Your reaction is non-verbal and yet unmistakable. If the birch fig is not feeling well, it will drop all of its leaves. Neglects in care are usually responsible for leaf loss. We have put together the 5 most common causes for you here with tips for solving the problem.
Why is my Ficus Benjamini losing leaves?
A Ficus Benjamini often loses its leaves due to an abrupt change of location, waterlogging, lack of light, cold or dryness. Optimal conditions and targeted care measures can support recovery and promote leaf growth.
Cause No. 1: Abrupt change of location
Characteristic of the birch fig is its strong location loy alty. If it is allowed to stay in the same place for many years, it will show off its most beautiful side. Sometimes a change of location in connection with a move cannot be avoided. If you assign your Ficus benjamina a place in the new apartment with these conditions and be patient, it will put on its pretty foliage again:
- Bright, not full sun location
- Colorful-leaved species on the south window with protection from the blazing midday sun
- Normal room temperatures not below 16 degrees Celsius
As the leafless Benjamini acclimatises over the following weeks, water less and fertilize every 14 days.
Cause No. 2: Waterlogging
Their tropical origins are mistakenly associated with a high water requirement. Waterlogging is one of the most common causes when the birch fig drops all its leaves. As the roots rot in the waterlogged substrate, they stop feeding completely, so leaf loss is inevitable. By repotting the affected birch fig in dry soil and reducing watering, there is a good chance of rescue.
Cause No. 3: Lack of light
In winter, even a location on the south window doesn't help against a lack of light if the sun doesn't appear for days or weeks. The birch fig then falls into a growth depression, which results in leaf loss. To prevent all the leaves from falling, simply compensate for the lack of light. Install a plant lamp (€79.00 on Amazon) with a red-blue light spectrum, 15 to 20 watts of power and a reflector umbrella over the light-hungry Benjamini.
Cause 4: Cold
Comfortable room temperatures alone do not meet the requirements of a warm location. Cold bridges form on the windowsill in autumn and winter, which cool the root ball from below. To prevent all of the leaves from falling off your birch fig, place the bucket on an insulating surface, such as wood or Styrofoam.
Cause no. 5: ball dryness
If the pleas for moderate watering of a birch fig are misinterpreted, the root ball can dry out during hot summer days. To reduce water consumption, the Ficus benjamina sheds all of its leaves. Now a dipping bath can change the leafless birch fig's mood again. Soak the dried bale in soft, room temperature water until no more air bubbles appear.
Tip
A birch fig can cope well with dry heating air if you increase the local humidity with a trick. If you fill the saucer with expanded clay and water, a touch of moisture will constantly rise and coat the foliage. If you spray the Benjamini with soft water once or twice a week, the leaves will stay where they belong even in winter.
