I got a Mallsai for Christmas... help!

_gonzo_

Here are a few basics for most ficus.

If you are not in the south and it gets below say...60 degrees, you'll have to sustain it indoors with as much light as possible. Direct sun most of the day being ideal.

Inside, your ficus will need to adjust to your light conditions. They often do this by dumping leaves. Don't panic, this is natural.

Take the gravel off by all means and examine the roots underneath and around the perimeter for rot, insects, or anything that looks like fungus (commonly white and cotton-like in appearance). It's likely at least initially, that the soil it is planted in is probably fine. The tree looks healthy. So I would not mess with the root system yet unless you find something, or unless the soil is staying really wet for days at a time without your adding water.

I water mine only about once or twice a week as they mostly only require a daily misting. This may not be true for you, so try and feel the soil often. Ficus like damp, slightly damp and even dry a lot more than wet soggy soil. If your plant's window is near a forced air heater or vent it will dry much faster and humidity will become more of an issue. Eventually, your conditions will dictate the solution to a regualr schedule that works for you.

Ficus respond very well to general purpose plant food. If it is kept warm and getting good light it will get hungry. When you start seeing new bright green leaves start with something high in nitrogen like Peter's. It uses a 20-20-20 mixture and you can get it just about everywhere.

Mealy bug can be a problem on indoor ficus. It looks like small amounts of cotton tucked in and around the new growth. This usually shows up soon after moving indoors on infected plants and can be treated with numerous sprays. If they show up, while you're at it spray the soil they can infect roots too.

Then all you have to do is wait to see some vigorous growth, and you're good to go!

Cheers,

_gonzo_