Question
Hi there. I bought a 6-7 foot tall pear leafed ficus in late
November. (braided trunk, large pear shaped leaves) It is still
planted in the pot it origionally came in. (a plastic pot with drain
and tray, attached. about 12 inches) The plastic pot is then
sitting in a clay pot whitch fits tightly, sealed botttom, no
drainage, decorative. the plastic pot is about 6 inches above the
bottom of the clay pot. (we were told this would keep excess
water away from the plant roots, if there was too much water.)
When the plant first came, it lost about 10-15 of its large leaves,
they turned brown and then fell off. Which was fine, adjustment
time. But now there are little brown spots to large brown areas
on a lot of the leaves near the bottom.  the plant gets a lot of
indirect light, the room is pretty bright but not in direct light. I
water it whenever the soil is mostly dried  or all dried out (once a
week or so). I checked and I dont see bugs, the spots dont look
like a fungus or anything like that, just brown spots.  Do you
think the pot situation is unhealthy for the plant? Our living
room is a little drafty but the spring is coming and it should be
warming up soon. ( i thought thats
how you did big guys. We have a 7 foot palm, purchased the
same day, same pot situation, same room in the house, is happy
and healthy.) It looks like a am s-l-o-w-l-y losing the guy. Can
you help me out?

Answer
Hi Heather,

Your Ficus lyrata is still adjusting to its new environment and will continue to do so for a while longer. The leaf drop and leaf spotting are both part of the same process.

The better, more expensive lyratas are grown under shade conditions in a greenhouse for 6 months before they are sold. These shade-grown plants hav darker green leaves and are better adapted to indirect house light. Those that are not shade grown cost less, but they have a much harder time acclimating. Yours falls in the latter category.

If possible move your tree to a sunnier spot with more direct sun. That will help ease the transition.

The pot setup is fine and is not causeing any problems. You should water thoroughly as soon as the surface of the soil feels dry. Excessive dryness will also cause leaf drop and spotting.

As long as temps stay above 50 degrees, then temps are not a problem. Insect pests are also not an issue here.

If you have lost all or most of the leaves on a stem, then you may want to prune it back. New growth will emerge from a point just below where you made the cut.

The good news is that all of the new levaes that come in will be adapted to your plant's present environment. Eventually, nearly all of the older leaves will be replaced by healthy new ones. That is why pruning is necessary to keep the plant more compact.

BTW, I am dealing with the exact same problem with a 10-foot Ficus lyrata. The leaf drop has finally stopped and the new growth loks great.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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