It is very disheartening when you find a carpet of leaves underneath your favorite plant. If you want to know the answers to why is my weeping fig shedding leaves, then read on!
There are a good deal of different reasons that a plant can start to drop its leaves. We are going to look into the most common reasons, and what you can do to fix this.
What You'll Learn Today
Why Is My Weeping Fig Shedding Leaves?
The weeping fig actually has a bit of a reputation for being “difficult” because there are lots of things that will make it shed its leaves.
Ficus Benjamina is very sensitive to changes in its environment, and will often drop leaves if it is shocked by something.
Temperature changes are the biggest issue for a weeping fig – if the weather suddenly gets colder, you may find yourself sweeping up more leaves than normal.
If it is kept near a draughty spot, you will likely notice a lot of fallen leaves. Don’t allow it to get too cold!
As the days shorten, less light can also make a weeping fig quite unhappy and cause it to lose leaves.
Overwatering is a sure-fire way to make your weeping fig shed leaves – in fact, it can kill it outright! Only water when the soil is dry up to 2-3cm.
Conversely, underwatering can also cause leaf drop. If it has dried out completely, soak it in a container of water until the soil has properly soaked through, then allow it to drain.
Although it’s not very common, pests and fungus can affect Ficus. Check the plant for signs of bug infestations, and deal with them accordingly.
How Do I Stop My Ficus From Dropping Leaves?
Dropped leaves are an eyesore and can be a worry too – but there are ways to stop it from happening. In the case of weeping figs, it’s all about the growing conditions!
- They must be kept warm. Temperatures less than 16 degrees C will stress the plant and cause leaf drop.
- Indirect sunlight is a must. Although they like to be warm, Ficus Benjamina won’t like to be scorched!
- Ensure the soil is well draining. Sitting in soggy soil is pretty much a death sentence for a weeping fig – ensure that the water can drain away.
- Try to avoid sudden temperature changes. If your weeping fig is in a draught, or the weather suddenly gets cold, they can react by dropping leaves.
- Check for bugs and fungus. Although they are not too susceptible to creepy crawlies, there are some insects and fungal infections that can cause problems.
- Don’t move them too much. A little rotation to ensure the whole plant gets light is one thing, completely moving them from place to place can stress them out.
- Avoid repotting. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t repot your Ficus – it will shock them so much they may end up completely bald!
Can A Ficus Come Back After Losing All Leaves?
These plants are very prone to leaf dropping, and in extreme cases they might even lose ALL their leaves all at once.
Don’t panic, however! If your Ficus has lost all of its leaves, don’t give up on it just yet…
They are pretty used to shedding leaves, and can still grow – and grow new leaves – even if all the previous foliage has fallen off.
It won’t look the best for a while as the new leaves are growing in, but it’ll be worth it when your Ficus is back to its bushy, vibrant self.
This short video give you some tips on how resilient a weeping fig can be, despite appearing completely dead:
Is My Fig Tree Dead If It Loses All Its Leaves?
Although a weeping fig with no leaves at all is a sad sight, it just might not be the end for your beloved Ficus…
These trees can lose all their leaves (and they will, if they are shocked by temperature changes or overwatering), but it does not necessarily mean they are done for.
Plants will lose leaves if their conditions are not ideal, to preserve the strength to ensure they stay alive.
Ficus Benjamina is notorious for leaf dropping, but remember that even if they all come off, don’t throw away the trunk – it is almost certainly saveable!
If your weeping fig has lost all its leaves but the trunk is still healthy, you can be sure that it will regrow its foliage if it is placed in the right conditions.
As long as it has bright, indirect light, a stable temperature with no draughts, a well draining soil and not excessive watering, your weeping fig should bounce right back.
How Do You Keep Weeping Figs Healthy?
The most important thing for a weeping fig, as with most plants, is the growing conditions. If these are not right, it will certainly let you know!
Bright but indirect sunlight is key – place it near a window but don’t let the sunlight fall directly on the plant.
Make sure your soil is well-draining – soil that holds the water is really not ideal for this plant that doesn’t need too much to drink
Try to not disturb it. Ficus Benjamina are sensitive, and won’t react well to being shifted around the place or repotted often.
Give some fertiliser in the summer months – diluted liquid fertiliser is ideal, and will give your Ficus a bit of a boost.
Prune it when it gets too big, or starts to look leggy. This will encourage new growth, and help the plant to produce new foliage.
Once you know how, it is actually quite easy to keep weeping figs healthy – despite their reputation for being difficult to grow.
A deciduous tree losing all its leaves is not too awful, because you know they’ll come back. However, it can be startling to come home and find your weeping fig has suddenly gone bald!
As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why this may be happening, and also a lot of things you can do about it too.
