What is happening to this plant?
What is happening to this plant?
Got this plant little over 2months ago, and some ofnthe leaves have started to dry out(?) or so it looks like at least. Is this a sign of too little watering? Have tried to keep water consistant, but slightly unsure what is happening.
Any tips appriciated!
I'm guessing overwatering. If this was an outdoors I'd say it was under watered but overwatering indoor plants results in nearly identical symptoms. Take the plant outside for a month or two till it's recovered.
Look closely on the undersides of the leaves and the stems/branches with a magnifier.
It looks like a ficus variety, those will shed leaves and regrow if light changes dramatically. Normally they just yellow in whole and drop.
I'm wondering if it's blight or root rot.
Does the earth have a pungent or sweet smell about it?
I'm assuming you've been watering it, potentially extra after this started? Too much water can be just as bad as too little water.
My girlfriend (a horticulture major) thinks it may be root rot or some other form of pathogen that is travelling from the roots to the leaves due to overwatering or lack of drainage. You'll notice that the symptoms are most prominant at the base of the leaves and lower leaves suggesting that it is spreading upwards. It doesn't look like the plant is fighting it very well because normally it will kill and drop some infected leaves. Anyway I don't know the details, not my field of study but I encourage you to look into symptoms of root rot to see if they match whats happening to your ficus.
Check for sap-sucking bugs. Not all of them hang out in easy-to-see places all day. They could be down by the soil or under perfectly healthy looking leaves.
Even if you don't see them it won't hurt to spray some insecticidal soap here and there on to the plant. Sometimes it takes care of bugs you can't see.
I'll agree that it looks like watering issues. It could be inconsistent or overwatering leading to cell damage in the leaves, though I wouldn't rule out root rot or pests since watering issues can invite both. If you are really concerned, you could repot with fresh potting soil and inspect the roots for damage. Wipe the top and bottom of the leaves with a damp paper towel and look for pests just in case.
check if gnomes sneak into your house at night to nibble on your plants