F. Benjamina dropping new growth

007

I have a F. Benjamina shohin that's been in my collection for just under a year. I bought it from a bonsai retailer, repotted it with some fast draining soil, and have kept it indoors under fluorescent lights for about the past 7 months. In that time, I bet I can count on my fingers how many new leaves it has put out. The existing foliage is not yellowing or falling off, but there is hardly any new growth at all. What new growth does develop typically falls off once it gets to be about 1/4" long. I dont think that I am over watering, I let the soil dry pretty much completely then water (I check by sticking a toothpick in the soil near the trunk). I have to admit that my feeding regime has been on the side of lacking with this tree, but it was due to my thinking that the tree was stressed. Although lately, I have been increasing the frequency of feedings using a weak liquid solution with no change in growth.

Thoughts?

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bonsai411

007

It does go out for summer . . . not for another couple weeks though. I also have it on a humidity tray while it is indoors. Sorry, should have mentioned that in the first post.

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jloeschner

I tend to agree that you will see increased growth once it is outside for the summer. All of my ficus trees seemed to mope around all winter. They didn't die or turn yellow or drop much foliage, but they didn't grow, either. However, I placed them outside last week, and they have begun to take off. New growth on every one of them. On my larger F. microcarpa, some of the growth has reached almost 2"! I will have to begin pinching and pruning VERY soon to keep it in shape. For the record, my days have been reaching mid 60's to mid 70's and my nighttime lows range from mid 40's to mid 50's F. I am still getting rain 1-3 times a week,too.

Regards,
John

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