My little tree is dying and I don't know why

8 years ago

Hi,

So my friend moved away for the summer and left me his tree to take care of. He told me to water it once a month and all is going to be fine. However, it's started shedding leaves about two weeks ago and as you can see from the state of the leaves, looks like the rest is going to fall off in the coming weeks, too.

So I've got two questions:

1. what is this plant called, so i could check the precise conditions needed for it to grow (my friend doesn't know either)

2. Maybe somebody has some clue what might be wrong with it. Here's how it's being kept at the moment:

I water it whenever the soil gets dry, aka every 3-4 days

It is now being kept in direct sunlight for the past 5 days

It is left on the window sill throughout the night, too. It does get slightly chilly, about 11-14 degrees C (low-mid 50s F)

It seems like new leaves are sprouting, so I'm very confused.

Please help this darn tree survive, I know nothing about plants and really don't want to kill it, since it's not even mine haha.

Cheers.

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

So was it moved to your home from the friend's place? If so that's a problem for a start. Ficus can lose their leaves if conditions - light, temperature, draught, etc. - change. Also if the instructions said water once a month why water every few days? If it's been moved try to find it a place as near as possible in conditions to where it came from and follow the instructions. If you do that you can't be blamed if there's a problem. Even if it completely defoliates don't throw it out. It may well recover once it's back home in its normal habitat.

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Comments (6)

Matas Merfeldas
Original Author
8 years ago
@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK ah thanks.

And I made a mistake - he told me to water it once a week, not once a month haha
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
are there new leaves forming on the tips.. i cant quite tell from the pix ...

is that window always open??

how different is your location from his ... in terms of light..wind... sun.. etc ...???

i suspect shock from moving it to the new location ... changing all the cultural variables ....

water when it need water ... a new location might cause it to need more or less water ...

ken
PRO
Tall Timbers Tree Services
8 years ago
Ken is correct. The change of environment is one of the factors of causing your cute little tree to shred leaves.

Having few leaves dropping from the tree will not hurt it, but if it's losing more than a few, try to keep the tree's environment as stable as possible and keep it away from drafty doors and windows, heaters and air conditioners. Keep humidity in its place and most importantly, do not move it. Water it whenever the soil is dry and make sure that the pot has good drainage. Get it enough light. Not too little and not too much light.
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
8 years ago
Nobody has mentioned that this appears to be a Bonsai ficus, so will require different cultural methods from a normal potted one. Agree that Ficus are notorious for leaf-drop when moved, but may be worth noting some of the special requirements for Bonsai trees.

Indoor Bonsai Tree Care
jalcon
8 years ago
Buy him a new one for $30 bucks at your nearest garden center. He won't know the difference, lol