Hey, i'm a new plant mom and my ficus has this brown almo...
9
Best Answer
@Sofia.senpai My pleasure! Welcome to Greg ☺️ You’ll find most plant people are happy to talk about plants anytime!
First, I know it’s exciting, that first boom of interest and you want to buy all the plants, but do try to learn about each one, observe them, and aim to be able to read their signs, before you buy new plants.
One thing to note: plants move a lot slower than we do. So I often see new plant people changing lots of things, all the time, because they think their plant will respond as fast as humans do to new changes, but they are living on a different time frame. So when and if you do make a change, only make one, and then observe your plant for two weeks, at least, before you decide if that helped or not. THEN you can make another change, if needed.
How many times have you watered? This is how I decide if it’s time to water:
I touch the top of the soil with the tips of my knuckles (they are more sensitive than our finger tips) if it’s cold or damp feeling it is not time to water, and I’ll check again in a few days. If it feels room temp/warm or dry, THEN I will check the soil moisture from the bottom drainage holes. If it feels cold or damp there, it’s not time to water, but if it feels warm/dry then you can go ahead and water. Thoroughly soak the soil until it’s drenched and the water is pouring out the drainage holes.
Also, over time, you will be able to check the weight of the pot in your hand and that will tell you if it’s time to water or not. To get better at that, make sure to weigh pots in your hand right after you water them, every time, so you can get a feel for what that feels like. Then, further down the line you will be lifting pots up, discover they’re super light and then you’ll know it’s time to water.
I’m going to post this comment and then talk about your ficus ☺️
First, I know it’s exciting, that first boom of interest and you want to buy all the plants, but do try to learn about each one, observe them, and aim to be able to read their signs, before you buy new plants.
One thing to note: plants move a lot slower than we do. So I often see new plant people changing lots of things, all the time, because they think their plant will respond as fast as humans do to new changes, but they are living on a different time frame. So when and if you do make a change, only make one, and then observe your plant for two weeks, at least, before you decide if that helped or not. THEN you can make another change, if needed.
How many times have you watered? This is how I decide if it’s time to water:
I touch the top of the soil with the tips of my knuckles (they are more sensitive than our finger tips) if it’s cold or damp feeling it is not time to water, and I’ll check again in a few days. If it feels room temp/warm or dry, THEN I will check the soil moisture from the bottom drainage holes. If it feels cold or damp there, it’s not time to water, but if it feels warm/dry then you can go ahead and water. Thoroughly soak the soil until it’s drenched and the water is pouring out the drainage holes.
Also, over time, you will be able to check the weight of the pot in your hand and that will tell you if it’s time to water or not. To get better at that, make sure to weigh pots in your hand right after you water them, every time, so you can get a feel for what that feels like. Then, further down the line you will be lifting pots up, discover they’re super light and then you’ll know it’s time to water.
I’m going to post this comment and then talk about your ficus ☺️
Yes @MrsFiend, it does look like it is "sunburnt" and it also looks a bit dehydrated. The browning probably won't stop, it will just fall off. But don't worry! Plants regrow themselves 😁👍 (aka basic plant knowledge)
So try moving it away from the sun, just a bit and it's watering schedule, just add a little more water than usual! Then see the results.
ANYWAYS!! Welcome to Greg @Sofia.senpai!! I hope you have an amazing time using this app! ❤️
So try moving it away from the sun, just a bit and it's watering schedule, just add a little more water than usual! Then see the results.
ANYWAYS!! Welcome to Greg @Sofia.senpai!! I hope you have an amazing time using this app! ❤️
@Sofia.senpai @MrsFiend @izzyandsugar can I see a picture of the whole plant please? And where does your ficus usually live? How much sunlight do they get? They are *very* high light plants, but even so, it can shock any plant if they’re suddenly put directly in sunshine, if they weren’t in it before. They can take some time to adjust, so it is important to inch plants closer and closer to brighter light over a period of *weeks.*
If this is an indoor plant, you’re going to want to eventually have them in a permanent spot in the brightest south facing window you have, with a sheer curtain so the light is not too harsh, since I see you’re in the northern hemisphere. Or under a good grow light. I often test if a grow light is good by seeing how my ficus likes it. If my ficus like the grow light then I know any other of my plants will like it too.
