Growing Ficus Trees Indoors Overview
Growing Ficus Trees Indoors Overview by Ficustrees.info
Coveted in interior decorating for its splendid beauty, and yet avoided for its temperamental nature, the ficus is the most popular indoor tree. Several species grow well indoors, and also come in a variety of leaf colors and shapes and each variety has its own growing needs. The most common ficus house plants include Ficus lyrata, or fiddle-leaf fig, the popular F. benjamina, or weeping fig, and the renowned Ficus elastica, or Rubber Tree. Even though the ficus can be a challenging plant, it can also be a very rewarding plant to grow.
Ficus have the reputation for being finicky due to the special watering guidelines, its requirement of bright, indirect light, and the need for temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees. Ficus survive in low interior light, but the best house plant care is bright filtered light (position this house plant near a south window). The Ficus needs to adapt to its location.
Ficus may drop leaves in response to any change in their environment, including a move to a new location (sometimes, even when moving to a different spot in the same room), a draft or a change in temperature. In fact, one of the most common problems when faced with caring for a ficus, is sudden leaf drop off. Don’t overreact to occasional leaf drops. Instead, mist the plant. Don’t over-water a ficus; feel the soil before you water, and if it feels damp, wait a day.
One of the most important factors that comes into play when caring for the ficus house plant is the Moisture level, or the amount you’re watering (this is where most house plants are lost). The ficus tends to require a moist soil, and not soggy. Water the house plant pot until water runs out of the bottom, and don’t let this house plant’s soil dry out between watering. In fact, the best way to water an indoor ficus is by using a sub-irrigation system.
When growing indoors, I recommend potting your ficus; they like to be pot bound. And only need to be re-potted every 2-3 years, although some will grow rapidly enough that yearly re-potting may be necessary. By potting your ficus, the size can be controlled by regularly pruning it and putting it back into the same pot. The stems can also be cut back to the desired height and will produce new, compact growth. Although there are; of course, specific guidelines as to when you should prune your ficus, pruning in the fall or winter can leave you with a sad looking plant that will look “newly pruned” for months to come. The late spring or early summer are the best times to prune. Remember to clean your clippers or scissors with alcohol after each plant you trim to prevent the spread of diseases or insects.
Common Indoor Ficus Plants
Ficus Lyrata (Bold Fiddle Leaf Fig) - The Fiddle Leaf fig loves bight indirect light, to bright shade and it doesn’t like to get cold; it prefers an area where it’s not in direct contact with drafts, and is not in direct contact with a heat source.
Ficus Elastica (Rubber Tree) - Rubber plants like bright light, but never direct sun.
Ficus Benjamina (Benjamin Fig) - The Benjamin Fig does best under bright, sunny conditions, but will also tolerate considerable shade. But do be aware that direct sunlight and a combination of very dry air can lead to problems with spider mites.
January 30, 2007
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D> R> Miller posted on June 7, 2007:
Indoor Ficus Benjamin: For the first time in years, my lovely Ficus B has shown sticky leaves.. I live in NE US and we went through a cold winter with much dry heat inside. HOWEVER, my friend also has the same plant indoors and SHE lives in FLORIDA and has now the same problem. My problem was aliviated when I took my FB outside during the Spring weather and planted her in a shady glen outside. She is most happy: no sticky leaves and down to only two yellowing leaves. So what do you think is causing the stickiness? (My ladyBF was
horribly potbound…cramped, indeed!)
admin posted on June 14, 2007:
@D>R>Miller. It sounds like your F. benjamina was temporarily infested with scale bugs! Scale insects are hard to identify because they don’t look like bugs and don’t appear to move. They are usually found along leaf stems or on the undersides of leaves, and are translucent and take on the color of the leaf or stem surface.
Scale bugs also secrete honeydew on the leaf which resembles the stickiness of soda pop. Usually scale insects just feed by sucking plant sap and causing poor, stunted growth (this is where the yellowing of the leaves comes from). If you see the honeydew, look for the pest.
Check out my post Common Ficus Plant Insects - Scale Bugs for more information on scale bugs and how to control and be rid of them!
I hope some of this information helps. Happy Growing!
Maureen Nacci posted on October 19, 2008:
My Ficus is 27 years old and has been repotted every 4-5 years and is now huge. I have pruned and trimmed it over the years, but now the top of the tree is so tall it bends on my living room ceiling. My husband wants to cut that top main stem off and I am afraid doing that will kill the entire tree? What do you advise?
DH Fox posted on November 14, 2008:
I have had my ficus b. for 5 years and it has flourished, but last year I moved to a new house and for the first time, my ficus has started to have brown tips on the leaves. The new house is colder than the old house and a little darker, but the ficus is still situated next to a southern-exposure window and under a small skylight, and it weathered last winter very well. I’m mystified as to why it’s suddenly turning brown. Please help!
Jon Q posted on December 9, 2008:
My ficus was moved outdoors for the nice weather. A sudden cold caught me off guard and all the leaves have browned. Can it be saved?
Jo posted on March 16, 2009:
What are the bulbous growths on the trunk of my ficus. It is on my patio and has another ficus quite close to it. Is it cancer and shoud I remove it. There are 2 or 3 large brown wart looking growths on the lower trunk. Please help.
marilyn posted on March 25, 2009:
plant looks healthy i did move it to anouther room but thats not unusual for me to do but its loosing lots of green leaves its about 30 years old whats the problem?