Why is my plant dropping leaves? When I purchased this plant below it came to my home from a greenhouse. When I brought it home, though I put the ficus into as much light as I had to offer, it still dropped many of its leaves. Why?

Why are leaves dropping?

When a plant is living in a good light and is moved to a lesser amount of light, it will drop leaves. A plant is going to keep the leaves it can support with the amount of light it is receiving.

Remember, light is the food for your plant. Lots of light, lots of food. Less light, less food. Just like us, when we eat less food, we lose weight. So, when a plant receives less food, it will lose some “weight” in the form of leaves.

I bought this small ficus above and it was gorgeous and full. When I got home, it immediately began dropping leaves. I realize that ficus are known for doing this, but all plants are going to react in some manner if they receive less light. Ficus lose a lot of its leaves. Other plants react by losing vigor, stretching for light, or developing yellow leaves.

Light Changes Cause Leaves to Drop

The ficus below has been residing on top of a table in front of a south window. It loves it there. Because it was getting tall, I moved it to a small stand about 8″ off the floor in front of the table. The table blocked the light from getting to the bottom part of the plant.  The top of the plant was still receiving bright light, but the lower half lost a lot of light. Therefore, the bottom of the plant dropped a ton of leaves.

This happened over time, but I was lazy (and traveling and doing a lot of presentations) and let them pile up……yikes. Below are all the leaves that I swept up.

I moved the plant back up into the light by placing it on a tall plant stand. I also gave it some fertilizer. It will start regrowing leaves and be much happier back in the light.

Ferns Dropping Leaves

Another plant that reacts to lower light levels is the fern. Have any of you ever had a Boston fern you have had outside for the summer and then brought in for the winter? Did it drop about 1000 leaflets and you threw it away as it was such a mess? I think we all have.

I have had a fern for over 30 years in the house. The one below is my mom’s and it recently came to live with me when mom could no longer care for it. Hers has been in her house since 1957. Yes, it does drop leaves occasionally. But it is used to living in the house and so has the leaves it can support with the sun it is receiving. It doesn’t drop a lot of leaflets because its light doesn’t change except when the seasons change.

Every plant is different

The point is, that a plant is going to react to different conditions. Every living thing does. Give your plant the right conditions, it will grow well, and you will be happy with a healthy houseplant.

Usually, if a plant reacts to being moved and drops leaves, it will recover and get used to the spot you’ve moved it to. This assumes you have moved it to conditions that it can grow and thrive in. Pay attention to the light you have to offer a plant. Choose a plant that will thrive in the light conditions you have. You will be happy with the healthy plant residing in your home.

Have a great week, plant friends.

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