Why are ficus ginseng drops leaves? Ficus ginseng is losing its leaves for several reasons, such as cultural, environmental, and real pathologies.
We’ll examine the primary causes of this in this piece, along with a simple workaround.
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Why Does Ficus Ginseng Drops Leaves Or Lose Its Leaves?
One of the primary causes of the Ficus ginseng bonsai’s leaf loss is too much or too little water, which can be attributed to improper watering practices or insufficient substrate.
Environmental issues like poor light, abrupt temperature swings, or the strain of acclimating to a new setting come next.
Only at the end do we find more specific problems, such as post-repotting stress, parasites, and fungal or bacterial diseases.
Let’s proceed and clarify the causes, starting with the most common.
Too Much Water
The first reason the Ficus bonsai loses its leaves is excess water—not intended as too much water but rather as watering too close together.
Suppose the soil is not allowed to dry (or almost dry) between waterings. In that case, the air cannot settle in the soil cavities, causing root asphyxiation.
In even more serious circumstances, water stagnation can cause root rot. This fungal disease affects the plant’s roots and prevents water absorption and nutrients.
Both cases lead to yellow leaves first, occasionally brown, and only after the fall.
To learn more about the yellowing leaf in ficus, click here.
If excess water is causing the leaves to fall, stop watering immediately until the substrate is dry.
However, if you see that overwatering harms your ficus bonsai tree, discover how to revive a bonsai tree from overwatering. Read Now
At this point, pot the plant and observe the roots.
If they appear healthy, start watering the ficus again as described in other post, but if they are rotten, you will need to repot.
To learn how to water a ficus, click here.
Little Water
The second most common reason Ficus ginseng loses its leaves is a lack of water.
Although it always has to do with watering, in this case, dehydration causes the fall of the foliage.
Not having water to draw on, the plant cannot support the needs of the leaves, which gradually begin to dry out.
Before falling, the leaves (still green) begin to wrinkle and bend downward, and necrotic spots appear.
In some cases, the stem also loses turgidity and becomes wrinkled.
If the ficus shows signs of dehydration, watering must be resumed immediately.
I advise immersing the vase for 5–10 minutes in pre-fertilized water.
Lack Of Light
A lack of light is another of the most common reasons why ficus ginseng loses its leaves.
This generally occurs when a plant is transferred to the shadow after producing lovely leaves in a light area.
To learn the best location to keep a bonsai tree, click here.
Three common examples are:
- The plant grown in the greenhouse is purchased and placed in a house with little light.
- The ficus has been moved from a bright room to a shadier one (or further from the window).
- The Bonsai is brought home in autumn after the spring and summer are spent outdoors in more abundant light conditions.
As we know, light is plants’ primary energy source, and when it is abundant, their metabolism moves rapidly. Leading to faster growth and thicker hair.
If the light is missing, the ficus can no longer carry out enough photosynthesis to nourish the entire foliage and thus lose part of it. The leaves turn yellow, dry out, and fall.
Usually, the problem resolves itself as soon as the plant reaches a balance between the leaf mass and the amount of photosynthesis it can carry out.
In the meantime, give it as much light as possible and keep it near a window or grow light.
Parasites
Most parasites common to houseplants are phytophagous, meaning they feed on the plant’s sap.
We find cochineal, mites (red spider mites), thrips, aphids, and others among these.
By depriving it of carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis, these insects weaken the plant’s slow growth. They can also be vectors of bacterial and viral diseases.
Depending on the parasite in question, the symptoms are slightly different. Still, the leaves discolor, in general, turn yellow, and the younger ones become deformed or do not grow.
If the infestation is not recognized and treated in time, the Ficus microcarpa loses its leaves and potentially dies.
Fortunately, there are valid remedies against most insects, such as white oil, neem oil, or potassium soft soap.
The latter (soft soap and neem oil) can be combined for a very effective mixture to spray on the leaves.
To eradicate the second generation of parasites, carrying out a second application 10 days after the first is always advisable.
Thermal Shock
The main reason why bonsai ficus loses leaves that are still green is because of temperature changes.
It is often due to cold air currents during the winter or the excessive heat of summer days (if the plant is unused to it).
Subject to a sudden temperature and humidity change, the plant reacts by losing some leaves. The more pronounced this is, the greater the damage will be.
Some examples are:
- Drafts of cold air coming through the window
- Exposure to the air conditioner jet
- Gusts of hot, dry air during the summer months
- Proximity to heat sources (radiator or fireplace)
The same can also happen if you water the plant with cold water.
Ensure you keep the ficus at a stable temperature between 15°C (min) and 25–27°C in the warmer months.
You can move it outdoors in the summer as long as it gradually gets used to the sun’s direct rays.
Stress On The Root System
Severe stress to the root system can reduce (or interrupt) the absorption capacity of the Ficus ginseng bonsai, causing it to lose its leaves.
The two most classic examples are root rot (mentioned before) and repotting stress, especially if we have pruned part of the roots.
Depending on the age of the damage, the leaves may fall while still green or after drying. In the case of rot, there is also yellowing and necrosis.
Don’t worry too much if the Bonsai loses a few leaves if you have recently repotted it on a fresh substrate.
It usually overcomes the stress in a few weeks and then resumes vegetating.
If you want to learn how to repot a bonsai tree, click here.
To stop the illness from spreading, I advise using a systemic fungicide to address any root rot you may have.
To learn how to repot your ficus properly, click here.
Diseases
The last reasons a Ficus bonsai can lose its leaves are diseases, divided into three main groups: fungal, bacterial, and viral infections.
Ficus is a very resistant plant, so I have placed diseases last on the list.
Only in a small percentage of cases do the leaves fall for this reason of disease, but it seemed right to mention it.
The good news is that fungal infections are both the most common and the most treatable of all illnesses.
They flourish in environments with high humidity and limited ventilation.
Or when the leaves remain wet for a long time, or the water stagnates inside the soil.
The problem can be solved in many cases by removing diseased leaves, limiting access to water, reducing watering, and keeping the environment ventilated.
It is better to resort to the phytopharmacological approach with systemic or cupric fungicides for more serious infections, such as root rot or Fusarium.
Conclusion
Ficus ginseng loses its leaves for several reasons, such as cultural, environmental, and real pathologies.
It is important to observe your plants and take proper care and maintenance to prevent the Ficus ginseng from losing its leaves.
If you want to delve further into the topic, read this post on why Ficus benjamina loses its leaves.
Even if addressed to the benjamina, the circumstances under which the leaves fall are similar, if not the same. Read now:
