A Comparison of Light Acclimatization Methods for Reduction of Interior Leaf Drop in Ficus spp.

Two acclimatization methods at 5 light intensities were investigated for indoor maintenance of Ficus benjamina and F. stricta. Plants were either grown at 5 production shade levels of full-sun (1685 μEm⁻²s⁻¹) to 80% shade (340 μEm⁻²s⁻¹) for 8 wks then placed directly into a simulated interior environment for 12 wks, or were grown in full-sun for 8 wks then acclimatized for 6 wks at 5 post-production shade levels prior to placement indoors. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the interior was set at 10.5 μEm⁻²s⁻¹ (78 ft-c). For F. benjamina, the full-sun treatment caused the highest degree of defoliation and as production or post-production shade level increased, defoliation decreased. F. stricta showed similar effects under post-production shade, but under production shade levels there was a poor correlation between percent shade and leaf drop. There appeared to be two or three periods of leaf drop after placement indoors as opposed to a constant rate of defoliation.