Willow Leaf Ficus

TBlake84

I picked up a young willow leaf ficus "mall-sai" from a home improvement center this past summer and have been growing it under grow lights in my dormitory at school. About a month ago, it dropped all its leaves in a three or four day period even thought I hadn't changed anything. I was worried it was dying for some random reason. Even though it had been four weeks, I stuck with it after I took a small branch and it still oozed latex and it is finally pushing out some new leaves (four weeks later). Is this something that these trees normall do? I had replanted it back in August, did that have something to do with it?

Finally, there seems to be these tiny white furry bugs (think pin-head size) on it that don't seem to really affect the tree but they do seem to leave behind these hair like secretions... what are these and should I worry about getting rid of them? Thanks.

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Cycas revoluta
Acer buerguerianum
Acer saccharum
Acer palmatum atropurpureum
Ficus neriifolia
Eugenia myrtifolia

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Mcspeed

Get rid of the furry bugs probably the problem, pick em off or spray em off with a soapy solution - do a search on Carls soap solution, I think that will do the trick for you. Watering could have been the problem also, indoors can be tough as winter edges into spring. Water as the soil approaches being just a bit moist, not dry dry just about though, then let it drink again. These can be fairly tough, if it's budding/leafing out again you should be ok.

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Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

treebeard55

McSpeed is right: willow-leafs are tough (tho not indestructible.) The bugs sound like mealybugs, and they probably are the source of your problem. I use an insecticidal soap (available at most garden centers), and/or systemic insecticide, which makes the plant poisonous to the beastie trying to lunch on it.

One other possibility: Ficus neriifolia likes fairly high light levels. I don't know the output of your bulbs, or how close the leaves were to them (closer means stronger light energy, and the increase is a square function.) But it might have been that the leaves were slowly starving for light as winter passed, until the tree just couldn't support them.

I say to go after the bugs first. And once overnite lows in your area are averaging 50 F or higher, move the tree outdoors into natural light.

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Treebeard 55

"To do bunjin is easy. However, to do a bunjin masterpiece is difficult." -- Susumu Nakamura, at MBS '07

subnet_rx

I would suggest going with the insecticidal soap (I use Garden Safe Houseplant Insect Spray). I'm kind of afraid to use a systemic pesticide indoors.

treebeard55

Good point, Kramer. If others use the room too, best to make sure they are advised of any precautions, and don't have serious objections.

I only use systemics indoors in my little enclosure for tropicals. And I never let my 7-year-old in there when I'm using them, or for long enough afterward for all fumes to disappear.

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Treebeard 55

"To do bunjin is easy. However, to do a bunjin masterpiece is difficult." -- Susumu Nakamura, at MBS '07

subnet_rx

Yeah, I actually bought some, but after reading the label, I'm not sure if I want to use it. I've read several stories online where people were temporarily blinded by this stuff. It seems like a last resort and only with good protection on.

lagunamadre

The bugs are a bad thing for sure, but as for the leaf drop, don't worry. Even down here in taco country, mine drop most, if not all their leaves in the winter.Larry

TBlake84

Is this something I should expect to happen EVERY year? I was under the assumption that this species did not go through seasonal foliage changes... or at least it shouldn't. I'm just glad it's bouncing back. I was surprised to see it start budding out after four weeks without leaves. It's a small tree (10") so I figured it was a goner.

After a google search, they are in fact mealybugs. there are not many of them but I will be sure to get the insecticidal soap ASAP. Physiologically, how do they affect the tree?

Finally, I don't water it everyday but is misting twice a day too much? Surprisingly, it's been pretty dry around here the past two weeks with dewpoints in the low 30s.

Finally, I don't think the light levels are a problem. My setup is two 22" flourescent grow bulbs and the top of the tree is only about 1/2" from the bottom of the lights and I have it all covered with a reflective emergency blanket-type cloth.

__________________
Cycas revoluta
Acer buerguerianum
Acer saccharum
Acer palmatum atropurpureum
Ficus neriifolia
Eugenia myrtifolia