Ginseng ficus losing leaves is a serious problem caused by several factors like improper watering, incorrect lighting conditions, nutrient problems, insect infestation, and disease attacks.
Fortunately, you can stop this if you know about the cause. Continue reading to find out all about the reasons and easy solutions.
Contents
What Are the Reasons Behind Ginseng Ficus Losing Leaves?
The reasons behind Ficus Ginseng losing leaves are – among others – when you don’t follow watering protocol properly. In addition, nutrient deficiency and improper lighting conditions can also cause leaves to get weak and fall off. Furthermore, leaves can also droop and die when severe insect infestation or disease attacks.
– Incorrect Watering
Ficus Ginseng bonsai (scientific name Ficus microcarpa) needs optimal water to thrive. The tree will face stress if you don’t apply in the required quantities. The reason is that water is crucial to perform physiological functions like photosynthesis, respiration, etc. In addition, trees cannot maintain their shape without them, causing leaves to drop.
People sometimes apply more water than needed, which also causes trouble. When you give more water, the soil fills with moisture, restricting oxygen near the roots. This will stress the root hairs, and they won’t be able to uptake moisture and nutrients properly. With time, it will be difficult for trees to hold the leaves, and they will start to fall.
– Improper Lighting Conditions
When you see dropping leaves, you should also check how much light a tree gets. It is because both underlighting and excessive lighting can harm the ficus. Since it is not a big tree, people love to grow it indoors. There, light stress is common. When this happens, photosynthesis will slow down. As a result, leaves will become weak and eventually detach.
When you see ficus losing leaves in winter, understand they are not receiving optimal lights in this weather either. It usually happens when the temperature goes lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wondering do outdoor ficus trees lose their leaves? Well, yes, they do. The light and temperature can get more than what the trees can tolerate. This causes leaf scorching- a condition in which yellow spots appear on leaves. After some time, such leaves can separate from the rest of the tree.
– Insect Attack
Ficus Ginseng hates insects, especially thrips, aphids, scales, mealybugs, and spider mites. These insects feed on the leaves’ sap, which weakens them. When the infestation gets severe, you will see leaves turning yellow too.
If you don’t do anything to protect your ficus tree, the insect feeding will cause leaves to curl. This also impacts the photosynthesis rate, so there will also be a shortage of glucose. Ultimately, the leaves will fall off and die.
– Fungal Diseases
If you notice ficus ginseng leaves turning brown and falling off, the tree is getting damaged by fungal diseases. Root rot is the most common one that attacks when you add lots of water and keep the soil moist. The reason is that the fungus grows a lot faster in wet and humid environments.
In this disease, roots get the most damage. Therefore, plants affected by root rot won’t be able to take water and vital minerals. This weakens them; the first sign of weakness will be the leaf changing colors. Generally, leaves grow yellow first. Then, they will discolor and finally fall off.
– Nutrient Deficiency
Ficus needs nutrients to grow and maintain its shape. Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium are the most important ones. These nutrients form chlorophyll, which then plays a key role in photosynthesis.
So, chlorophyll production will be affected when ficus doesn’t have these minerals. As a result, photosynthesis will decline. The leaves will then start to have yellow spots. With time, the whole leaf will discolor and detach from the tree.
– Mineral Toxicity
Why are my ficus leaves turning yellow and falling off is a question you will ask yourself shortly after you apply too much fertilizer. It is because when you beef up the soil with more minerals, the pH will change. Nutrients will become unavailable when the soil pH alters, causing nutrient deficiencies.
Furthermore, adding more fertilizers causes root burn. As a result, root efficiency will decrease, and leaves will be first in line to get the next damage. Mineral toxicity is unlikely to happen when given organic fertilizers. It is the chemical ones that cause problems when you over-add.
How To Stop Ginseng Ficus Leaves From Dropping?
To stop ginseng ficus leaves from falling, ensure the soil has optimal moisture levels. It is also recommended to grow trees where they can get around six hours of light. Furthermore, if there is an insect or disease attack, follow basic care measures to prevent leaves from detaching.
– Water With Care
To stop leaf drop, the first thing to do is to apply water sensibly. A bonsai tree usually needs irrigation after two weeks. But the best way to know the exact time is to check the moisture condition in the soil.
If the soil is moist, it is better to dry it first to avoid overwatering. When it becomes dry, then apply irrigation with care and controlled amounts. Stop watering when you think the water you applied is enough to moisten root hair.
– Ensure Plants Get Adequate Light
Ficus bonsai loves the bright sun. So, make sure to let it enjoy plenty of sunlight. Grow the outdoor bonsai in those spots where it will get light for at least six hours. For indoor bonsai trees, choosing the perfect spot is easy. Place the tree near a window or door, and it will get the light it needs.
For ficus benjamina losing leaves in winter, you should use heaters. If the tree is growing outside, you should bring it inside first. Warm up the soil with mulch as well.
– Add Fertilizers Accurately
A ficus bonsai tree needs fertilizer only in the growing season, from spring to fall. During this period, apply one dose after every two weeks. It is also advised to use organic fertilizers, like bone meal, manure, etc. This will cover the mineral requirements; hopefully, you won’t see rubber ficus dropping leaves.
If you still decide to use commercially prepared ones, use liquid fertilizers, as the soil can absorb them far more easily. Please ensure that instructions on the label are followed, or problems can arise after the fertilizer application.
– Keep a Check on Insects and Diseases
Following ficus bonsai, tree care measures are critical to controlling insect and disease attacks. It is best to cut off any weeds you see near the trees as they provide shelter to insects and can also play a role in disease spread.
Replacing the top layer of soil with a new well-drained one is also advised. This will get rid of insect eggs and fungi residing in the soil. You should also prune off infected parts to control the fungus spread.
If you see many pests, spraying insecticides is the best thing to do. Also, spray the underside of bonsai leaves, as most insects reside there. Doing things like these will allow leaves to stay healthy.
Conclusion
All in all, you now know why ficus ginseng loses leaves and how to stop this.
Here are the key takeaways to refresh every important point discussed in this article:
- Apply adequate water and fertilizers to maintain leaf health.
- Let ficus enjoy the light for around six hours for seamless photosynthesis.
- To ensure leaves stay attached to plants, deal with insects and fungal growth immediately.
Follow these measures to ensure ficus leaves stay top-notch!
- How Long Do Hibiscus Flowers Last: Ways To Elongate - May 24, 2023
- Aeroponics vs. Hydroponics: Comparison of Two Planting Ways - May 24, 2023
- Monstera Deliciosa Light Requirements: The Ideal Conditions - May 21, 2023