This is looking to me like a watering issue. What kind of soil do you have them in and how much are you watering? It of important to let the soil dry out almost completely before you water again.
If this is an indoor plant, you’re going to want to eventually have them in a permanent spot in the brightest south facing window you have, with a sheer curtain so the light is not too harsh, since I see you’re in the northern hemisphere. Or under a good grow light. I often test if a grow light is good by seeing how my ficus likes it. If my ficus like the grow light then I know any other of my plants will like it too.
This is looking to me like a watering issue. What kind of soil do you have them in and how much are you watering? It of important to let the soil dry out almost completely before you water again.
@DreamMachine Thanks for taking the time to respond! My ficus usually lives near a window in a corner by my bookshelf, but I felt like it needed more sun, so I’ve occasionally been putting it out on my balcony for a few hours.
Thanks for the advice! This is where my ficus is currently living now. It actually used to sit right next to the window, but after I noticed what looked like sunburn on some of the leaves, I moved it to this spot where it still gets bright light but isn’t directly exposed to the sun.
As for the soil, I’m honestly not sure. I only bought this plant about two weeks ago from Home Depot, and I haven’t repotted it yet because I don’t really know how yet. I’m very new to plant care and bought a bunch of plants when summer started, so I’m still learning about things like soil mixes, repotting, and watering schedules. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the advice! This is where my ficus is currently living now. It actually used to sit right next to the window, but after I noticed what looked like sunburn on some of the leaves, I moved it to this spot where it still gets bright light but isn’t directly exposed to the sun.
As for the soil, I’m honestly not sure. I only bought this plant about two weeks ago from Home Depot, and I haven’t repotted it yet because I don’t really know how yet. I’m very new to plant care and bought a bunch of plants when summer started, so I’m still learning about things like soil mixes, repotting, and watering schedules. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
@Sofia.senpai Your ficus will need a spot in the window. South or east facing is best. But you don’t want to make any sudden changes because that can shock your plant, &/or cause burns. So decide on a permanent sunny spot, and then you’re going to slowly inch your ficus there over a period of a couple weeks. The idea is to slowly acclimate your ficus to high bright light.
If you don’t have a good window spot, you will need a good grow light. I recommend Sansi or Barrina. Both have great options that won’t break the bank and they are both reputable companies. Avoid any cheap octopus arm style set ups on AMZN, they are nowhere near powerful enough, always claim they have lifetime warranties, and then your light will break and the company will have mysteriously disappeared. I really like the 10W sansi regular bulbs that you can screw into any standard lamp fixture. (Pictured) I also have a “heavy duty” strong 36W Sansi bulb that I put in my pendant hanging lamp.
For Barrina, I really like their T5 strip lights. These are easy to install in bookshelves or under any type of shelving and they daisy chain together.
Feel free to tag me @DreamMachine if you have any questions further down the road. I’m happy to help!
If you don’t have a good window spot, you will need a good grow light. I recommend Sansi or Barrina. Both have great options that won’t break the bank and they are both reputable companies. Avoid any cheap octopus arm style set ups on AMZN, they are nowhere near powerful enough, always claim they have lifetime warranties, and then your light will break and the company will have mysteriously disappeared. I really like the 10W sansi regular bulbs that you can screw into any standard lamp fixture. (Pictured) I also have a “heavy duty” strong 36W Sansi bulb that I put in my pendant hanging lamp.
For Barrina, I really like their T5 strip lights. These are easy to install in bookshelves or under any type of shelving and they daisy chain together.
Feel free to tag me @DreamMachine if you have any questions further down the road. I’m happy to help!
@DreamMachine Thank you so much! These tips are incredibly helpful, especially since I’m still a new plant mom. I’ll be sure to take note of everything you’ve shared and will give an update in a few weeks or months. I truly appreciate you taking the time to help me out! ☺️😊
@Sofia.senpai absolutely, you’re welcome 🤗 I’d love to see an update later on!