As long as the birch fig has its magnificent foliage, it delights us with its green or variegated varieties in living and working spaces. If the surrounding ground is littered with green leaves, the Benjamini signals discomfort. Read here why the exotic houseplant loses its leaves. This is how you can act correctly now.
Why does Ficus Benjamini lose green leaves?
A Ficus Benjamini loses green leaves due to repeated location changes, cold drafts, lack of light or unsuitable lighting conditions. To prevent this, the plant should be placed in a stable, draft-free location with sufficient light and an insulated base.
Repeated change of location causes the leaves to fall
Once your birch fig has settled into the optimal location, it will want to stay there forever. This pronounced loy alty to the location becomes noticeable at the latest when the green leaves fall after a move. Be patient for 3 to 12 months, as your Benjamini will take time to acclimatize to the new place.
Cold draft causes the leaves to fall
One of the most common causes of leaf loss during winter is sudden draft. Therefore, choose a location for wintering with the following conditions:
- A bright, warm window seat with temperatures not below 18 degrees Celsius
- Away from tilted windows that ventilate the room
- At a sufficient distance from the entrance or balcony door
So that the root ball does not cool down from below due to a cold bridge on the windowsill, please place the pot of your birch fig on an insulating surface.
Lack of light causes leaf loss
Choosing the perfect lighting conditions for a birch fig location is a balancing act. Bright sunlight during summertime burns the leaves within a short period of time. In a shady location, the Ficus benjamina suffers from a growth depression and drops its leaves. Benjamini friends struggle with leaf fall, especially during the dark winter months between November and February. How to act correctly:
- If there is a lack of light in winter, place the birch fig under a lamp (€23.00 on Amazon)
- You can choose to hang a daylight lamp or a special plant lamp over the crown
By using an artificial light source to banish the darkness for at least 8 hours a day, your Benjamini will see no reason to shed its leaves.
Tip
Although the birch fig doesn't like repeated changes of location, it has no objection to moving to the summer balcony. To ensure that its pretty leaves do not suffer from sunburn, the Benjamini is allowed to acclimatize in light shade for 8 to 10 days before moving to its final location with morning or evening sun.
