Question
I'm wondering what the best course of action is, to help this ficus return to
health.  It's about 5-6 feet tall in a 17" pot.  It's been located indoors in a
corner near a window that gets south/sw light, but the light is not that bright
due to trees outside. The part of the tree facing the room is fully leafed out,
and looks good; the leaves are a beautiful lush green; however, on the side of
the tree against the wall, and most of the top, almost all of the branches are
completely bare, but some are still flexible and appear alive, though leafless.  
The tree has recently been moved out to a covered deck for the summer
where it gets good light but no direct sun except for maybe a little morning
sun.  My friend asked me to look at the tree, wondering if she should try to
save it, or let it go?  The lushness and new leaves on the one side tell me it's
worth keeping. It's been in the same potting soil for probably 10 years, but
doesn't appear to be pot-bound.  There is alot of white crusty stuff on the
outside of the clay pot though, and I'm thinking it could benefit from some
fresh soil and a new (same size) pot.  I'm also considering pruning off alot
(all?) of the bare branches, and pruning back some of the leafy ones to
stimulate more new growth.  But the apparent life left in some of these bare
branches makes me wonder what the best choice is?   Should I leave some of
them? prune back partially? completely? not at all?  Will they leaf out again?  
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Mary

Answer
Mary, Ficus is a pretty resilient tree, I think your plant has plenty of life left in it,and it would be a shame to discard it because its a little under the weather; your first step is to change it out of that soil, it is most assuredly got a salt build up from years of fertilizing, and that is bad. When you pop it out of the container, break up the root ball so it is loosely packed and not bound up; put some drainage material in the bottom of your new, and larger container. Give it a good soaking before you do this, and afterwards also; place the container in an area where it will get equal light all around, and if this isn't possible, then rotate it weekly, so each side does indeed get equivalent light. I wouldn't prune it at all, just make sure it gets even light, and the bare side will eventually leaf out for you. Mist your Ficus whenever you think of it, this will deter spider mites and your tree will appreciate the simulated humidity. Nick