What is wrong with my ficus?

[Lamia189]

Hi guys!

I have had this ficus tree for about 14 years now. It has been growing beautifully until this past week when I noticed it losing leaves. I brought it outside to shower it with the hose. I do this every summer, so I didnt think much of it. Then when I brought it back in I've put it by the window, thinking that the spot further inside the living room might have been too dark for it. Now a few days later whole branches are starting to drop leaves. Baby leaves are curling up while the mature ones get brown spots like in the pictures. Please help, I've had this plant for so long I would have to have it die :/

 

[Tetters]

Hello @Lamia189 , and welcome to the forum. It is quite usual for Ficus to lose some of its leaves at this time of year, and it may well do this if it has any change of position. I can`t actually see any brown spots on the leaves, but they could possibly indicate a fungus ?? Neem oil could be used IF that was the case.
I wonder, as you have had this plant for a while if it needs to be re potted? Maybe some fresh compost and a bit more space would help. The main thing is that you have kept it in the same place for a long time, which means it quite likes its original position.

 

[oneeye]

Ficus benjamina will drop leaves when the location is changed. Tetters has a point that maybe its time to up-pot with new soil into a little larger container. I have ficuses that are about 11 years old, and I change the soil every year. This year I have one that needs a new pot because she has busted out of the one shes in. One goes outside and get morning filtered sun from Spring to Fall and back indoors in the Winter. I love Weeping Ficus benjamina because they are so easy to keep for many years. Also they are so easy to propagate from cuttings.

 

[Lamia189]

Thank you both for your responses. I will try and get some soil and a bigger pot for it. In the meantime - these are the brown spots I have mentioned before. Could this be a sign of over watering or maybe a bug?

 

[Lamia189]

Ficus benjamina will drop leaves when the location is changed. Tetters has a point that maybe its time to up-pot with new soil into a little larger container. I have ficuses that are about 11 years old, and I change the soil every year. This year I have one that needs a new pot because she has busted out of the one shes in. One goes outside and get morning filtered sun from Spring to Fall and back indoors in the Winter. I love Weeping Ficus benjamina because they are so easy to keep for many years. Also they are so easy to propagate from cuttings.

Those are stunning! Fair play for keeping them in such great condition. It's so rewarding to see them grow to such a size.

 

[cpp gardener]

It almost looks like sunburn on the bigger leaves. When you took it outside for a shower, did it get a good soak/leaching? As the others have said, moving a Benji is asking for leaf drop. I didn't see big brown blotches on the first set of pics, did those all happen after the move?

 

[oneeye]

Before you transplant, shoot a photo of the whole plant in the container and post it. Just to be sure!