Sorry about accidentally sending the above before I finished proofing it - it should have read: Well, there is an abscission zone at the base of each petiole (leaf stem) that allows water and nutrients to flow freely from roots to leaves and for photosynthate (the plant's true food) to flow freely from leaves to sinks (areas in the plant that are "calling" for more food so that they can grow or store it for further use). There is a growth regulator (or hormone), auxin, produced as a product of plant metabolism, primarily in the apices (growing tips of branches) and leaves that must flow across the abscission zone to keep it open. If photosynthesis/metabolism is slowed due to a decrease in photoperiod or light intensity, the flow of auxin is slowed and a corky abscission layer forms at the base of leaf petioles. This corkey layer is impermeable (a barrier) to the flow of water/nutrients and food, so the leaf dies and separates from the tree at the abscission layer. This is part of the mechanism by which deciduous trees' leaves change colors and then fall (abscise/abscission) during autumn in temperate regions. We frequently talk of leaf abscission in Ficus trees as if it's a great mystery, but technically, anything that slows photosynthesis and the flow of auxin can cause leaf abscission. Chill (particularly sudden chill), lowered light levels or exposures, wet or dry soil, and other stress agents that affect photosynthesis all cause leaf abscission. Often, people will tell us that any cultural change will cause a Ficus to shed foliage, but not so. Changes like increased light, warming temperatures (when it's been cool), better soil, etc., things that make the plant want to grow with better vitality, do not cause leaf loss. Improving conditions will encourage better growth and more biomass. Al

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I planted it in the ground right after I purchased it. Like most new fruit tree growers, I am learning from the school of hard knocks. It is probably 3 to 4 feet tall with 4 or 5 young figs on it and several nice leaves. Just worried as the yellow then brown effect has gone up the plant to effect about 3 large leaves and given the young nature of the tree, I am worried this trend will continue. I am growning an odd affinity for my fruit trees! We have a very good local nursery and I guess I had either gotten the advice or misunderstood the advice and I planted in direct sunlight (he did warn me to cover the roots with pine straw to help with heat on the roots). It has been very very hot up here in the panhandle of Florida(after we had record rainfall for June). I feel like I planted it towards the end of the rainfall, so I believe heat is the issue at hand. (my satsumas and meyer lemons are living it up, but the celeste fig does seem stressed.) Al, thanks for the great lesson on 5:1:1 soil. I have made some good batches of that for my container plants and it looks and feels fantastic, plants seem to really be taking to it and drainage is outstanding. Probably should have started the fig tree out in a pot until I learn something. Thanks for all the replies. Any advice on helping the plant out after I made the mistake of planting it in direct sunlight?

Hi Rose, its quite possible too much water. Here near chicago its been warm and i notice lowest leaves are similar as your description. In my case its the water coming out of watering can and or hose hitting the lowest leaves each day sometimes resting on top of soil thats doing it for me. Martin Chicago Ebay ID - Dieseler6z92 Member- Garden Web, Figs4Fun, Friends of The Fig Society

Hello Hank. That's quite a dramatic change isn't it? I had exactly the reverse of that phenomenon with a piece of jade that I bought back from southern Spain several years ago. The mother plant was very pale almost lime green, very much like your plant is now, that is what caught my attention in the first place. There was a piece that had been knocked off as it was adjacent to the main paseo/pavement so I rescued it and grew several plants from it assuming they would be this pale yellow/green/red edged colour. Mother plant was left to bask in the full Costa del Sol sunlight and heat, admittedly in what looked like a poor and thin soil and with goodness knows what watering it as and when...dogs I mean as there were a lot being walked! Every piece I cut up rooted and went on to produce the usual deep green leaves I was more familiar with. They have all retained those nice red edges, but it appears to be the change in growing conditions that has caused the colour change in my case, nothing else I'm sure. That said, and this being the reverse, I would definitely unpot yours and inspect the roots as with you saying it's been wet of late, maybe there could be some root issues starting....so just to make sure. The lower leaves should as you say, drop first, upper leaves yellowing is often a bad sign. What kind of mix is it planted in...the original or has it been repotted? Mine are in very gritty fast draining mixes so no rot issues so far...but they do live inside my gh x365.