Ficus Leaf Issue

Raindog

Sapling
Messages
28
Reaction score
7
Location
NE Florida
Can someone point me in a direction concerning the discoloration of some leaves on what appears to be a healthy Ficus showing constant new growth.
NE Florida, outdoors in full sun. We are experiencing very high temperatures 90-95°, rains almost everyday for a short period.
Thx
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2311.JPG
    IMG_2311.JPG
    193.2 KB · Views: 49

petegreg

Masterpiece
Messages
2,781
Reaction score
4,079
Location
Slovakia
USDA Zone
6a
...those holes, traces left by a leaf miner?
 

GrimLore

Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Messages
8,502
Reaction score
7,452
Location
South East PA
USDA Zone
6b
@Raindog - Up here we keep many types of tropicals outdoors all Summer. The Ficus varieties are in general poisonous to most insects so "if" they get chewed up it usually is light damage. Being very hot in full sun I suspect the damage, if insects, would start on the underside of the leaf. If it does not there is a possibility they are getting to much direct sun. Up here we have the best success with filtered sun on all Ficus.

Grimmy
 

Raindog

Sapling
Messages
28
Reaction score
7
Location
NE Florida
Thanks for your response. The sun really seems to cook these plants, but I have established a solid watering pattern and I notice that most of the Florida bonsai nurseries keep their bonsai and pre-bonsai in full sun. Using inorganic soil does require increased watering during these months and I'm thinking about adding some pine bark to help retain moisture.
Alan
 

StoneCloud

Omono
Messages
1,314
Reaction score
1,917
Location
North Carolina
USDA Zone
7b
This looks like it could be some type of fungus......

Do you water the trees and leave the leafs wet over night?

A spot of water could have also accumulated there and burned the leaf through sun magnification......

The only time I water the leaves is in the morning (7am)

unless it rains obviously....

The rest of the day and especially in the evening I do not wet any of my trees leaves.

It's so humid in Florida that once the sun goes past the tree line evaporation is at a standstill.....

I use chemicals, my approach is planned out and regularly executed and still get little things here and there...........one or two leaves no big deal...

But like always and especially in FL Make sure you take care of it quick....here things spread over night it's nuts!!

Hope this helps!
 

Raindog

Sapling
Messages
28
Reaction score
7
Location
NE Florida
I believe it was a mineral deficiency. The amount of water required down here in 90° + temperatures probably washed most of the nutrients out of the inorganic soil. But I've been wrong before..
Often in error, never in doubt
 

LanceMac10

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,798
Reaction score
17,176
Location
Nashua, NH U.S.A.
USDA Zone
5
A little scorch, no probs. :cool:

Sometimes the angle of the sun and the angle of the leaf combine to form a "hot spot".
 
Top Bottom