Drooping Leaves

[itisme123]

My little guy sits in the window sill. In the past week I have not watered enough. Three of the leaves had two brown spots on them each (sun spots?). One large leaf and three baby leaves have died and fallen off. Will the plant survive? How much should I water it? What should I do?

See image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmsiee123/5684469538/

[TomM]

What you're telling us - it sits on a window sill, not watered enough lately, and it's dropping leaves and looking wilted.

Do you know what kind it is? Do you know if it is tropical, temperate or hardy?

These are the most basic things to start with in order to help out.

[kdodds]

The link is to your private login, you need to provide a link for the public images.

[itisme123]

It is a ficus Ginseng. I am watching it for a friend. I misunderstood what "mist it" meant and failed to water it enough. I wonder if the spots are from being too close to the sun and about how much I should water it each day. The photo should now be public.

[linlaoboo]

The ficus leaves can be scorched by midday sun. You want to water it when it's needed, not daily or on a regular schedule. When watering, do it plentiful, take it to a place where water can drain out the bottom and keep in mind that dry soil in the middle of the pot may not soak up water eventhough you see water draining out the bottom so wait a minute and repeat. Some people sit the pot in a bucket of water for a few minutes to make sure the soil soaks up water properly. Ficus don't like to have wet feet so do not water it again until the soil is 90% dry.

[rainbowgardener]

you've gotten good advice re how to water. Nice of you to care for a plant for a friend and to be concerned enough about it to write in here. Your friend should have given more detailed instructions about how to care for it. Tom is a bonsai pro and gets pretty passionate about them!

[TomM]

No bonsai pro here! Passionate hobbyist - yes! Only been doing this for a few years. And I feel I should withdraw the angry little Emoticon now. LOL

Forgive me for my exuberance.

I do hope the genseng ficus regains good health.