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The birch fig is one of the most common indoor plants that Germans like to bring into their own four walls. Despite its popularity, it is not the easiest of plants and loses its lush foliage even with small mistakes in care. If your Ficus benjamina loses its leaves, the following tips will help you to stop the damage and restore the plant's vitality.
causes
Common causes of leaf drop
Ficus benjamina is a sensitive mulberry plant that originally comes from the East Asian tropics and northern Australia. For this reason, you must be particularly careful not to disturb the plant when caring for it. Above all, the location proves to be extremely important for the birch fig. The following causes result in the loss of leaves of Ficus benjamina.
- relocation
- unfavorable location
- draft
- temperature/fluctuations
- lack of light
- excessive direct sunlight
- low humidity
- ball dryness
- Mistakes when watering/waterlogging
- pests
location
location problems
The location is the essential point to protect the birch fig from leaf loss. Several problems can present themselves here, which are mainly triggered by their loyalty to the location. Above all, avoid moving Ficus Benjamina by choosing a location that is not exactly the same or at least similar to the previous location. In the event of leaf loss, a site with the following characteristics should be chosen immediately.
- warm, not below 16°C
- bright
- no full sun
- lots of space
- Avoid dryness from heating air or ovens
- trouble free
Undisturbed here means that the plant should not be in the direct vicinity of movements, for example running children or pets. Even constant contact with clothes can be harmful to the birch fig. A suitable location would be a wide room with a south-facing window, where the plant can take a solitary position.
draft
Draft is harmful
Drafts are one of the biggest enemies of the birch fig and should be avoided at all costs. For this reason, if your specimen is near doors, windows, heaters, air conditioners, or gas stoves, be sure to move them to a different location. If possible, you can also change the air conditioning or the fan so that you don't have to move the birch fig too often. In any case, when winter is approaching, Ficus Benjamini must not be near the following openings.
- front door
- window
- Balcony, terrace or garden door
- hallway
- garage door
Here, the cold draft is particularly harmful to the plant due to the constant alternation between cold and warm air. This can extremely accelerate the failure and should therefore be avoided at all costs. Please note, cigarette smoke is just as harmful as drafts, so smoking should not be allowed near the plant.
temperature
Temperature fluctuations are unfavorable
In addition to a sudden change of location, it is important to pay attention to the constant change in the climatic conditions within the room. The best condition for Ficus Benjamini is a constant room temperature between 16°C and 28°C. Warmer is better here, as long as there is no accumulation of heat, which in turn would be harmful. The temperature fluctuations can also be limited by the draft tips mentioned above.
Avoid cold at all costs
Since the birch fig is a tropical plant, the cold poses a major problem for the sensitive roots. The plant should never be placed on a cold windowsill or tiles that are not warm. The consequence of this is the death of the roots. Falling leaves are a warning signal from the plant that the roots cannot tolerate the cold. If you do not have a suitable location against the cold ground, you should choose a base. The following materials are suitable for this.
- styrofoam
- cork
- coconut mat
Cut a suitable piece and place the flowerpot on the base. Make sure that the pot does not wobble and that the plant is stable. The base serves as insulation.
lighting conditions
The perfect lighting conditions
The right amount of light is important for the growth of the birch fig. A lack of light should be avoided at all costs, as the plant receives large amounts of sun in its original home. Therefore, allow the plant a location in a south-facing window, but make sure that it is not directly lit by the sun. Winter, on the other hand, is a difficult time for the ficus. Due to the lack of sun for weeks, the plant loses large amounts of leaves. Compensate for the lack of light during the cold season as follows.
- Install plant light
- Light spectrum: red-blue
- Power: 15 to 20 watts
- Reflector umbrella is recommended
humidity
balance humidity
Due to its origin as a drop plant, rooms that are too dry are not beneficial for the growth of the plant. She loses her leaves very quickly if the humidity in the room is too low. You should therefore use the following tips to protect the birch fig from excessively dry air, which is particularly useful in winter.
- keep the plant in the bathroom - there is always higher humidity than in the rest of the rooms
- spray the leaves twice a week - the water should be soft for this
- You can fill the saucer with a mixture of water and expanded clay - this combination continuously releases water into the environment and ensures higher humidity in the immediate vicinity of the plant
root dryness
Compensate for dry roots
The water supply of the plant is an important issue, because as with the location, this should be sufficient. If you water too little, the leaves will fall off very quickly due to the dry root ball, which can lead to the death of the plant. Especially in summer you need to water more. Proceed as follows if you have neglected to water Ficus Benjamini.
- to prepare, fill a bowl with water big enough for the root ball - be sure to use soft, lime-free water, rainwater, filtered or stagnant tap water is recommended
- now the planter is removed and the entire root ball is submerged - being careful not to damage the roots during this process
- the birch fig should remain in the water bath for about 20 minutes
- now lift the plant out and let excess water run off so that no subsequent waterlogging occurs - depending on the size of the plant, this may take a little longer
- the ficus is put back in its place and now you should make sure to water regularly, but less in winter
Tip: If it's a particularly warm day, consider spraying the leaves. Ficus Benjamini not only absorbs moisture through the roots, but also through the leaves.
waterlogging
Waterlogging - enemy of the birch fig
The waterlogging is harmful to a variety of plants, including the birch fig. Excessive watering will result in leaf loss, followed by possible root rot that could completely kill the plant. This is particularly noticeable on specimens that have been doused and are in a cold environment. In the event of waterlogging, proceed as follows.
- quick solution by draining
- thorough solution by repotting
Quick solution: Drain the soil in a separate container. Then only water again when the soil has dried.
Thorough solution: This solution is mainly for specimens whose roots are already rotten. Remove the plant from the pot and prepare a new pot with fresh substrate. Cut off the rotten roots and trim roots slightly. Now place the plant in the fresh substrate.
Waterlogging can also be avoided by:
- Pots with holes in the bottom
- Drainage made of expanded clay or potsherds
- regular emptying of the coaster in case of overwatering
pests
fight pests
If your plant is attacked by pests such as scale insects, spider mites or thrips, you should act as soon as possible. The following tips are recommended.
- Rinse the plant thoroughly
- Wash leaves with a solution of spirits and soap
- repeat every two days until pests are removed
- if ineffective, use pesticides