How to Care for a Ficus Tree as an Indoor or Outdoor Spectacle

In this article, I’ll be guiding you on how to care for a ficus tree, or in particular, a Ficus Benjamina (Weeping fig) and other types of Ficus, including the commonly-grown Benjamin Ficus and Ficus Audrey, both indoors and outdoors. This super easy guide is for you to make your plant thrive! If you want to learn more about Ficus care then read on! 

Origin of Benjamin Fig or Ficus Tree

Ficus is a large genus of about 800 species of trees, many of which are commonly grown as houseplants. They are native to tropical regions all around the world and they hold special significance in many Southeast Asian religions and cultures. 

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Also known as the Weeping Fig or Weeping Chinese Fig, or by its botanical name Ficus Benjamina, the Benjamin Fig is what gardeners think of as a basic Ficus tree, often referred to just as Ficus. It’s native to a large area from India to northern Australia, but it’s cultivated in many regions across the world, both indoors and outdoors. The nickname comes from the branches which tend to droop. 

Their leaves are smaller and more numerous than those of other Ficus, which gives them a bushy appearance. Care of the Benjamin Fig is similar to other Ficus varieties but it’s more forgiving when it comes to watering and light requirements. 

Ficus Species Identification – How to Identify a Ficus

Members of the Ficus family all look very similar. Here’s how you can tell them apart: 

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Overview on How to Care for a Ficus Tree

The care of different types of Ficus indoors is much the same across the board, with minor differences between species. For Weeping fig, there are some key takeaways on caring for them:

Ficus Light Requirements

The amount of light a Ficus needs is bright but indirect sunlight. They are tropical plants and are adapted to living in bright light conditions underneath a forest canopy. 

Watering a Ficus

How often you should water a Ficus depends on the humidity of the space you have and the specific type of Ficus.

Soil for a Ficus Tree

Temperature and Humidity

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Ficus trees are strictly warm weather plants that require humid air to stay healthy. 

How to Fertilize Ficus Properly

Ficus trees need regular fertilizing in order to stay healthy. 

How to Care for a Ficus tree: Potting & Repotting 

Ficus repotting is necessary every so often when growing them in pots. 

Ficus Tree Care Outdoors

Outdoor ficus tree in Vietnam. Photo: Edward Nguyen, 2023.

In warm climates, Ficus trees can be grown outdoors. 

Pruning a Ficus Tree (How and When To Do It)

Pruning is necessary for indoor Ficus trees in order to keep them down to size. 

How to Propagate a Ficus Tree

There are two main methods for propagating a Ficus tree: through stem cutting and air layering. 

Stem Cutting: 

1. Cut a stem that has at least 3 leaves on it so it can photosynthesize. You can use cuttings you get from regular pruning. 
2. Place the cut end of the cutting in a jar of clean, chlorine-free water. In a few weeks it will start to grow roots. 
3. Place the cutting into a pot with soil. 
4. An alternative to using a jar of water is to dip the cutting in a rooting hormone and then place it directly into the soil from there. 

Air Layering: 

1. Pick the branch you want to remove for propagation, one with at least 3 leaves on it. 
2. Make two circular cuts an inch apart, cutting down until you reach the center of the stem. 
3. Connect the two circular cuts and remove the soft tissue of the outer layers. 
4. Pack a bit of sphagnum moss around the cut area and secure it in place with some clear plastic wrap. 
5. Once you can see roots forming, you can cut the branch off and plant it. Roots should form in 90 to 120 days. 

Caring for a Ficus tree: Common Pests and Diseases

In caring for a Ficus tree, you may encounter diseases and pests that affect indoor and outdoor Ficus alike. 

• Anthracnose: a fungus which causes greasy yellow spots on the leaves, caused by overmisting. Remove any affected leaves and apply a fungicide. 
• Bacterial Leaf Spot: a bacterial infection which produces yellow and black spots on the leaves. Stop misting the plant and remove infected leaves immediately. 
• Branch Dieback: a fungus that causes the leaves to turn brown and die off, followed by the branches. It’s caused by waterlogged soil. Prune away any branches that begin to discolor. 
• Scale Insects: small brown insects that cause the leaves to yellow and die. 
• Mealybugs: long insects with a waxy coating that group up on the undersides of the leaves. Wash them off or apply an insecticide. 
• Whitefly: small white flies that dry out the leaves. They lay rice-like eggs under the leaves and if you shake the tree, a cloud of flies will come off. 

5 Common Types of Ficus

There are over 800 types of Ficus trees, of which a few varieties are commonly cultivated. Here are 5 of the most common ones: 

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Known for its leaves that look like small violins. It’s one of the most commonly grown ficus houseplant types. 

Appearance	Slender, brown trunks with large leaves
Characteristics	Thrives in full sunlight, large leaves up to a foot long
Leaves	Violin-shaped, dark green, heavily veined
Fruits	Small green balls in clusters of 2 or 3. Edible but unappetizing.
Overall Shape	Tall and slender

Fiddle Leaf Fig Pruning For Beginners in 6 Easy Steps

This is the national tree of India and also the largest tree in the world in terms of ground area. 

Appearance	Similar to the Fiddle Leaf but with round leaves
Characteristics	Can tolerate light inconsistencies better than the Fiddle Leaf
Leaves	Dark green, medium-sized, oval-shaped leaves with veins
Fruits	Small red or orange balls in large clusters. Edible but unappetizing.
Overall Shape	Tall and slender as a houseplant

This is the type of Ficus plant that is grown most commonly as a houseplant. 

Appearance	Tall with a slender trunk. Trunks can be braided due to softness.
Characteristics	Likes bright, indirect light. Grows up to 6 feet tall indoors.
Leaves	Long, pointed green ovals. Sometimes variegated.
Fruits	Small orange or red balls
Overall Shape	Tall with uniform foliage

This tree’s sap contains latex which is used in making rubber, hence the tree’s name. 

Appearance	Thin trunks with large leaves
Characteristics	Does not like direct sunlight. Needs pruning to prevent overgrowth.
Leaves	Smooth, glossy, dark green pointed ovals
Fruits	Small yellow-green balls. Barely edible.
Overall Shape	Single stalk with large leaves as a houseplant

This species is native to the Malay Archipelago in the Pacific. It’s a small Ficus tree compared to its relatives on the mainland, but not a rare Ficus, and so it’s often grown as a Bonsai tree.

Appearance	Short with medium green leaves
Characteristics	Likes full, direct sunlight. Can endure lower humidity but prefer it high
Leaves	Dark green ovals, smaller than that of Ficus Audrey or Fiddle Leaf
Fruits	Small, red ball-shaped figs.
Overall Shape	Short with a thick, twisted stump

FAQs About Caring for a Ficus Tree

How to Care for a Ficus Tree: Conclusion

Caring for a Ficus tree is fairly straight forward once you know what it needs. Since they’re so commonly grown as houseplants, there is a lot of help online and at nurseries if your plant gets sick or drops its leaves – there are plenty of experts that know how to care for a Ficus tree. They’re impressive and elegant looking trees whether grown indoors or outdoors, no matter which type of Ficus you pick. You can even eat the fruits if they’re prepared correctly – just make sure yours is an edible species like the Benjamin Ficus. Best wishes and happy growing!

Source: https://thelittle.garden
Category: Houseplants