Reasons Why a Banyan Tree Keeps Dropping Leaves and How to Fix It

Potted banyan trees (Ficus microcarpa) are well suited to courtyards, but for most people, limited knowledge of the banyan's habits and care often leads to leaf drop after the tree has been grown for some time. If measures are not taken promptly to remedy the situation, the growth vigor of the whole tree will weaken, and it may even die. So what should you do when a potted banyan tree drops its leaves?

What to Do When a Banyan Tree Keeps Dropping Leaves

1) Insufficient fertilizer.

Just add fertilizer.

2) Poor ventilation.

Move it to a balcony for some air and let it bask in the sunlight.

3) Improper watering. Caused by too much water and waterlogged soil in the pot.

Because the damaged roots cannot recover right away, the leaves will of course continue to drop. From now on, just remember to water thoroughly only after the soil has dried out, and let it recover slowly. Don't be impatient, and do not fertilize at this stage while the roots are recovering.

4) Root rot.

If there are yellow leaves and leaves are dropping, then change the soil and remove the rotted roots.

5) Pest infestation.

Please check the undersides of the leaves for small insects (red, white, black). Your banyan bonsai very likely has red spider mites (so tiny they are almost invisible; you have to look closely), or the leaves are badly curled. If the above applies, it is recommended to buy insecticide (available in bags or bottles) from a place that sells flowers. If someone at home smokes, keep the cigarette butts and soak a dozen or so of them in a container you don't use (with more water). After a day, use the soaking water (tobacco water) to give every leaf a bath (once a day). It will recover after a while.

6) A normal phenomenon (with conditions).

Right after it is brought home, it will keep dropping leaves for 2 months, but there is no need to worry. New leaves will grow during the same period (very, very quickly). Don't think about moving it around; just fix it in one place. And don't worry about whether you are watering too much or too little (when the soil is very dry, water a little more at one time). After 2 months, all the old leaves will have been replaced by new leaves, meaning these leaves grew in the environment of your home, and they will not drop again. It will keep growing lush and green.

Potted banyan trees are well suited to courtyards, but for most people, limited knowledge of the banyan's habits and care often leads to leaf drop after the tree has been grown for some time. If measures are not taken promptly to remedy the situation, the growth vigor of the whole tree will weaken, and it may even die. So what should you do when a potted banyan tree drops its leaves?

There are many factors that cause leaf drop in potted banyan trees, but most are caused by nutrient deficiency combined with unsuitable temperature, light and other conditions. Treating leaf drop in potted banyan trees can start from the following aspects:

First, when buying a potted banyan tree, be sure to choose a healthy, long-established potted plant with spreading leaves, deep green and glossy foliage, and no pests or diseases on the whole plant, and the growing medium should be loose, fertile and airy.

Second, place it in a fairly bright indoor spot, with the temperature between 10°C and 30°C and little fluctuation, no lower than 5°C in winter and no higher than 35°C in midsummer, and pay attention to ventilation and frequently mist the leaves. After Grain Rain and before Cold Dew, it can also be placed outdoors for growing, with slight shading in midsummer. Note that in a dry indoor environment it should be kept away from heat sources, especially at low temperatures.

Third, apply light fertilizer frequently, mostly dilute cake fertilizer water or alum fertilizer water, and occasionally spray 0.3% urea water, 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, etc. Avoid concentrated fertilizer and raw fertilizer.

In addition, spraying chemicals can also be used to prevent leaf drop in potted banyan trees. You can spray 50 mg/kg water of cytokinin, 0.01% Fuzhi 300 to 400 times solution and other liquids, once every 15 to 20 days. During the vigorous growth periods in spring and autumn, you can also spray 15% paclobutrazol wettable powder 300 to 500 times solution once or twice. When the air is dry or during drought, you can also spray high-lipid film concentrated emulsion 200 times solution, etc.

