Leaf drop
Sudden leaf fall after a move, a draft or a change in light.
What you'll see
- Green or yellowing leaves fall suddenly, often within days of a change.
- Common after a move, bringing a plant indoors for winter, or moving it to a dimmer spot.
- Plants near cold drafts, doors, air conditioners or heaters shed leaves.
- Weeping figs are known for dropping leaves at almost any stress.
Why it happens
A sudden change in light, temperature or watering stresses the plant, so it sheds leaves it can't support in the new conditions.
How to fix it
- Pick a good spot and leave the plant there; each new move restarts the stress.
- Check the soil and correct any over- or underwatering.
- Keep it away from drafts, radiators and air-conditioning vents.
- Be patient: drop after a move usually stops within about three weeks.
Keep it from coming back
- Move plants in stages, such as a week or two in shade outdoors before bringing them in.
- Bring summering houseplants back in before nights fall below about 55°F (13°C).
- Keep room temperatures steady and avoid cold drafts.
Read more
- How much light do houseplants need?
- How to save a dying plant
- Moving houseplants outside and back in
- Winter care for houseplants
- Dormant or dead? Plant dormancy
- How to pick a healthy plant
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Why is my weeping fig dropping leaves?
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Problems common to many indoor plants
- Clemson HGIC: Houseplant diseases and disorders
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.