What the ficus is going on?

6 years ago

Hopefully someone smarter than me can help. We recently had 10 ficus nitida, Indian laurel, curtain fig (I honestly have no idea what the actual name is) planted in my backyard behind my pool.

I am having a hard time figuring out online how much to water these bad boys. I live in Arizona and it’s already over 100 degrees and from a far the trees look fine but up close there are signs I am doing something wrong.

I am currently watering these trees every 3 days with 15 gallons of water per tree per the instruction of the nursery I got them at. This seems like a ton of water to me and I feel like I am over watering them.

I don’t have a drip system so I water with a hose low and slow for about 40 mins to an hour.

I fill up a 5 gallon bucket and Multiply the time by 3 to make sure my 15 gallons is hit.

Here are the results so far less than 1 month since the plants were planted in my yard.

What am I doing wrong?

Too much water?

Not enough?

Pathogenic infection?

Should I get a disease control fungicide from the store?

Water issue, disease, heat..

What am I doing wrong?

I have a 90 day warranty from the nursery so I am trying to keep them alive for at least that long. Thank you for the help!!

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
how did you come up with 15 gals???

take a hand trowel.. or tablespoon .. and dig a few holes around the plant.. down into the roots zone.. AND FIND OUT how much water is down in the root zone ...

and only them.. will you know.. and be able to determine if what you are providing is sufficient ...

and if its dry down there.. skip the bucket.. and just use the hose to trickle for as long as it takes to get moisture down there ...

since they were recently planted ... they are stressed.. and probably will be for a year or two.. until the grow the roots to support the recent transplant ..

i am not too worried about a few ugly leaves after a transplant ... it would be rather normal ... the plant just taking advantage of the stresses ... to shed a few minorly damaged leaves ..

all and all .. they look pretty good ... lets try to not love them to death.. when it seems they are doing rather well ...

when in stress.. i tend not to want to slather on all kinds of remedies.. further stressing the leaves ..

and for sure.. they are stressed.. not hungry.. fert is not a current response ...

if these were installed professionally.. keep in touch with your seller.. should they start looking much worse ... in other words.. if you have a warranty ... which you said you do ...

ken
Embothrium
6 years ago
Your tree is sunburnt, apparently was not adjusted to the conditions you are now having when planted. As though having come from a shaded production or sales situation for instance.
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Bradley Falk
Original Author
6 years ago
Ken thank you! 15 gallons was the instruction from the nursery
Sara Malone Zone 9b
6 years ago
I find here that often full-sun woody plants need to develop a root system before they can get through the summer without burning. Sometimes takes 2-3 years. If you can shade it temporarily (I have a friend who uses garden umbrellas or shade cloth; I am too lazy and just wait) that is one way to go. Otherwise remember that it hails from summer humid areas (Hawaii and Asia) and while adaptable to dry air (I used to have one as a houseplant in a NYC apartment!), that makes it doubly susceptible to burning in your very dry heat.
Bradley Falk
Original Author
6 years ago
Sara thank you, shade is not easy in our location. I have researched over and under watering but if its heat issue I’m guessing the trees will be fine. They are all over AZ and they seem to be thriving. It only seems like 10% or less of the trees leaves are like this