Ficus Leaf Problem

I have a Green Island ficus under T-5 lights for the winter. Some leaves have yellow margins with the central vein turning yellow. These leaves will die and drop off in a day or two. Can anyone look at the attached photo and help identify the cause? Thanks

Could be chlorosis, but doesn't quite look right for that. But a fertilizer with trace elements should help.

Mottled look often indicates one of the sucking insects -- aphid, mealybug, scale, etc. -- and a systemic, or soap spray, or pyrethrin spray should help. Look on underside of leaves.

How long have you been growing under lights?
It is easy to overwater in these situations.
How are you testing for moisture?

Billy, I am testing with a chopstick. I have been growing orchids under lights for years and ficus for about 2-3 winters. I have a humidifier set at 50% directly adjacent to my grow setup.

Jim,
I fertilize with a complete fertilizer including minor elements (Dyna-Gro). Thanks for the idea about insects.

Thanks guys!

Frank

Possibly due to lack of humidity? My green islands love love humidity. Any time I've brought them indoors, their leaves have yellowed and dropped. When I've taken cuttings or have brought them indoors for any period of time I've used bottom heat to keep them happy. If bottom heat is used in this instance, I'd recommend an increase in watering and misting.

Depending on the size of the tree(s), plastic seed trays and humidity domes work really well and will likely induce many aerial roots. I've filled in the holes on the bottom of terra cotta pots with silicon caulking, then lined the seed tray with black felt and put the pots on top of the felt, filling them with water. The felt will wick water from the pot, increasing moisture under the dome pretty evenly.

Looks like over-watering to me but it appears that you've got that angle covered. Low light/low humidity is a second thought. My ficus do best at work, where they're under 24/6.5 lighting.

Your Ficus is shedding leaves because it was brought indoors for the winter. There is probably nothing else wrong with it.
Iris