# Save our tree! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334 "2004-01-27T21:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334/1 "2004-01-27T21:57:50Z")
In our Gifted Room at my school, we have a ficcus (spelling?) tree named Stumpy. Stumpy’s not doing so well. He keeps loosing leaves. What can we do to make him better? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334/2 "2004-01-27T22:52:52Z")
These leaves that are falling off - are they: -yellowish and moist? - you’re overwatering it. - brown and crispy? - you could be underwatering it or it could just be unhappy in its current position due to dry air, or too much direct sunlight. - green and fresh - the plant may be suffering shock from fluctuating temperature or draughts. What about the leaves that are still on the plant? - are they uniformly green and glossy or are they dull and/or veined with yellow or some other colour? How big is the plant and how big is the pot? ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334/3 "2004-01-28T00:26:08Z")
Ficuses are also easily shocked by movement as well as changes in lighting and temperature. If kids are banging into it, or it’s been moved, then they’ll drop leaves like an apt metaphor. Also, they generally like light rather than shade. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334/4 "2004-01-28T01:21:20Z")
Figs are picky about how you water them, and they respond to stress by dropping their leaves. Here’s a good description of a [watering regime for the weeping fig](http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/hortline/messages/3757.shtml) : > [@](#): > > the weeping fig is susceptible to upsets due to allowing the root ball to become too wet, (over watering), or too dry, (under watering). To avoid leaf drop associated with either of these conditions, develop your own program for watering this plant rather than merely saying, “since it’s Saturday, the fig needs water.” The weeping fig should be watered generously, so that a small excess of water drains from the pot. This excess should be discarded. The plant should not be watered again until the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil ball feels dry to the touch. Then the process should be repeated. Be sure to make suitable arrangements for watering during extended vacation periods. To maintain a healthy plant, provide it with some houseplant fertilizer twice a month while in active growth. Daily misting of the foliage is recommended during the dry winter months. If **Stumpy** is a Fiddleleaf, or some other type of fig, you can probably find exactly what you want within [this search](http://www.google.com/search?as_q=figs+watering+leaves+drop&num=10&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off). ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-our-tree/226334/5 "2004-01-28T02:56:49Z")
The falling leaves are green- that’s one of the things that worries us so much.