I got this beautiful ficus benjamina for Christmas. Never had one before, and have read that they are very easily overwatered. I have only watered it twice since I got it and the last couple weeks it has increasingly began to drop more and more leaves.
I keep it in my living room, which is west facing and gets probably a little less light than it needs.
The leaves are not mushy, they are turning brown, crispy and curling. My gut is telling me that it is under watered, but I need some sort of confirmation before I give him a drink.
I decided to pull him out of his pot to just look at the roots I can’t tell if the roots look healthy or not.
I would appreciate any tips and also I’m curious about what kind of potting soil they do best in. I will probably just leave it as it came as to not traumatize it, but I am surprised at the kind of mix it came in.
by Unlucky_Werewolf_677
7 Comments
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That plant looks root- bound. It likely needs a bigger pot and more room to grow. When you re- pot it, gently separate all of the roots that are stuck on the sides and bottom so they’re sticking out. And then you should be on track to a healthier plant.
How are you watering and when do you?
I’m afraid you haven’t gotten the best advice! It does not look root bound.
Oh lordy, do not consider increasing pot size, and do not mess with the roots. At the very least take it out and give it a gentle shake. Observe how much space the roots take up. It may be that it can go right back into the same pot. From your photo it looks like it’s fine in the same pot, but it might need better draining soil.
Ficus hate for their roots to be moist for too long. They can go dry a month when light exposure is low. You do not need to be soaking this plant daily, that will cause more damage.
The root color looks reasonable, it may be that the soil retains too much moisture. You can either remix the remaining soil with some perlite, and/or increase light exposure.
The leaves in your photo look like they have some damage from edema. That + you saying they’re dropping off tells me that the plant needs less moisture.
Root bound means that the plant has more roots than soil and if it’s root bound you have to water it one or two times a week to keep the foliage from drooping. Not dropping, drooping from dehydration.
Plants that are root bound can take up moisture, they just need to be watered more frequently.
Plants that have been overwatered can have root damage that will keep them from taking up water. Your roots look pretty good.
Not overwater nor underwater! That plant is dramatic, small errands? drop leaves! So Don’t keep moving.
✨SPIDERMITES✨
I could have ChatGPT write a long, contrary comment (look at me, Top 1%!!!) but am not that desperate for attention/validation. Several people have already given you good advice/stated the obvious. Your plant is root bound. The medium isn’t the best long term. Is that why you’re losing leaves? Maybe. There’s a few variables at play. It sounds like you’ve been properly conservative with watering. Great job! That’s the most common mistake most of us make. Address the most obvious variables one by one and see what your plant responds to—and great job thinking to check the roots! You’re a natural ❤️