Leaves yellowing then falling off

[Elizabeth22]

My sons Ficus macrophylla tree leaves started to turn yellow,about 80% then they fell off. Could this be from over watering? The remaining leaves seem healthy, green and glossy, will the tree recover. He is away at boarding school, and I will be in deep trouble if I've killed his tree

[lance]

It does sound like your over watering it but I can't be sure without a picture.

[rainbowgardener]

There's tons of good info here, do some browsing. Here's a nice introductory thread to start with, that begins with info about watering:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1479


But also look under Gardening> Bonsai:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/

[linlaoboo]

ficus can bounce back as long as the growing tips stay green and the scratch test on the trunk reveals green tissue under the bark. Also a live branch will give white sap when pinched with finger nail.

One of mine lost all it leaves this winter sitting next to my cold sliding glass door and it's starting to leaf back out again. I had to move it to better light and protect it from cold and draft. Remember ficus doesn't like wet feet especially less leaf will mean water intake will be slowed so don't water the soil until it's dried.