Repotting a Ficus now - November - Indoor

What is you general feeling about re-potting a ficus tree now?

It is struggling to survive and I believe the soil is bad and the roots are in need of help. The tree is indoor of course and it is shooting some new growth but struggling...new soil and a little bit of root cleaning may help. I got it in auction in the summer and I have never seen its roots and don't know when it was last repotted. It was a broom style tree but all the "flat top" was dying so as you can see I cut it. Not it is coming back but as I said I think it needs help...

What say the masses about that? Thank you.

I've done it.

In fact in autumn I repot many of my developing ficus into good free draining potting soil, then I bring them in for the winter. The potting soil helps save me a ton of effort watering them as it holds a bit more moisture and my ficus, both willow leaf and benjamina, do very well throughout the winter in it..

Ultimately if you feel the trees health is in danger you should repot regardless of season.

-Jay

You should definitely repot it into a free draining substrate. Getting air to the roots is going to help out the tree so much, as well as avoiding root rot from staying too wet. Right now it looks like your soil is holding way too much water.

If you've been keeping it in the house do you have any supplemental lighting? It helps out a lot.

Denis

Now that I see some pics that looks a lot like a F. benjamina (probably too little) that was cut back too hard (past living foliage) and had some branch die back. I actually would advise you not to repot it YET and just get it into some good light. With so little foliage on the tree now the soil needs little watering as the tree is not transpiring much thats why your soil looks so saturated although its obviously in a bonsai soil of some sort..

It's breaking buds and it wants to grow so let it extend some of those green shoots and watch your watering. Let it dry out a bit. See If you can get it to strengthen a bit in some good sunlight.

Prepare to lose all those branches that have no living foliage at their tips. F. benjamina, unlike many other ficus, tend to be a bit like pines in that its best to leave a sap drawer at the end of each branch in order to keep that particular branch alive, then wait for back budding and further reduce the tree over time.

With so little foliage on the tree as it is and with the time of year a re-pot might actually be too much for the tree to take right now. I thought you were talking about a ficus in full leaf until I saw the pics just now.
-Jay

I agree with Jay. Don't repot it now.

Let the soil dry a little until is just damp. Then cover it with plastic bag and let it stay in it for the winter. Open the bag every few days to let the soil breath. Under plastic it won't need watering at all, only if really dry what will take few weeks at least.
All ficuses hate dry air when kept indoors. Aquariums, foil tents, plastic bags, tiny window sill greenhouses, any form of closed environment with lots of light is the best for them.

Place it in the brightest spot but don't let it stay under full sun. Artificial light might be the best option for now.

Fingers crossed!

Marcin