Get the stone off the top of the soil and don't replace it. It's in the way of various things, plus your method of judging dryness is not ideal. You need to water til it comes out the drain holes, but then wait til the majority of the soil is dry again before repeating. The tree needs more light and warmth than it's getting. Forget the Superthrive, but do give it more fertilizer than you've been doing. Don't spoil it, just make sure it does have what it needs. Good luck.

I've found by spraying the leaves with a heavily diluted miracle grow fertilizer helps Ficus b. remain healthy and lush.....do it outdoors in the shade in warmer months only,and occasionally in cooler months.

Thanks for the tips folks!

Ok, so it's too cold, and it's not getting enough light.

I suppose I could supplement the southerly light with a flurescent, at least until spring is REALLY here... What temp would be ideal?

Will these buds open in time, or will they be lost?

Also, an ornamental rock is really in the way of things? Could you explain? It just sits on top of the soil and takes up less than 5% of the soil surface area....I see what you're saying about the method of judging dryness, but must I remove it altogether?

Thanks again,

dp

Anything up to 85 or so F. wouldn't be too hot, especially if it also has good humidity around. Impossible to say about the buds. I thought you were talking about a wall to wall layer of glued on pebbles that comes with a lot of 'bonsai' (cuttings stuck in small pots and called bonsai), so that 90% coverage would be bad, but an individual rock is fine (if maybe inappropriate for ficus).