most get repotted.
Once they get 2 weeks of sun the leaves come back.
I have done emergency repots if I think that I’m losing one but they do bounce back once temps get warmer. Even inside- it’s like they know.

Also check for pests. Use a magnifying glass.

 

[Carol 83]

My Willow leaf defoliated itself every winter. It sat lifeless for months every single year. Once outside in the spring time it magically came to life. It was extremely frustrating but that's what it did.

 

[badatusernames]

Awesome, thanks

Def have had it happen before and it was fine but the fact that it was in such good conditions made me worry

 

[Paradox]

Awesome, thanks

Def have had it happen before and it was fine but the fact that it was in such good conditions made me worry

Lets be honest here. Inside your house, in a humidity tent, under artificial lights is not ideal conditions for a ficus no matter how hard we try.
Its the best we can do considering we live in the great white north and outside up here would mean death for sure.
The fact that Willow leaf and other tropicals are resilient enough to withstand how we keep them, is frankly amazing.

For what its worth, mine are not in a humidity tent. I keep them on tables in my basement on trays to catch the excess water when I water them.
Mine get watered every other day, sometimes every 2nd day if they are still moist when I check them every other day.
I think as long as you are seeing those fresh looking buds, youll be fine

 

[rockm]

Willow leaf ficus are notorious for leaf drop at the slightest environmental change. That includes watering and drafts. It not an issue for the most part unless you start moving them around. Leave them alone keep them watered adequately

 

[penumbra]

I have several that defoliate or partially defoliate every winter. Coincidentally, these all spend their summers outside. I have one smaller Willow Leaf that has been in training for about 6 or 7 years now that never defoliates completely. This one has spent all of its life under artificial lights.

 

[badatusernames]

Thank you - great context and information, I appreciate it!

 

[shohin_branches]

I typically let mine get a little on the cooler side before I bring them in and that seems to help prevent defoliation. This year it went from 55°F to possible freezing overnight so they didn't get as much cool weather as I'd like and lost half their leaves when I brought them in. The small ones completely defoliated. Last year I didn't lose a leaf and was able to leave them out for a few nights just below 50°F. Sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate

 

[badatusernames]

I typically let mine get a little on the cooler side before I bring them in and that seems to help prevent defoliation. This year it went from 55°F to possible freezing overnight so they didn't get as much cool weather as I'd like and lost half their leaves when I brought them in. The small ones completely defoliated. Last year I didn't lose a leaf and was able to leave them out for a few nights just below 50°F. Sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate

That’s great to know - I think I brought them in at 55. In other years I’ve gone as low as 45 and they didn’t defoliate, but I figured I was just learning more and doing it “right” this year. There may be a lot of merit to this.

 

[Michael P]

I usually leave mine out until the lows are in the 40s. This year they rewarded me by dropping leaves on 2 January AND developing the first spider mite infestation of the winter.