Ficus banyan dropping leaves

Cordon

Well I bet from the title most people have already formulated their response.

I have a ficus b. that is growing in a large grow pot. Until last weekend it had been growing inside under growlights. I decided to move it into my Mom's green house because I had noticed a lot of yellowing leaves. I have been fertilizing it, not as much as over the summer, but I have seen no new growth in the last three months. I moved it into the greenhouse in hopes that the high humidity, temperature and light would bring it out of its current funk

Any other suggestions?

Cord

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Joanie

Don't overwater, and keep an eye out for bugs. You know how to check for red spider mites, right?

Good luck!

Joanie

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sauce

Yellowing leaves are usually, but not always a sign of roots that are staying wet too long either from overwatering and or bad soil. The first thing I would do is pull it out of the pot and check the roots and moisture content of the soil. What type of soil is it potted in?

Dag936

Could it be over fertilization? If you're still giving it fert. on a regular basis, and its not really doing anything with it, that can kind of clog up the soil and make it hold water longer (this is just a hypothesis of mine, but i think it has some basis; i've seen over-fertilization turn a nice, fast draining bonsai soil into clay). Then with all the water held in there, you could have some problems like sauce was talking about.

-Billy

Cordon

I don't know how to check for spider mites. I did have a scale infestation, but that is now under control.

The roots look healthy. The tree is potted in a cactus mix which is quite free draining, and I would only water when I wouldn't feel moisture when I sank my idex finger to the second knuckle.

I have hardly been fertilizing it since I have seen no new growth.

I really think it was a low light issue, it was by a window, but due to the season has only been getting limited direct light for the last few months. The grow lights simply aren't powerful enough to stimulate new growth.

Hopefully after a week or so in much stronger light it will start to come around. Thanks for you thoughts.

cord

Joanie

To check for spider mites, just hold a piece of white paper underneath a branch and shake it. You'll see little red moving things if you have a problem...

I only mentioned it because sometimes in a damp atmosphere like a greenhouse it seems that bug thrive... so keep your eye out while it's in there.

Joanie

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Cordon

thanks Joanie, I'll keep an eye out for the little buggers.

I really just want to get this thing growing again

Spatch

Sounds like I have a similar problem. It was sitting in a small amount of water for awhile but that was about 3 weeks ago. I then noticed some scale and picked most of it off and gave it a spray with White Oil. Is this OK?

I am going to give it another session of picking off scale on the weekend. It seems have enough new growth/shoots at the end of the limbs so hoping all is well.

Hope yours comes good Cordon

Joanie

Spatch, if you want to discuss your tree, it might be easier for us if you put it into one post. You can post it to Beginner Q&A if you like. That way, we can all know what you've been helped with and what the entire circumstance is. Thank you!

Joanie

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