tiny new growth

closer pic

Basically ficus benjamina answers by dropping its leaves to any change in the environment - draught, warmth, cold, even when you place it to a new spot. I would also repot it, there's not much to lose at this state. Use an inner pot that fits in the outer one. While it has just a few leaves, make sure you don't overwater it.

I don't let my f. benjamina dry all the way through, once the top half inch is dry I water. For the couple of months I've had it, it has only dropped a few leaves at first and it took hard pruning pretty well too. Was probably a bad time to prune, I need to test my patience. Early summer I plan on repotting once it recovers.

Here is a very useful thread from Al about ficus culture. I think there are one or two more threads, but I can't seem to find them. They help a lot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ficus Trees in Containers IV

The foil could certainly be interfering w/ drainage. If it were mine, I'd take that off ASAP.

W/ the foil on, how do you know it's drying all the way through?

Ficus b reacts to unfavorable changes in light, soil moisture, and temperature by dropping leaves, but not to favorable changes. I'm pretty certain we can isolate the issues most likely to be causing the leaf loss, but it would be a good idea if you read the thread Auron linked to, which will familiarize you with the plant's cultural preferences and help to eliminate as much guesswork as possible. I'd also suggest that you read this basic over view. Both of these articles should help you isolate correctible cultural limitations. By systematically eliminating the things that are limiting the plant's vitality, the plant can't help but regain some of its unrealized vitality and grow with more of its natural vigor.

Al

there is no foil on the bottom and there is good drainage i can lift out the inner pot and check it the foil is just around the edges, my 10yr olds idea. i take the inner pot out to water it. i moved it to a brighter, warmer, more humid site in my kitchen hopefully that will help

Oh, OK then, thanks for clarifying that.