Question
QUESTION: I purchased a Ficus benjamina (approx. 6 ft tall) ten days ago and the leaves have been dropping off like crazy.

The day the plant was delivered to my home, I placed it next to (not directly in front of) my living room window which faces north. During the morning and late afternoon, this window gets plenty of light, enough to see a shadow of my ficus. However, I was told that a north-facing window only gets "medium" light and not "bright" light as the ficus plant prefers. Next, I immediately watered the plant according to the instructions of the owner of the plant shop I purchased it from: I slowly watered the entire surface of the soil until the water drained out and reached the top of the saucer. The shop owner told me to leave the excess water in the saucer until it evaporates over the next few days to create humidity for my ficus. I was also told to wait a day or two after the water has completed evaporated from the saucer before watering again.

During the next six days, my Ficus was dropping anywhere from two to six leaves a day. However, on the 7th day, the day I watered my Ficus again, thirteen leaves had dropped off overnight and FIFTY leaves dropped during the day.  Since that time, the leaves are falling off at a rate of anywhere from 40 to 90 leaves a day (Yes, I do count them). Half of the leaves that are dropping off are green and healthy; the other half are brown and some are even dry and crispy.

As a last resort to save my Ficus, yesterday I purchased some gravel and made a "humidity tray" using the pot's saucer. I also purchased a "Dayspot Grow Bulb" and fixture and placed that above my Ficus plant. Thankfully, only four leaves fell off overnight. However, approx. 25 leaves have falling off so far today (half are brown and the other half are a healthy green). At this rate, my Ficus will be completely bald by the end of the month. Please help!!!

ANSWER: Hi Pam, your Ficus is reacting to its new surroundings and too much water; Ficus doesn't need this type of aquatic living conditions, and the water being left in the saucer is a sure way to rot the roots of your new plant; back of the watering and let it dry out so that the top 3-4 inches of soil are dry, before watering again. The leaf loss is not fatal, just a reaction to the above, it should send out a new flush of growth for your in a couple of weeks. The Ficus Benjamina is a very resilient plant and needs very little attention; watering "when needed" medium light and keep the leaves misted weekly along with a fertilizing once a month with a 10-10-10 granular and it should thrive for you:) Nick

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QUESTION: Nick, thank you for your prompt reply. You are a wealth of information.

I had a gut feeling that letting my Ficus sit in a saucer full of water for a week was no good. I will definitely follow your instructions and also not use as much water as before (I used approx. a gallon of water each time I watered my ficus). Question:Is it okay for me to still keep my homemade "humidity tray" to catch any water that may drain off?

Answer
Hi again:) certainly, it is always a good idea to keep water to evaporate around your tropical plants to provide humidity, but not at the base of any of the plants, where the roots can be in jepordy. Place your trays next to your plants and remember to mist them also.Nick