Ficus issue

[IdAu]

The white stuff looks like mealybug fluff, but I'm not sure what the little black things are. The yellowing leaves are likely from low light conditions causing the leaves to change out with ones more suitable for the available light.

I have spent a lot of time and see no type of bug at all. Here’s another leaf that seems to have died off in a perfect line. Notice more of it is actively dying off in a line.



Looking at other leaves it looks like it starts like this small crack and progresses.

One thing I’m noticing is when I disturb branches, a fine rain of powder seems to shake off. I don’t know what it is. The undersides of all the leaves look great.

 

[IdAu]

Another perfect line forming….

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I have spent a lot of time and see no type of bug at all. Here’s another leaf that seems to have died off in a perfect line. Notice more of it is actively dying off in a line.



Looking at other leaves it looks like it starts like this small crack and progresses.

One thing I’m noticing is when I disturb branches, a fine rain of powder seems to shake off. I don’t know what it is. The undersides of all the leaves look great.

Hold a white piece of paper underneath a branch & shake or tap a branch to catch the "powder". If you see tiny moving things, you have spider mites. You'll also see reddish-brown streaks if you smear or crush them on the paper. Did you take it to the sink and hose it down with warm water? Underneath the leaves everywhere. I'd also follow up with an insecticidal soap, or Spinosad if you find spider mites. Treat every 5-7 days for a month to kill the eggs and anything that hatches.

 

[IdAu]

Hold a white piece of paper underneath a branch & shake or tap a branch to catch the "powder". If you see tiny moving things, you have spider mites. You'll also see reddish-brown streaks if you smear or crush them on the paper. Did you take it to the sink and hose it down with warm water? Underneath the leaves everywhere. I'd also follow up with an insecticidal soap, or Spinosad if you find spider mites. Treat every 5-7 days for a month to kill the eggs and anything that hatches.

Nothing of the sort. Just looks like dandruff on the paper. Under magnification it looks like dried wax.

I took it in the shower and sprayed it down really well several days ago. I’ll get some insecticide because afaik it won’t hurt either way?

If it was lacking NPK or some other required element, could this happen?

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Huh. Got me scratching my head on this one. The only thing I can think of is what others mentioned earlier. Environmental stress, maybe the light is too close, the room is too cold or dry, too much or too little watering.

Google said this. If a Ficus absorbs more water than it can transpire (release through its leaves), the internal pressure can cause leaf cells to rupture. This often manifests as internal cracks or splits along the leaf blade that can eventually expand to look like the leaf has been "cut" or separated

Since, it's not bugs I'd go with googles advice. Insecticide won't hurt it but it doesn't appear to be needed.

 

[IdAu]

Huh. Got me scratching my head on this one. The only thing I can think of is what others mentioned earlier. Environmental stress, maybe the light is too close, the room is too cold or dry, too much or too little watering.

Google said this. If a Ficus absorbs more water than it can transpire (release through its leaves), the internal pressure can cause leaf cells to rupture. This often manifests as internal cracks or splits along the leaf blade that can eventually expand to look like the leaf has been "cut" or separated

Since, it's not bugs I'd go with googles advice. Insecticide won't hurt it but it doesn't appear to be needed.

Interesting, I didn't find that on Google so I appreciate it. I'm just relieved to see I'm not crazy after watching them crack and disappear day by day now.


Admittedly I have probably underfed this tree. From what I see indoor Ficus need fertilized year round. It came with the fertilizer beads on the soil which haven't seemed to change much so I haven't fed it. I'm about to give it its' first fertilizing.


One thing I'm not clear on. When following the individual fertilizer instructions such as mix X amount into X water... What constitutes a "feeding." Is it using that properly mixed solution for one watering, or watering with it until that fully mixed volume has been used (1 gallon).

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Interesting, I didn't find that on Google so I appreciate it. I'm just relieved to see I'm not crazy after watching them crack and disappear day by day now.


Admittedly I have probably underfed this tree. From what I see indoor Ficus need fertilized year round. It came with the fertilizer beads on the soil which haven't seemed to change much so I haven't fed it. I'm about to give it its' first fertilizing.


One thing I'm not clear on. When following the individual fertilizer instructions such as mix X amount into X water... What constitutes a "feeding." Is it using that properly mixed solution for one watering, or watering with it until that fully mixed volume has been used (1 gallon).

Lol. I think we're all crazy just from this "hobby". I mentioned I saw this behavior when my TBF was outside last Summer, but it was only a few leaves and I thought it was a grasshopper. It very well could've been overwatering.

One watering with the fert is one feeding. (save the rest for next time) I use a solid slow release fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer. I do use fert in the winter but not as often as Spring and Summer.

 

[Paradox]

This looks like stress to me. Either not enough water or too wet or cold from being next to the cold window.

I keep mine under lights all winter in a warm room. Other than the normal shedding of a leaf here and there, I don't get massive leaf loss unless they get stressed.

I water mine every other day and I don't let them dry out, but I don't let them stay sopping wet either, good drainage is a must.

 

[shohin_branches]

Another perfect line forming….View attachment 623452

That's looks to me like mechanical damage

 

[IdAu]

This looks like stress to me. Either not enough water or too wet or cold from being next to the cold window.

I keep mine under lights all winter in a warm room. Other than the normal shedding of a leaf here and there, I don't get massive leaf loss unless they get stressed.

I water mine every other day and I don't let them dry out, but I don't let them stay sopping wet either, good drainage is a must.

We’ll see. It’s in a warm room under a light and fed now.

More of that white patchy stuff on a few leaves with a few strands of web between some branches. Only living thing I found was a regular small house spider.

 

[Shibui]

Admittedly I have probably underfed this tree. From what I see indoor Ficus need fertilized year round. It came with the fertilizer beads on the soil which haven't seemed to change much so I haven't fed it.

Ficus love fertiliser any time they are actively growing. Some Ficus may stop growing indoors but if temp, light and humidity are adequate you should still get some growth and therefore should fertilise.
The beads on the soil are controlled release prills (Osmocote or similar). They start out with concentrated fertiliser inside and it slowly leaks out over a pre-determined period of time - usually 3 or 6 months. After that they are just empty shells. They don't actually change to indicate when the nutrients are gone so just being there doesn't guarantee the tree is getting nutrients and may not have been getting any for some time. Definitely time to give some fert.

When following the individual fertilizer instructions such as mix X amount into X water... What constitutes a "feeding." Is it using that properly mixed solution for one watering, or watering with it until that fully mixed volume has been used (1 gallon).

One feed is: enough solution to wet the soil properly so the same amount as you would normally use to water the tree.
Mixed liquid fertiliser should not be stored for long periods. It tends to grow algae and other undesirables so only mix enough for 1 or 2 feeds if possible. Maybe make up 2 pints with 1/4X concentrate instead of making up a whole gallon.
Given this tree is currently undernourished you could probably use liquid fert each week, at least for a while.
Make sure you water really well when not using fertiliser. Evaporating moisture leaves behind concentrated unused fertiliser in and on the soil which can sometimes leave white residue on pot, soil, roots, trunk and may even reach toxic levels. Water enough to flush unused minerals through the soil and out of the pot. Watering this way also helps flush stale air out of the soil and draw fresh air into the root zone.