Ficus Benjamin - leaves fall, what to do with this problem
Ficus Benjamin attracts attention with its lush and dense crown, which is formed by numerous branchy shoots with leathery leaves. But the plant retains its decorative appearance only with proper care. One of the most common problems that Benjamin's ficus can cause is that leaves fall off, what to do in this case depends directly on the cause. After all, foliage is only an indicator of plant health. And ficuses are generally very moody. If they don't like anything, the lush crown quickly turns into a bunch of bare stems.
Why does ficus start falling leaves
One of the simplest and most easily identifiable causes of foliage is the invasion of pests. They are not difficult to spot on close inspection. Insects feed on ficus sap, so it lacks nutrients.
It is much more difficult to determine when a bush reacts with leaf fall to changes in conditions of detention or improper care. So, the reasons for the loss of foliage can be:
- Lack of lighting. Ficuses love good lighting, especially variegated varieties. Diffused light is more suitable for green-leaved species. But both species lack short daylight hours. Therefore, leaf falls occur most often in winter. Young shoots begin to stretch, and the leaves grow small, while the old ones crumble.
- Excessive watering. It leads to decay of the root system, which can no longer feed the aerial part and it begins to disappear. At first, the leaves turn yellow, and then they crumble, not even having time to dry.
- Dry air. If the tips of the leaves begin to dry out or they have a dry border, the room has low humidity. And the ficuses cannot stand it.
- Low temperatures and drafts. Ornamental ficuses need warmth and absolutely cannot stand drafts. From this, their foliage begins to curl, wither and crumble.
Ficus Benjamin - leaves fall, what to do
Having determined the reason why the bush loses its decorative effect, you can start saving it. If there is a lack of light, it is necessary to provide additional lighting for the autumn-winter period. And be sure to regularly spray the plant. Additionally, you can put a jar of water next to it, which will gradually evaporate. If the ficus gets cold, the pot needs to be moved to a warm room. At the same time, on a window that does not open for ventilation, in order to exclude a draft.
In the case of a flood of ficus, it does not hurt to immediately check its roots and change the soil to it in order to prevent or stop decay. After transplantation, it can be treated with a growth stimulant. And in the future, water only after the top layer of the soil has dried.
It is better to fight pests with special drugs - insecticides... They give more effective and instant results than folk remedies. After all, waiting is bad not only for the ficus, but also for neighboring plants, which insects can move to.