Hi, you didn't give many hints as to how you are caring for it, like how often you water, or how much sun it has, but have you checked for spider mites? Hold a white paper under the foliage, tap the branches and see if anything lands on the paper... tiny, tiny things that move (and check for tiny webs around where the trunk joins the branches). IF you see things moving, get some Safer's Soap spray and use it every 5-7 days about 2-3 times, after spraying the foliage with e.g. the hand sprayer from the kitchen sink. Also see if you can keep up the humidity in the room the tree's in (or is it outside?).

Thanks, Lucy. It's not spider mites. Let's see, I set the pot in it's own depth of water every 2nd or 3rd day, and it's getting less light now than it was, indoors, because I've had to keep the shades drawn because of the heat gain. Would it do alright outside? Or is that too bright?

My ficus thrives outside in shade. I have even gradually moved it into a quite sunny position. Ive heard that ficus commonly drop leaves when suddenly moved to an area that is either way more shady or way more sunny, but that they will eventually make new leaves.

I live in zone 7 in VA. When the nights are above 50 degrees I move my ficus out onto the deck that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. When the nights start getting cold they come back in. I did have to repot one of my trees because the soil I made this spring was not draining well. Zack

Ok- I've moved it to the outdoors; afternoon shade, morning shade, midday sun. It has been there about a week, and has stopped loosing leaves. The ones there seem to have a bit more color. And, it's putting out some new buds. I seem yo have been starving it for sunshine. I've also lost it a few branches. Oh well, it should replace them in a couple of years. Thanks, everyone for youe help and encouragement.

Connie,

I'm not an indoor bonsai afficiando but from what I have learned here and elsewhere over the last few years indicates(as do the 2 posters above) that even an indoor bonsai should be kept outside as much as possible in conditions as near as poss to its natural ones.

Generally, its the cold that will damage them so depending on your Zone, outside between end May and end Sept should be fine where they get plenty of light but not intense sun and no threat of frost.

It seems to me that most indoor species are probably jungle fringe/forest clearing plants (ficus certainly are)

Connie,
Look up Jerry Meislik's book "FICUS,The Exotic Bonsai". You'll find an answer to pretty much every question you might have about ficus.
Krys

Thanks Krys. Connie, I have one ficus that my wife likes as a center piece so I try to keep it looking good all the time. I go so far as to take it out on a pretty day and bring it in at night depending on how low the lows are going. I like my indoor/outdoor bonsai because I get to play with them all year long. Remember, having bonsai is more like having a pet than having a pot plant. Zack

Humidity is critical for ficus-if it is dry, they will stop growing and drop leaves and even abort branches-all the signs this has shown. This happens alot in fall as plant get closed up in the house more and more. There are several standarn remedies for low humidity -some of which work. Dont waste time misting. Group other plants close by to make a micro-climate, and place all of them on a pebbl etry will be a good start.