Ficus Bonsai Turning Yellow

My bonsai ficus which I’ve had for years is losing some leaves and some of its leaves are turning yellow. My friend said I’m overwatering it. I need information from you about what’s happening and how to fix it. It sits in a north window and has been happy there for years.

Hi Susan,

There could be a couple of reasons why the leaves of you ficus bonsai are turning yellow.

Lack of Fertilizer: How often do you feed the plant? There is not much soil in your pot and the nutrients in the soil are quickly depleted. Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer, when the tree is actively growing, with a balanced plant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength.

Insufficient Water: Ficus plants lose yellow leaves when they are not getting enough water. Now that your plant has grown for several years and developed more roots, it probably needs more water.

Try fertilizing the plant and increasing the water slightly; and see if it helps the problem.