Growing Ficus Trees Outdoors Overview
Growing Ficus Plants Outdoors Information Overview
The ficus used to be a very popular plant for outdoor landscaping, but due to its history with disturbing septic lines, cracking concrete walkways, and even causing major damage to buildings and foundations, landscape designers and architects tend to rethink the use of this plant.
The damage is caused by the ficus’ aggressive root system, and the unexpected tree sizes. These trees tend to be treated and cared for more like hedges (most of the time) rather than trees. Realize, that after you plant a ficus outside, the plant doesn’t magically turn into a hedge; the plant still knows it’s a tree, a very large tree, and will still try and grow to its full size. I wouldn’t advise using the ficus plant in your outdoor landscaping. Although, if you don’t mind leaving your ficus planted in a pot; rather than in the ground, than go for it (ficus plants’ roots are much easier to control if they are pot bound). Just as long as the growing conditions are optimal, you should have no problems. Also, placing your pot bound ficus outside during the summer is very common, and the tree loves the direct sunlight!
Growing Ficus Trees Outdoors
- Light and Shade - Full sunlight is needed for many plants to assume their full potential. Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day. Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight, although they may not flower as heavily or their foliage as vibrant. Partial sun receives less than 6 hours of sun, but more than 3 hours. Ficus plants are able to take full sun in some climates, but may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates. Know the culture of the plant before you buy and plant it!
- Replacing Soil - For container grown plants, replace most of the soil in the tub every three years and keep the sides of the tub shaded to prevent overheating in sunlight.
- Watering - Young ficus tees should be watered regularly until fully established. In dry western climates, water mature trees deeply at least every one or two weeks. Desert gardeners may have to water more frequently. Mulch the soil around the trees to conserve moisture. If a tree is not getting enough water, the leaves will turn yellow and drop. The ficus tends to require a moist soil, and not soggy.
- Pruning - Fig trees are productive with or without heavy pruning. It is essential only during the initial years. If extreme pruning is done, whitewash the entire tree.
- Fertilization - Fertilizing your ficus should pretty much be done at your own discretion. If you’d prefer your plant to be larger and more robust, than I’d recommend using a fertilizer during your ficus’ growth stage (during the spring and summer when the sunlight intensifies), and avoid fertilizing during the fall and winter. Since the ficus’ growth rate is slow, be sure to fertilize at the recommended label rate every two or three months, or fertilize every seventh watering (depending on the growth rate of your plant, and your desired size). Regular fertilizing of figs is usually necessary only for potted trees or when they are grown on sands.
- Frost Protection - In borderline climates, ficus can be grown outdoors if they are given frost protection. One solution would be to place your ficus plant against a wall or structure; this provides the plant with some source of heat by radiation. Keep the roots as dry as possible during winter, raising a berm to exclude melting snows during thaws. In northern climates, the fig is best grown as a tub or pot plant that can be brought into a warm location in winter and taken out again in spring. Dormant buds are more susceptible to freezing than wood. Freezing may also create a trunk without live buds; re-growth is possible only from roots.
- Ficus Temperature - The ficus plant requires a pretty steady, unchanging environment. For optimal plant growth, the ficus likes temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees F (ficus trees love warm conditions). In the evening the ficus doesn’t require as much heat, in fact, it prefers cooler temperatures (this is more desirable for plant growth). On the other hand; cold, drafty conditions will slow the Ficus’ growth considerably. In fact, your ficus may drop leaves in response to any change in its environment (temperature, light, humidity etc). So if you live in an area that cools down significantly in the evenings, it might be a good idea to bring your ficus tree indoors during the cooler seasons.
January 29, 2007
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Trina posted on July 3, 2007:
can someone HELP my ficus is dying. The leaves are turning brown and dropping rapidly any suggestions
Annie posted on August 11, 2007:
I have a 4 foot tall rubber plant in a pot out doors and want to plant it in the ground. Live in Central Florida. How far from house or street does it need to be?
charles d. goff posted on March 6, 2008:
I have a Ficus Tree in a pot and I want to plant it
outdoors. Any suggestions on what I should do to make
sure it survives the transplanting? I live in Central
Florida, and how about when it freezes, will it withstand freezing temperatures? I want to set it out from the house in the open sun. Should I do anything with the roots when I take it out of the pot?
J Nelson posted on March 11, 2008:
I have a ficus tree that has been grown inside. I would like to repot it and move it outside. Is this possible without killing the tree?
Chrysalis posted on May 1, 2008:
A former homeowner planted a ficus tree much too close to my house. It has grown to over a story tall, is totally blocking any sunlight I might have gotten in the garden window over my kitchen sink, and by now, I’m sure the root system must be wreaking havoc with my foundation. I’d like to have it removed. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how to remove it? Also, does anyone know if the wood from the tree is useful and who might be best able to make use of it?
brenda wilcke posted on February 11, 2009:
we have a ficus hedge and free standing tree for 25 yrs now and all of a sudden the leaves have turned brown and are falling off, any suggestions. We are in the Caribbean.
Randy Pinner posted on February 19, 2009:
I have four ficus trees that are planted outside. I have grown these from small trees, in which they outgrew all the pots we put them in. We live in St. Marys, Ga. This winter we covered these trees with tarps from sams club. Three have dropped some of their leaves. We were told we should have covered them with sheets instead of tarps. I also forgot to mention that we put a hanging 100 watt bulb in each tree. I would like to know if this is the correct way to cover them. Two are veregated and two are green leaves.
Tonya Eads posted on April 13, 2009:
I have a ficus tree and I have had it for about 1 yr. I want to plant it outside. Will it survive if I plant it now in the ground. I want to know if that would be a good idea or should I just leave it in the pot I have it in. I want to plant it outside.
Jeremy posted on May 26, 2009:
I have a ficus tree about 5 foot tall. I live in the Tampa, FL area. This winter my tree got hit by the frost. All the leaves have fallen off. I really don’t wanna lose it. Can I do anything, will it come back, should I cut it back, If so how far(much)? Need some help. Thank you.
sylvia birnberg posted on June 8, 2009:
ficus tree outdoor in a pot leaves are turning brown & dropping off Help