How can i tell if a potted ficus is absolutely dead ?

my office ficus seems dead
i keelp it by the window but ive been keeping the window open a few inches (NYC)

all leaves are dead , branches are dry , i trimmed down to 4 main branches

anyone know if this is a lost cause?

Scrape away a little of the bark lower down, with your finger nail. If it looks green underneath its still alive.If its brown it will be dead.
If alive, prune it to the point the green starts.(test scrape it higher up) Ficus like an occasional spray of water, also they don't do well if underwatered.

They LOVE the sun. Place it outside in a sunny location water it. New life may very well start to show in a few weeks. Look for tiny green leaf buds. I have brought back many ficus trees. You may have to place it up on the roof if your apartment does not have a south or west exposure. Good Luck!

Dig it out and look at the roots. It needs daylight. Likes moist soil. Also look at the branches. Are they like brittle twigs? If so, it is dead.

Most likely it is dead if it has lost all leaves.They are picky plants.