Willow Leaf Ficus

[nurvbonsai]

What should I do next with my willow leaf ficus that has completely defoliated? Some people suspected scale, but members of my local club didn’t find any. We did a scratch test and saw green underneath, so it still
seems alive and the bending test showed no broken branches. I also decided to repot it today at the club meeting, from its original red nursery pot. One member was particularly helpful in walking me through the root structure and pointing out the long lines of roots were likely dead and that I should be looking for shorter, compact root systems.

In furtherance of my learning, I am equally wondering as I developed a routine of a non-routine of watering, if that is a factor into this equation. I watered as needed, but maybe I still don’t have it down of when that is the case. I’ve also had people tell me in past year that it was my poor lighting conditions inside that could be a factor as well. I’m working with what I have at the moment in grow lights.

As a novice, I thought ficus would be easier to care for, so I’m not sure where I went wrong. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[19Mateo83]

Mine do this as well when I bring them in for the winter. I just keep watering them and they eventually leaf back out. WLF can be fickle sometimes. I believe it is the lack of humidity indoors that does this. @Carol 83 , does yours does this too?

 

[nurvbonsai]

Mine do this as well when I bring them in for the winter. I just keep watering them and they eventually leaf back out. WLF can be fickle sometimes. I believe it is the lack of humidity indoors that does this. @Carol 83 , does yours does this too?

Glad to know I’m not alone.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I brought in my heat mat that I was using outside so maybe that would be good humidity?

 

[RaginCajun]

Just put it in its happy place and leave it alone. Dont let it dry out but just leave it be. It’ll come back