In autumn and winter, we can often observe excessive leaf fall of the ficus benjamina tree. There may be many reasons for this state of affairs. Therefore, it is worth knowing where to look for them and how to act to improve the condition and stop the leaves from falling. We tell you how to deal with this.
The autumn-winter season is a challenge for houseplants, especially for the ficus benjamina, which does not tolerate changes in environmental conditions. As a result, it often loses its leaves during this period. The main reasons for this state of affairs include:
- Sudden temperature changes – Ficus does not like drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. Therefore, moving it to a place near a radiator may cause stress and lead to shedding leaves.
- Dry air – too dry air in the apartment due to the heating season has a negative impact on the condition of the fig tree, because this plant comes from the tropics, where there is high humidity.
- Less light – in a natural environment, ficus grows in bright and diffused light. Due to the fact that the days are getting shorter in autumn and winter, its access to light is limited, which directly leads to leaf fall.
- Care mistakes – watering too much or not ensuring regular watering of the plant may lead to rotting of the roots or their drying. Both of these conditions result in the loss of fig tree leaves.
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When we notice that our ficus benjamina is starting to lose its leaves, we should immediately take action to help our plant. The first thing worth taking care of is: appropriate air humidity.
We can increase it by using an air humidifier or placing it on a stand with water and stones. It should be placed so that the bottom of the container does not touch the leaves. What’s more, we should also lightly sprinkle the ficus leaves once a day to prevent them from drying out.
In addition, we need to place our plant in the right place. The ficus should be placed away from radiators and drafts. It would be best to stand in a place with a constant temperature ranging from 18-24 degrees Celsius. Let’s also make sure that the plant has access to diffused light.
If we cannot provide the ficus with enough natural light, it is worth investing in a lamp to illuminate the plants. Light with a color temperature of 5000-6500 K will help maintain its vitality.
Additionally, let’s introduce natural care methods that will strengthen the ficus even more. It will be beneficial to use nettle decoction, which will provide the plant with many microelements. It will also be a good idea to enrich the top layer of soil with chopped banana peels, because In this way, we will support the regeneration of the root system.
Let’s also remember about regularly wiping the leaves, because the dust that settles on them may limit the photosynthesis process. It is best to wipe them every few days with a damp cloth.