Key Points for Growing and Care

(1) Temperature: It likes a warm environment, and the suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C. It is not very cold-tolerant; when the temperature drops below 3°C, it will produce a large amount of leaf drop; below 0°C, the plant will suffer freezing damage and die. The overwintering temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and in winter it should be placed indoors for protection against the cold.

Light: It likes sun and also tolerates partial shade, but it is best to give it plenty of sunlight. When light is insufficient, not only is the tree's vigor affected, but the leaves also become thin and sparse, and may even drop off. The variety Golden Ficus in particular needs a sunny environment even more; the stronger the light, the more vivid the golden leaf color, while under insufficient light the leaves turn green, thus losing ornamental value.

Watering: It likes a moist soil environment. Although it can also tolerate drought, when the potting soil is dry it is not good for the plant's growth. During the growing season, water should be supplied abundantly to keep the potting soil moist. But the potting soil should not be too wet either; when light is insufficient and the potting soil is too wet, it will cause a large amount of leaf drop. After rain during the plum rain season, check promptly and pour off any accumulated water in the pot. During overwintering, watering should be controlled to keep the potting soil slightly dry.

Fertilizing: It likes fertilizer; apply a fertilizer combining nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium once a month. When fertilization is insufficient and nutrients are lacking, the leaf margins will turn yellow and some of the lower leaves will drop off. When fertilizing, nitrogen fertilizer should not be used too much, otherwise it will cause excessive growth of branches and leaves and affect the ornamental value. Applying alum fertilizer water during the growing season can keep the leaves glossy green instead of yellowing. Stop fertilizing after October.

Pruning: Carry out pruning once in spring, cutting out overly dense branches and cutting back branches that protrude beyond the crown, so as to maintain good ventilation and light penetration inside the plant and maintain a good tree shape. For shaped stumps, at any time throughout the growing season cut out or cut back branches that affect the flatness of the foliage pads. In early summer, if all the leaves of a potted stump are removed and watering is controlled and sufficient light is given, it will promote the sprouting of new leaves that grow thick and small, thereby improving the ornamental value of the banyan tree.

Repotting: Because it grows fast, it should be repotted once a year in spring. The pot for the plant should not be large, otherwise it easily leads to excessive growth of branches and leaves. It likes acidic soil; if the growing medium is alkaline, the leaves will turn yellow. The substrate can be made from materials such as leaf mold, peat soil, garden soil, perlite or coarse sand. Pest and disease control: There are leaf spot disease, gray mold, sooty mold, and pests such as scale insects and banyan thrips.

Fertilizing: It likes fertilizer; apply a fertilizer combining nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium once a month. When fertilization is insufficient and nutrients are lacking, the leaf margins will turn yellow and some of the lower leaves will drop off. When fertilizing, nitrogen fertilizer should not be used too much, otherwise it will cause excessive growth of branches and leaves and affect the ornamental value. Applying alum fertilizer water during the growing season can keep the leaves glossy green instead of yellowing. Stop fertilizing after October.

Pruning: Carry out pruning once in spring, cutting out overly dense branches and cutting back branches that protrude beyond the crown, so as to maintain good ventilation and light penetration inside the plant and maintain a good tree shape. For shaped stumps, at any time throughout the growing season cut out or cut back branches that affect the flatness of the foliage pads. In early summer, if all the leaves of a potted stump are removed and watering is controlled and sufficient light is given, it will promote the sprouting of new leaves that grow thick and small, thereby improving the ornamental value of the banyan tree.

Repotting: Because it grows fast, it should be repotted once a year in spring. The pot for the plant should not be large, otherwise it easily leads to excessive growth of branches and leaves. It likes acidic soil; if the growing medium is alkaline, the leaves will turn yellow. The substrate can be made from materials such as leaf mold, peat soil, garden soil, perlite or coarse sand. Pest and disease control: There are leaf spot disease, gray mold, sooty mold, and pests such as scale insects and banyan thrips.