hello you guys, got a query for you botanists out there. I'm useless in looking after plants, but keep trying. Hubby brought home a lovely huge plant/small tree thing, might be a benjamina apparently. anyhow, the leaves are starting to go yellow and falling off, just a few at the moment, but what does that mean? am i not watering it enough, or is it just the time of year? it's in my hall with natural light, but not direct hot sunlight. I really would be so sad to lose this plant, and would appreciate any info. Also, how often should you water indoor plants on average? should the soil always be slightly damp, or not? thanks for any help......

Are you talking about FICUS BENJAMINA??
If so it is probably a combination of.... too draughty (door opening and letting in cold air) and possibly too wet/dry, but these problems may already have been corrected (moving it to your home could have caused it) - many plants don't react immediately to bad conditions, it can take a few days.  Is the plant in a draught?  Is it getting abrupt changes in temperature when the door is opened?  was it left dry and then overwatered to compensate?
I can understand you being concerned they are magnificent plants :)  Does it have green leaves or green and cream leaves (variegated)?  The Variegated ficus is more delicate and would not tolerate abrupt temperature changes at all.

Most house plants (including Ficus Benjamina) require the same temperature as we do (65 -75 degreesF) and do not appreciate draughts at all.  MY plants are always watered well but not left standing in water (remove any water in the pot/saucer after about 15 minutes) and then allowed to dry out a little (but not dessicate, they like to be a little damp ;) ) in between waterings, you will know by the weight of the pot in your hand.  They often require more water in winter because of the heating ;) but its impossible to say how often as there are so many variables (size of pot, size of plant, type of plant, temperature, humidity etc. )

Hope this helps a little :)
Regards
Dill

At the end of last winter my varigated Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig) was looking very sorry for itself so I put it outside in the garden in a fairily dry spot (under a well overhang) and left it motly to itself.   It is now looking really good so I have brought it back inside for the winter.  It was kept very dry over the summer and only watered about a week after I thought it had dried out enough (saw this tip for orange trees so treated the Fiscus the same)

we had one -it was 9ft high it was beautifull and then we moved it !!! Big mistake !
I agree with the other two -not too wet and deffo no draughts , if you find a spot it likes leave it there

it's the green one, and thanks to all of you....will not overwater it and have moved it out of the draught!! thanks again