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What's up with my plant? :-(

abrink1509394abrink1509394 Posts: 10
in Plants
I have this house plant and every year, it will drop some leaves in the fall, but this year, it seems to be trying to drop them all. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe it needs more/less water? Maybe it already outgrew this pot? Maybe it sucked all the nutrients from the soil? Thanks in advance! 
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Is it Ficus benjamina (weeping fig)? They have a tendency to drop leaves if they don't like the conditions, or if there is a change in conditions. Maybe it gets colder near the windows, or draughty, in the autumn?
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    Is the soil dry when you stick your finger in? Have you taken it out of it's pot to see if the soil is dry (may need a thorough soak if it's got bone dry),or very wet and the roots are drowning? Do you feed it? Is it in light but not full sun? Or cold or in a draft as @jennyj suggests?
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    You can slip the plant out of its pot and see what the roots look like.  
  • abrink1509394abrink1509394 Posts: 10
    JennyJ said:
    Is it Ficus benjamina (weeping fig)? They have a tendency to drop leaves if they don't like the conditions, or if there is a change in conditions. Maybe it gets colder near the windows, or draughty, in the autumn?
    It might be a weeping fig, I am not exactly sure. It was a gift many years ago - it does not flower, so I am not sure if that means it is something else?
  • abrink1509394abrink1509394 Posts: 10
    SueAtoo said:
    Is the soil dry when you stick your finger in? Have you taken it out of it's pot to see if the soil is dry (may need a thorough soak if it's got bone dry),or very wet and the roots are drowning? Do you feed it? Is it in light but not full sun? Or cold or in a draft as @jennyj suggests?
    It is not dry - I water it about every other week (just a little drink, not a soaking). It gets sun most of the day because I have it in my sunroom where all the windows are. I am in Wisconsin in the US, so it stays indoors. We have very cold and snowy winters here. I don't feed it, but am totally thinking maybe I should. The more I watch episodes of Gardeners' World, the more I think I really need to give it new soil. I only added some soil 5 years ago when I repotted it to the current pot.
  • abrink1509394abrink1509394 Posts: 10
    Fire said:
    You can slip the plant out of its pot and see what the roots look like.  
    I think I will have to do that - possibly give it a larger pot and more soil - then I can look at the roots and make sure they look alright. The plant is old - I have had it 14 years, and it was in my mother-in-laws house prior to that for (I think) 10 years or longer. 
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    Change the soil and maybe a bigger pot. I saved my ficus years ago by doing just that. A reminder that it's time to do it again, thank you 😊 

    Luxembourg
  • FireBat69FireBat69 Posts: 29
    Can I follow this thread? as my Weeping Fig is wilting after 2 years... I might have the same problem But I live in the Tropical Country of Philippines.
    I really don't have a Good backyard. But used my balcony as container Gardening place. No stopping from my passion.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I think you should do all three of the things you’ve thought of . Imagine yourself as the plant ,would you want to spend your life in shoes that are much too small ,never being fed and seldom getting a drink ? I think you have your answer 😊
  • FireBat69FireBat69 Posts: 29
    are you ok bcpathome? Yes the small pot maybe my concern but not too small. but the plant nutrients and watering is not my issue. If you are suggesting, please be specific. we are not  plant psychologist to guess your mind  :)
    I really don't have a Good backyard. But used my balcony as container Gardening place. No stopping from my passion.
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