Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Ficus help for a beginner

madalina.grigoriearBf60KUmadalina.grigoriearBf60KU Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi everyone,

I have had this ficus tree for about 9 years and now it started to wither on top and while at the bottom it's trying new leaves they don't seem to be doing really well. Shall I repot in another pot with new soil and cut out the dry parts?

Any other advice on what to feed to help the plant out a bit would be welcome!

Many thanks
Maddy


Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Hi Madalina.
    That is one sick looking houseplant. There are many reasons for a plant to lose its leaves. Has it been moved to a new position recently? Do you normally feed the plant and when was it last repotted in new soil? Can you see small insects on the plant?



  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Is it planted straight into a pot with no drainage holes? I can't be sure from the picture.
  • madalina.grigoriearBf60KUmadalina.grigoriearBf60KU Posts: 4
    Hi Ceres, thank you very much for taking the time to respond. We did not move it at all (just for the picture) - it's placed in an area with half sun. No bugs as far as I can see. I feed it with house plant focus once a month. I might have overwatered it a few months ago. It might be the wrong pot for it as well. 
  • madalina.grigoriearBf60KUmadalina.grigoriearBf60KU Posts: 4
    Hi floralies, thank you very much for taking the time to respond. No the pot does not have drainage, as from what I've been reading online could be part of the problem. It's been in this pot for some time when it looked much better. Considering repotting in another pot with a drainage hole.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Take it outside on a warm day and free it from its pot.  You'll probably find the roots have half rotted - or worse - and the compost is very sour.   Cut off any roots that look rotten and remove all the obvious dead growth from up top using clean, sharp secateurs and then re-pot in fresh, loam based compost such as John Innes no 3 and water it well but let it drain.  Make sure you use a proper planting pot with drainage holes.

    Then bring it back indoors to a light spot but not in full sun and stand it in a saucer or a cache-pot to catch excess water then treat it kindly.   I have a very large ficus which goes outside for summer holidays out of direct sunlight.  I don't want to use a bigger pot now so every spring I remove some of the surface compost and refresh it and then use a feed for leafy plants every spring.   

    Every month or so I wheel it into the shower, minus its cache-pot, so I can remove dust from leaves with a gentle rinse and make sure the compost and roots get a good soaking but also drain completely.   This system also helps the plant stay healthy when the air gets drier when the CH comes on for winter. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • madalina.grigoriearBf60KUmadalina.grigoriearBf60KU Posts: 4
    Hi Obelix! Thank you so much for the great advice. This step by step approach is immensely helpful.  :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Good luck.  Hope it recovers as they can be very graceful plants.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.