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Long story made short: A month ago I transplanted my 33 year old Golden Gate Ficus. Now, it's older leaves are turning dark dark green, curling length-wise and dropping. The newer leaves are getting dark spots that spread and then drop. I'm flummoxed. What's going on? I made sure there were no air pockets, it has great drainage. I know what it looks like when it's not getting enough water.
The longer story: This was the first time in 22 years that I re-potted her. When I got her 22 years ago, there was no internet to speak of and my library had a small booklet for bonsai and that was it. It told me to keep trimming the roots...that was all. even 6 years ago I could find nothing online or off. Last year I looked online again and wow! lots of stuff. I studied and studied and purchased the necessary tools, soil, and instructions. 6 weeks ago I re-potted her.. To my delight, everything was wonderful... very little leaf drop and even the Kyoto moss started spreading. I misted a couple times a day and kept the soil quite damp. After all, her roots that were growing out of the bottom were kept submerged in a saucer of water. If that water dropped to just damp, I'd get serious leaf drop, so I figured I should keep the soil quite damp. I also realized that in the 22 years I had her, full-sized deciduous trees had grown outside her window so I decided to give her some artificial light. I thought I was purchasing full-spectrum lamps, but they turned out to be blue and red, the blue to increase photosynthesis and the red to increase budding (which was not necessary, of course, but I figured it couldn't hurt). I left them on most of the day and got lovely results. Those are the things that were different from before the re-potting. Anyone have any ideas? Should I not keep the soil this damp (6 on my moisture meter)? I've stopped the lights. Should I purchase a full spectrum light system? It's getting rather severe and it happened very fast. Help?

Meadowmorph wrote: ...After all, her roots that were growing out of the bottom were kept submerged in a saucer of water.

By "her" you mean the Ficus, right? Isn't it overwatered by any chance?
If the soil you used to reppot it is mostly inorganic, it is difficult to overwater it, while if it is organic it can easily happen.
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Meadowmorph wrote: ...I've stopped the lights. Should I purchase a full spectrum light system?...

Is there a way to put it outside, in the semi-shade ? Even here in the southern hemisphere's winter it is not cold enough to keep my Ficuses inside, and they usually like to be outside.
Water and Light are my first thoughts for a Ficus dropping leaves.
But...
If the moisture is high and the light low, fungus is a possibility.
See:
"Ficus trees are susceptible to a leaf spot fungus infection. Ficus is susceptible to black spot fungus when the leaves remain damp or wet for long periods. The fungus forms black spots on the leaves and will defoliate the tree when left untreated."
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For all of you who have been kind enough to try to help, this is what I've done so far: I carefully removed the top of the soil and gently raked down to view the feeder roots to inspect for root rot. I did not see any rot, but I was surprised to see fewer feeder roots than expected. The soil was quite damp, which I could expect since I've lost a third of the foliage so far. I will reduce watering significantly. I also took the plant outside. To my surprise I saw a powdery substance along some of the twigs and branches. I had removed a knob not long ago and the substance was around the "wound". I apparently have some sort of fungal infection on the plant. I'm going to apply Neem oil tomorrow, unless any of this sounds familiar to you and you have another suggestion..

Yes, I sometimes call my Ficus she or he. We've gone through a lot the last 20 years or so. It's been quite forgiving. Whatever a person could do wrong switching from regular house plants to a bonsai, I did it. But this is bad and is moving fast. I hope not to lose every leaf, I'll have to hard prune it back and lose the "wind-blown" ficus I've been developing, I just hope it lives and we'll go from there.

Someone gave me a Chinese Elm recently in case I lost the ficus when replanting. I suppose I should Neem oil on it as a precaution. I would guess the Kyoto moss will die

BTW, the soil I am using is 1/3 organics, 1/3 special clay and 1/3 lava.

If I were to guess, The Mother's day Coleus/Succulent may be the origin. I've segregated it, though I don't see problems there. I use my bonsai tools only for my bonsai and I clean them often. The outside rose bush has been fighting black spot, but I always wash those tools and never use them for the bonsai. I change my clothing. I suppose it could have floated in through the window.

Anyway, thank you all. I'll see if I can get some photos.

Cheers!

Without pictures it is impossible to tell what is happening.
Just applying something I find, is never the right approach. Find out what is wrong, then do something to solve that problem. I have found NEEM to be too agrressive for ficus benjamina. The one time I applied it, it took 4 months for the tree to start growing again.

I live in South Jersey. We did go through two weeks of 95 F plus degree highs, but we are back down to 80 F to 85 F, so I decided to take it out for some fresh air and dappled sun. It seems to be really liking it. I am increasing the time out, since I don't want to shock it. Inside the temperature is around 76, but warmer and more humid by the window.

I will be sending photos soon; I have to ask my son to take them unless I pull out my tripod. It seems my hands shake too much to get a good macro shot. Too bad, I used to be a fairly decent photographer.

Cheers!

Just thought I'd Give all of you an update and thank all who responded to try to help. I took The "Old Girl" up to northwest New Jersey where they have a bonsai nursery. Apparently my plant was sacrificing all the mature leaves while the new foliage and branches emerged It's beginning to look much better and, again I dodged the demise of my ficus. The apparent white growth on the branches was simply the latex oozing from where the leaves dropped in a more liquid form than I've seen causing a crystalline build-up. It's really an amazingly forgiving plant.. Now, with all the proper instruction on ficus bonsai care, It should flourish. Thanks again.

Good news!