Ficus Religiosa (sacred fig) leaves turn brown and charred.

[brp7]

Hello,
This is my first bonsai with Ficus Religiosa (sacred fig) and what I did differently recently was adding NPK 16:16:16 fertilizer (granules) after I felt that the growth is slow with cow dung and bone meal as manures.

Now, the leaves have turned out to be like in the attached picture and there is another similar aged sacred fig which does not have any problems with the leaves.

Could it be that the fertilizer was applied more? Should I wait for more leaves and see if the problem persists? Regarding watering, it is monsoon here in India and I place the plant out to get the sunlight and day rain and take it off to a covered area at night in case it rains heavily at night.

Any ideas are appreciated.

 

[jason biggs]

Hi
don't worry too much about additives and fertilizer at this early stage...
India seems to have fantastic growing conditions in any type of soil - get the small tree healthy first and then boost it.

 

[Seraphim01]

So I'm a little late to this convo...lol about a yr late actually. But I have the same problem in zone 8 west Texas all year long all of my ficus religiosa ( I have 8 at the momment and I've given away another 6 more) do perfectly well in my climate, but as soon as august hits the leaves on some of them will turn brown and shrivel but only on some parts of the leaves. Not all the leaf does this. And I only fertalize my trees once a yr and that's as soon as the first leaves start to pop up after winter. Winter is when I defoliate them. But it's like someone takes a lighter or flame to parts of the leaves holds it for a couple of seconds then removes it. I've started to wonder if it is the sun scorching them. I have a nursery tarp over them but as soon as the sun hits a certain angle the tarp does nothing to help. And it's always the trees on the very top shelf of my plant shelf. I'll try to attach pics. But maybe yours is having the same problem I'm assuming you still have the tree, if so... check on it throughout the day to see if the sun is hitting it 100% if it is then I would move it where it will only get a couple hours of sun. I ussually just clip the damaged leaves off. Also did you check your soil to make sure it isnt too wet and only just damp? When they get sick they ussually droop like if they need water...I lost the mother tree to all my cuttings this way. I kept watering her thinking that's what she needed but she was getting too watered got root rot and died. Anyway hope this helps and I hope that the problem has fixed within the last yr. Also cuttings root like crazy so if you want more just put a cutting in water until the nitrogen bumps start to show, they are little white bumps on the end once those start showing you can either wait till roots form or you can place them into damp soil and not water it for a couple of weeks unless you have them outside in the shade then just water them when the whole of soil starts to dry out. Down to the bottom of the pot. I ussually bottom water them. They will root very easily. That's how I have so many...lol...hard wood cutting softwood cuttings large branch cuttings they all easily root...sorry this is so long I'm just very passionate about ficus religiosa...lol

 

[brp7]

So I'm a little late to this convo...lol about a yr late actually. But I have the same problem in zone 8 west Texas all year long all of my ficus religiosa ( I have 8 at the momment and I've given away another 6 more) do perfectly well in my climate, but as soon as august hits the leaves on some of them will turn brown and shrivel but only on some parts of the leaves. Not all the leaf does this. And I only fertalize my trees once a yr and that's as soon as the first leaves start to pop up after winter. Winter is when I defoliate them. But it's like someone takes a lighter or flame to parts of the leaves holds it for a couple of seconds then removes it. I've started to wonder if it is the sun scorching them. I have a nursery tarp over them but as soon as the sun hits a certain angle the tarp does nothing to help. And it's always the trees on the very top shelf of my plant shelf. I'll try to attach pics. But maybe yours is having the same problem I'm assuming you still have the tree, if so... check on it throughout the day to see if the sun is hitting it 100% if it is then I would move it where it will only get a couple hours of sun. I ussually just clip the damaged leaves off. Also did you check your soil to make sure it isnt too wet and only just damp? When they get sick they ussually droop like if they need water...I lost the mother tree to all my cuttings this way. I kept watering her thinking that's what she needed but she was getting too watered got root rot and died. Anyway hope this helps and I hope that the problem has fixed within the last yr. Also cuttings root like crazy so if you want more just put a cutting in water until the nitrogen bumps start to show, they are little white bumps on the end once those start showing you can either wait till roots form or you can place them into damp soil and not water it for a couple of weeks unless you have them outside in the shade then just water them when the whole of soil starts to dry out. Down to the bottom of the pot. I ussually bottom water them. They will root very easily. That's how I have so many...lol...hard wood cutting softwood cuttings large branch cuttings they all easily root...sorry this is so long I'm just very passionate about ficus religiosa...lol

Hey, Thanks for your suggestions. It recovered after some time. I believe the problem was over-watering. It had some problems after many months - possibly due to copper oxychloride that I added. Then I repotted it with fresh soil and it grew further. Anyway, the leaves of my ficus are too big for a Bonsai and I am trying to get a bigger cutting from a small-leaved religiosa to save time. I never knew that inside ficus religiosa there are species/types with varying leaf sizes. Also, I think, if I make it a Bonsai, I may have to defoliate it quite often and not allow the leaves to grow after a certain size.

 

[dancing with butterflies]

India I'm jealous of your growing condition lol


It could be fertilizer burn

 

[Seraphim01]

Hey, Thanks for your suggestions. It recovered after some time. I believe the problem was over-watering. It had some problems after many months - possibly due to copper oxychloride that I added. Then I repotted it with fresh soil and it grew further. Anyway, the leaves of my ficus are too big for a Bonsai and I am trying to get a bigger cutting from a small-leaved religiosa to save time. I never knew that inside ficus religiosa there are species/types with varying leaf sizes. Also, I think, if I make it a Bonsai, I may have to defoliate it quite often and not allow the leaves to grow after a certain size.

The leaves do get pretty big and even with defoliation.you can get them to a smaller size just not tiny...I did see a video from nigel saunders on his bonsai zone youtube channel, he has a religiosa that he has been working on for years. And it's a lovely tree. It's a larger bonsai but he also has some smaller ones you should check it out if you haven't already...I have one tree that I'm trying to get like his. There is also another youtube channel called "bonsai and all"...he also works on ficus religiosa. And he has many trees that are smaller. So far those are the only channels I have found that work on religiosa without mistaking them with rumphii. Even pictures on google when you search for ficus religiosa bonsai...most are rumphii. I got excited trying to get aerial roots but religiosa don't grow them...lol...didn't know that till I saw nigel saunders video...I'm glad your tree heeled. That's great news.