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Ficus benji(var.)

Hi Molly,

A few years ago I worked for a company who maintained plants in
offices, hotels etc;  we used a lot of Ficus, both Benjis (green and var.)
and Longifolias and they were sometimes planted in the most inhospitable
places!  They all suffered to some degree from leaf browning and leaf drop,
but I got so that I was past worrying:-) and I never had one actually die
on me, though sometimes they would get pretty threadbare before they
started thriving again. Make sure you don't over water - the leaves will
brown off through both over and under watering, but the former seems to be
the most deadly, especially in a new position.  Make sure the soil is dry
before you add more water, as it is growing under a light, rather than
natural light, you might find it takes less water than you think.  As a
guide, our office plants were maintained only once a fortnight and even
then, some of the variagated Benjis didn't need water (just a clear up of
all the dropped leaves >g<).
How are you providing humidity?  If the pot is standing on pebbles, make
sure that water isn't in contact with the pot bottom, this will rot the
roots - office ficus seem to hate wet feet far more than mine do at home. 
The humidity for our office plants was provided by a top dressing of clay
granules - hydroleca - this meant that moisture in the soil was preserved
without the danger of soggy roots, and the humidity was nearer to the
leaves. 
Above all, be patient and don't give up hope! The variagated benjis
are slightly more temperamental than their all-green brothers and take
longer to settle down.  
*If* it does become a casualty, you might try a variagated F.
Longifolia, (over here they are sold under the name F. Amstel Gold) they
are easier to keep leaves on as a rule.  I bought one in a sale earlier
this summer, it was all one sided where it had been packed up tight with
other plants on the shelves, I repotted it as the compost was sodden and
smelly (why do stores do their best to kill their merchandise?) and it has
recovered nicely, putting on new growth on the bare side and a new set of
healthy roots. (Yes, I can't resist taking plants from their pots 'just to
check' either!)

Good luck.
Liz Bradbury, in Scotland, where we are enjoying a beautiful Indian summer
- cold nights but warm, sunny days. (Long may it last...)
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