Help with Ficus!

catwom268

Please help. We have Ficus bonsai and Portulacaria Arfa Variegated. All are planted in Joe Bonsai Soil(bought from Joe Bonsai of New York). I water when moisture meter says dry,to make sure they aren't overwatered. But something is happening. All the branches are shriveling up and dying. So I prune them back to where it is still alive and a few weeks later,more shriveled. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Thanks.

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mrbonsaiman1959

Hi,

I've been growing ficus for over 5 yrs and had some problems here and there.
Here are a few tips that works for me:

1. Ficus love water but not over doing it.
2. I mist my ficus twice a day with a one tablespoon of
Ironite-Plus 7-6-6 and water in a regular spray bottle.
Mist before sunrise and before sunset. If you spray
while the sun is shining on them your leaves will get
tiny holes and they will fall off.
3. I submerge my ficus twice a week in water which was
standing for three days or bottled for five minutes.
4. During the summer I feed it Jack's Classic fertilizer just
a half a table spoon for every gallon.
5. I leave all my ficus out during the warm temperture, if it
ever goes down below 60 degrees they come inside!
6. Don't cut any branches while tree is in your condition you'll
stress it out more. Let it get new grownings.
7. Give it only a few hours of sunlight per day, best is the
morning time. (3-4 hrs)
8. Something I learned, don't change the soil too fast.
Roots dry up and plant will die.
Use a quater moist peat moss, a quater of bonsai soil and
2 quarter of regular potting soil. Mix it well and replant.
As the years go by when you re-pot your bonsai you add
a little more bonsai soil.

First do the repotting with the soil, give it pletty of water and start with step 1
from above. Good luck and feel free to contact me. If possible send me some pics!

Carlos

catwom268

Thank you so much for your help. I will certainly try your advice.

Spirit_Helper

I have found that most moisture meters do not work very well as to accuracy. I stick in a toothpick all the way to the bottom, let it sit 10 minutes, take it out and feel it. If it is damp/moist at least 1/2 way from the surface of soil, no need to water. It it feels dry, water. I water from the top 3 times, making sure the water flows freely from the bottom each time. I wait 5-10 minutes between each watering. I am thinking the withering is due to a lack of enough water...just an idea. I have only had a ficus for 3 years now, it is doing good so far, but this year it needs a repot...

Spirit_Helper

Oh yes...what is your light source?

lagunamadre

You did not mention if your ficus is kept outside. They need high humidity. Try putting it over a tray of pebbles that are kept wet, ( outside ) , and in the shade til you see signs of growth. Some advise against it, but my smaller pots, I submerge in a pot of water for maybe 5 or 10 minutes, when the surface looks dry, to make sure it is completely watered. I've never had luck with a moisture meter myself. Do the finger nail test on the bark to be sure it's not too late. Good luck

RedPine

Hello,

Are you able to share some pics of your tree with us? A pic of the tree, a close up of the sick foliage and a pic of the soil would be great. Thanks.

anttal63

shrivilling usually means good bye, but hard to say for sure without a photo.

__________________
Antonio . . .
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catwom268

Hi we use grow lights for plants. We keep them indoors all the time. Sometimes we put the trays under them with wet pebbles for humidity.