"Shannon" wrote in
:

Hi there,



I've been searching old posts, and this seems to be a common problem,
but I've yet to read an answer that corresponds exactly to my
situation.



I purchased a weeping fig about 3 weeks ago. Plant itself is approx.
2 feet high, and is composed of 4 stems (?) braided together with the
leaves bunched on top. The garden center warned me at the time that
the plant would drop a lot of leaves when I *first* brought it home.
They said I should water the plant every two days, but that it
requires *lots* of misting. At the time of purchase, it was in a 6"
diameter plastic pot. They said I did not have to re-pot it.



Two weeks ago, I did re-pot the plant into a ceramic, 8" diameter
planter. It sits in a bright area of the house, but not in direct
sunlight, in a warm room. I have watered the plant faithfully every
second day, and I mist it all the time (5-6 times a day). But it is
still dropping leaves - approximately 10 per day. The leaves are
dried up and shriveled when they fall - I don't think there is a
problem with pests. Is this normal? Is it just the time of year? Or
am I giving it too much water/misting? How much water should I give
it every second day and how much misting. Should I fertilize the
plant...if so, with what? I truly love this fig, and I want to keep
it healthy for a long time. I can't tell if new leaves are growing
in replacement of the dropping ones...the plant looks as beautiful to
me as the day I brought it home, but I just wanted some other
opinions.



Does anyone have any suggestions or advice? I am a complete neophyte
when it comes to gardening or caring for plants, so any and all
information would certainly be appreciated.



Thanks so much,



Shannon


First off you shouldn't have repotted it. Secondly, these like their
soil to dry out between waterings. DON'T water every 2 days, let the
soil dry out THEN give it a GOOD watering. Climate changes effect these,
even a SLIGHT light change or temperature change freaks them out and
causes them to drop leaves. Put it somewhere and LEAVE IT THERE. Look
for tiny new leaves to be forming shortly.