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Avatar for MsDoe
Aug 4, 2024 9:49 PM CST
Thread OP
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
I take care of a small ficus that sits in a lobby/waiting area of a medical facility. It's been in the same pot for about five years. I water weekly, until some water comes out the drain holes. It's fed about every 2 weeks with half strength K-Lite fertilizer, 12-1-1-10Ca-3Mg + trace elements.
The leaves look to me like they are showing some nutrient deficiency. Overall it seems pretty healthy, but I don't like the look of those leaves. Any suggestions?


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Aug 6, 2024 7:17 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
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Did you get the leaves wet?
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
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Avatar for MsDoe
Aug 7, 2024 8:12 AM CST
Thread OP
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
The leaves were sprayed with water to remove dust, shortly before the picture was taken. Otherwise, haven't had water on them for months.
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Aug 7, 2024 12:36 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
OK, I wanted to make sure that wasn't leaking out of the plant. IDK what that would mean, but I'm sure it wouldn't be good! LOL!

The drain saucer looks crusty with hard water/limescale. If the tap water has a lot of lime/high PH, and has raised the PH over time, you could try to ameliorate that, flush out the soil, &or change the soil, whichever you think is easier. In a public space, there's no telling if somebody dumped a coke or gatorade or something in there too. Or if somebody has been helping with the watering.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for MsDoe
Aug 7, 2024 5:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
Yes, water here is moderately hard, lots of calcium. And you're absolutely right, no telling if anyone is "helping". At least every medical place has gone strictly "no smoking", so I don't find cigarette butts!
I think it's ready for a re-pot and some root pruning. There's not room for a bigger pot. I'm not sure how I'll manage it. I hear that Ficus don't like to be moved, and it will have to get out of the lobby to have work done. And it won't fit in my car! Time to recruit some helpers!
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Aug 7, 2024 6:27 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
That sounds like a real PITA. I might try just taking it outside & flushing the soil a few times.

Not to mention the latex sap that is also in the roots. I got so tired of "haz-mat suiting" myself to prune that kind of Ficus that I got rid of the ones I had.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for MsDoe
Aug 16, 2024 10:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
I had some help to move it to the greenhouse to work on. I expected to find it root-bound, but was surprised to discover the roots only went about half way into the pot. The bottom half of the pot was soggy muck.
So, it was a root issue, but no root pruning was needed. I repotted into better draining soil, gave it a good shower, and cleaned up the saucer. Also gave it a good drench with Kelpak root stimulant. I'll see if I can get a sign on it--"Do Not Water"--to discourage passers-by from "helping".
We'll see how it does from here!

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Aug 17, 2024 12:34 AM CST
Name: Sue Taylor
Northumberland, UK
Amaryllis Region: United Kingdom Houseplants Frogs and Toads Foliage Fan I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Feeding every two weeks sounds rather excessive.
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Aug 17, 2024 6:36 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
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I am curious, does that plant food have extra calcium? Is that a good idea, given the water has calcium?
Just asking.
Foliage Pro seems a very well regarded- brand.
Plant it and they will come.
Avatar for MsDoe
Aug 17, 2024 8:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
Yes, the fertilizer has added calcium. I think it might be made to be used with r/o water? Good thought, though, thank you! I dilute it to half strength, so it's a very weak solution.
BTW Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro also has calcium added, in with all the trace elements.
Does the leaf damage look like an excess calcium problem? I'm not familiar with what that would look like.
Thank You!
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Aug 17, 2024 9:48 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
No idea, from me, you seem to have more experience with fertilizers. Thumbs up
Plant it and they will come.
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