Trees might react to cultural conditions (changes/limitations) immediately, but the symptoms often appear slowly, just as the results of less than perfect conditions might not be made conspicuously manifest until well after the plant was subjected to the cause. Very often, Ficus will be grown in full sun for a period, then acclimated to lower light levels for a period before shipping. At the time they are shipped, they might be stuck in a dark box or truck for several days, then jammed together indoors in a greenhouse or store where the lower leaves are completely shaded. The result of all this shading might not become conspicuous for 2 or more months after what caused it occurred.

If a grower can't figure out what's wrong by X-ing off all the most likely problems (over-watering/poor root health being a really big one, insects, disease, light, temperature, nutritional issues), it's often most productive to forget trying to isolate a single cause and concentrate on making sure all the cultural conditions the plant is influenced by are as close to the sweet spot as possible.

Have you grown other Ficus in the spot the one pictured is in and kept them happy?

Al

Hi Al!

Thank you so much for the reply.

We just moved into this house in December, so this is the first plant, ficus or otherwise, that has been in that spot.

Yesterday morning I moved it to a southern facing window in hopes that extra light will help.

This plant was a gift so I would like to keep it alive haha!

The key to growing a plant well is learning what is limiting it and correcting the limitation. Prolly 95% of the plants commonly discussed on this forum all pretty much want the same thing. A soil that you can keep moist/damp instead of wet/soggy, very good light, warm temps, and a good nutritional supplementation program. If you can get those bases covered (and it isn't all that difficult) you should end up with a healthy and attractive new addition. It might not happen overnight because plants have their own way of measuring time, but if you can provide a 'sweet spot' of cultural conditions and not ask the plant to tolerate what it's not programmed to tolerate, you should end up a pair of happy campers. Keep us posted and let us know if anything turns up that you need help with.

Al

Hi Al!

Thanks for the reply and the great advice.

I have read so many of your posts and your advice on soil composition, root health, and cultural conditions has really helped my plants thrive over the years :)

However, this plant is not so good. Every leaf is now brown and shriveled and crispy and the branches are starting to shrivel too.

The soil at the drain hole is still rather moist (I haven't watered it since I got it early January). I'm suspecting the roots are no good.

I'm going to call the nursery and confirm their return policy but I keep forgetting.

I knew the soil wasn't the best and it was really root bound, but I guess I was hoping it could hold out until a better time to repot.

Thanks again!

Does the tree seem steady in the pot or unstable, the later potentially confirmation of the root issues you suspect.

Thanks for the kind comments, BTW - appreciated.

Al