Struggling Bonsai Ficus Benjamina

Hello. I've had my bonsai ficus benjamina for several months, but in the last couple of weeks the leaves have begun to go a bit yellow, curl up, droop and fall off. Half of the leaves have now fallen off and I really don't want it to die!

The tree sits in the middle of a room with a wall-length east-facing window. I water it only when the soil dries out thoroughly, and I mist it a few times a week at least. When I water it I give it a good soak. In the picture it was watered a couple of days ago.
I've read a lot online and I really can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Help appreciated! Thanks

 

I should add that a few of the fallen/dying leaves have little brown marks on them:

 

Hi Jules,
the plant looks rather miserable I'm afraid. But you are doing all the right things with watering and misting, nothing to suggest there

The trunk looks uncharasterictic for a Ficus Benjamina that in general has slender stems. Can you please post a close up of the trunk and the branches?

Are there any roots coming through the drainage holes of the planter, or if you pull the plant out, are the roots congested?

Ficus Benjamina is a robust plant that in general grows well in large planters. Making one into a bonsai is a new concept to me so looking forward to see more pics and hearing from your experiences.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts -- Here's a closeup! Maybe it's not a Benjamina, the garden centre told me it was, but you're right that the stem is quite thick so maybe it's something else.

There are no roots coming out of the drainage holes, and it doesn't seem to be rootbound at all. So I guess it has plenty of room?

Three more leaves have dropped off today :'(

 

Judging by the size of the stem it looks like it was growing for a fair amount of time as a normal plant.
It's then had most of its roots cut off and the top growth and jammed in a tiny pot .
Can't help thinking that the roots haven't recovered and it's pretty much been growing on stored up energy.
Can you remove it from the pot and see if there is any established root system.

 

I have had my bonsai Ficus since 2005 (mine lives outdoors under cover) and I don't do anything special to it, just water and trim occasionally. Maybe it is being mollycoddled too much?

 

Hi Pete,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Here are some pictures of it removed from the pot. Not sure how normal or otherwise this is!

 

Hi Victoria. Your ficus looks lovely! Thanks for sharing.
Your location says your in Portugal, is that right? Here in the UK I worry it might be too windy and cold for my ficus. Not sure though!

 

Hi @Jules W , to be honest it doesn't look too promising really.
There isn't any new white roots that I can see.

I'd put it back in the pot and keep it warm and shaded, carry on with the light spraying and hope for the best.

 

Hi Jules. Yes, I am in Algarve. I had Bonsai in the UK too when I lived in Bucks and I kept them in a sheltered position. They even lived through some snow. They are trees, albeit small. You don't say where you are, which would be useful.

I would knock the soil off, trim the roots, cut back all the branches to a neat shape, repot. water and then put in a warm, shaded place as Pete says but with fresh air. In my opinion they should not be permanently indoors.

 

Ficus is a house plant in the UK although I often put house plants out side for the summer.
They have created confusion using fast growing tender trees for bonsai.

I'm no expert but I think traditionally bonsai were slow growing hardy trees.

 

I think it can possibly work, most tropical fig trees have those large surface roots and can take root in cracks and crevices which give the appearance of age earlier.

I'm just not sure about the way they try to produce them.
It would take a long time for the one in @Jules W picture to lose that sawn off stump appearance.

 

Some interesting reading ...
Ficus Benjamina Bonsai | Bonsai Alchemist Species Guide
Bonsai cultivation and care - Wikipedia