skip to main content

Gardens Design Dilemma Other

Ficus Benjamina Help!

Rhianne Stallard

3 years ago

I’d be really grateful if there’s anyone that can help me with some advices as to why my Ficus Benjamina has suddenly started losing all of its leaves.

We are based in the UK and have just moved into winter after a cold autumn. The loss of leaves started to happen as the temperatures dropped and as you can see from the photographs, has worsened to the point that the plant is almost bald.

I haven’t moved the plant and it remains next to my patio doors with blinds where it gets indirect light all day. I water the plant every few weeks and I generally stick my finger a few centimetres into the soil to check whether it is dry before I water it. I don’t think I’m over watering and I do reduce watering even further in the winter.

It has been doing so well and had full beautiful green leaves but it suddenly started dropping leaves fast and is losing a lot of leaves all at once.

I repotted it last year as the roots were overflowing in the smaller pot. But it hasn’t really taken in the new soil and if the stem is touched, the root mass and old soil moves in the new pot in one complete mass, so I’m assuming there is little root growth since the re-pot.

I saved this little plant from IKEA 2 years ago when it was in a sorry state and it has been doing so well and showing great growth. I’m not sure what has happened for it to suddenly start shedding but I would appreciate any advice to save this little plant!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Sonia
3 years ago
I did comment on your other post identical to this one.
mii2
3 years ago
Central heating is a killer
Related Discussions
What floor plan would work in this bedroom?
Q
Comments (23)
I drew up to scale both rooms and actually like the larger room. I don't know how to show you the lay out. Thanks for the dimensions. (I had to convert to feet since I'm an Amazonian). Anyway First, draw it out on graphic paper instead of hauling the furniture around, it is so much easier. Normally putting the bed at an angle takes up so much more room that I often can't do it but in this case it works, in my opinion and looks great! So, as you enter room in area to your left there appears to be just enough room for your wardrobe. Then as you stand at the bottom of your bed put the right hand top corner just in about the middle of the window angling it towards the door. It won't be a ful on 45 degree angle, just enough to position your dressing table against the left wall. I put it about 21 inchs or 2 feet away from the wardrobe. Whatever works for your doors. This still gives you a little room to manuever , for making your bed, to the left of the bed when needed.. I would place the dresser across from the table a couple feet away from door opening. This is all tight, granted but looks interesting and spacy to me, at least on paper. The bed corner in the middle of the window gives a sense of planning and simetry. You actually could do the whole wall in a sheer but also could just dress the window maybe in an up down interesting shade, bamboo or something textural and if you want a soft swag at the top in a great fabric to pull some color up to draw your eye. You could place a tree, (ficus, maybe), or something architectural or sculptural, tall behind the headboard. Use your vertical spaces, anything to draw your eye up. Put a tall mirror at your dressing table. You really even have room with this arrangement to have a pretty good sized round table on the right side of your bed and even a tall, 12 inch deep by 2 or 3 feet wide bookcase a foot or so away from the window wall on the right side of your room. If you do things to draw your eye up, the room will feel more spacious instead of focusing on the furniture area. I'm loving it. wish I could fly across the pond and help you! good luck!
...See More
Need some help on What colour Please - Please help
Q
Comments (14)
Greg think you have made a great start, just needs a few colourful statement pieces. Firstly the chest of drawers are fab, my suggestion if you like them would be to utilise them in the lounge either side of the radiator under the window, for storing what looks like cd's the other side of the fireplace in these. You could put the existing cubes either side of the two sofa's. I would ditch the rug in the lounge, and get something bold and bright such as cobalt blue with orange/yellow. In the bedroom, keep the IKEA drawers and paint them either black or dark blue and have them adjacent to each other on the back wall opposite the bed, with the TV on top as someone has already suggested. The art work is great, but would swap it over to where the mirror is and move that elsewhere. Again ditch the rug, maybe an animal skin would work well in here, keeping a masculine feel. Pick some of the colours from the artwork for a well chosen throw and cushions for the bed, and don't be afraid to use some other accessories such as vases, lamps and dare I say candles!
...See More
Difference between a Juvenile and Adult Ficus Lyrata
Q
Comments (1)
The stem will thicken up as they grow heavier and need more support. Many also shake the plant to mimic wind which causes the stem to thicken. Once you prune and branches get larger the stem will thicken naturally. I believe their terminology is rather arbitrary and doesnt really make a difference. The best way to help your plant will be to get it into a good, fast draining and airy soil medium and proper watering and fertilisation, for this you will benefit greatly by reading posts written by Al (tapla)
...See More
pool plants in zone 8 9
Q
Comments (11)
How close would you like to have them? I would have them at least a few feet away to avoid any issues with your pool walls. Concrete pool are very susceptible to changes in water levels so planting new trees etc which require a lot of water may dry out the surrounding area and therefore cause your pool to crack etc. Also i would think about how the trees and plants shed, you don't want to have to constantly rake your pool of leaves and leaves can cause staining on concrete pools. This is a good blog for choosing plants. https://www.thespruce.com/poolside-plants-that-look-like-paradise-4063955
...See More
PRO
R.A Interiors
3 years ago
Boo :( I had the exact same thing happen with my Ikea tree (I can't remember the name of it) and sorry to say my little plant didn't have a happy ending! Mine was looking luscious, I watered it every week or so, I didn't change anything and all of a sudden it started losing its leaves and nothing I did stopped the shedding or brought any leaves back. I did look into this and I read a few similar stories from others and the recurring theme seemed to have been buying the plant from Ikea.

I know this was of no help but I hope you manage to save yours!
Ribena Drinker
3 years ago
Somewhere in my dim and distant past, I'm sure I had a similar issue with one. I seem to recall it was because it's in a draught. Perhaps try it in another location for a while to see if it stops dropping the leaves. It's unlikely to grow new ones at this time of year, but if at least if you can stop the drop, it should regrow some new ones in the spring.

Sponsored

More Discussions

Pre-teen bedroom layout

19

Kitchen appliances on show

1

Too much blue. what other color is right here?

32

panelling advice!

5

Opinions and suggestions on Howdens Kitchen Design

7

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.