Weeping figs may drop their leaves in response to any of the following conditions.
1. Overwatering: When plants are watered too frequently or soil drainage is poor, the roots are susceptible to root-rotting fungi. Weak and decaying roots cannot provide enough water and nutrients for proper plant growth.
2. Underwatering: Weeping figs need constantly moist soil. If plants are not watered frequently enough, or the soil is not thoroughly soaked at each irrigation, they respond by dropping their leaves.
3. Insufficient light: Weeping figs need bright indirect light or direct sunlight for best growth. They may drop their leaves even in locations that are bright enough for most other foliage plants.
4. Transplant shock: Transplanting always results in some disturbance to the rootball. Weeping figs are likely to drop some leaves even when the disturbance is minimal.
5. Changes in environment: Drafts and extreme fluctuations in temperature, light levels, and watering patterns are likely to cause leaf drop. When a greenhouse-grown plant is brought into a drier, darker, cooler home environment, it will often respond to the change by dropping many of its leaves.
The numbered solutions below correspond to the numbers in the analysis.
1. Allow the plant to dry out slightly between waterings. The soil just beneath the surface should be moist but not wet when you water. Empty the saucer after the pot has drained. If the pot is not draining well, transplant to a pot with a good drainage hole, and use a light, well-draining soil mix.
2. Check the soil periodically. Water when the soil just below the surface is still moist, but is no longer wet.
3. Move plants to a location in bright, indirect light or direct sunlight. If the plants have been growing in a dark area, first move them for 2 weeks to a location that receives bright, indirect light or only 1 to 2 hours of morning sun; then place them in direct sunlight.
4. Transplant weeping figs carefully, so as not to disturb the rootball. Some leaf drop after transplanting is normal. The plant will stop dropping leaves after a few weeks if given proper care.
5. Avoid drafty areas and sudden environmental changes. Place new plants where conditions are as similar as possible to those in which they were grown. Some leaf drop is normal for a few weeks until the plant becomes acclimated to its new location.
Plant Care for Ficus