Question
I have had my ficus for close to 10 years. Every year, in the fall, it drops LOTS of leaves.  Do I ignore, do I fertilize, do I need more H20, or less....HELP PLEASE.
It is around 6 ft high in a pot around 18inches in diameter.  The tree gets real thin during its molting...the leaves turn a yellowy/green before dropping...almost as if I am watering too much...so I stop and then it looks like it is dry.

Answer
Valerie,

Ficus trees usually drop leaves because they are not getting enough light, or they are getting too much or too little water, or they are sitting in a drafty location. My first advise would be less water, a pot with an 18 inch diameter is huge for that size tree, it is definitely in an oversized pot. Most plants are better off in smaller pots than in larger pots. It is too easy to overwater in an oversized pot. So my advise would be try to give it less water and more sun. Ficus trees love the sun and need as much as possible. Good luck.

Darlene