Care for Ficus

You might know your ficus tree as a weeping fig. These common tropical plants are often sold for indoor use because they tolerate relatively low-light conditions, although they need full light for good growth. Ficus trees don't take well to climate changes either, so, unless you live in a year-round mild climate, plan to keep your ficus indoors. Once you've found the right place for your ficus tree, leave it there as moving a ficus tree is one of the primary causes of leaf fall. Ficus invariably drop leaves when acclimating to new surroundings.

Steps

  1. Place your ficus tree in a location with full light. Ideally, it should receive 12 to 13 hours of sun every day.
    • Ficus trees don't do well with only indoor lighting. If you don't get enough natural light in your location, or if you need a supplemental light source during the winter, purchase a plant light and use it, on a timer, to ensure your ficus gets sufficient light.
  2. Remove yellowed, dead leaves from the ficus tree as you see them. This allows adequate sunlight to penetrate the growth to the remaining leaves.
    • Snip off dry, dead twigs for the same reason.
    • Ficus trees are notorious for dropping their leaves, sometimes over a span of months, when you place them in a new environment. All you can do is give the ficus consistent, appropriate care and pick up the fallen leaves to discourage pests. If your ficus is receiving adequate light and indoor temperatures, and you're watering correctly, the leaf-drop will eventually stop and the tree will generate healthy new growth.
    • Pruning isn't strictly necessary for a ficus tree. However, if it starts to grow out of control, prune each weak branch back to the intersection with a thriving branch (instead of leaving stubs). Some latex dripping from the cuts is normal; if you suspect you might be allergic to the dripping latex, wear gloves for protection.
  3. Water the ficus thoroughly, and then wait for the top {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of soil to dry out before you water again.
    • Stick your finger down into the soil to check dryness/dampness before you water. If the ficus' soil is allowed to dry out completely, it'll drop its leaves.

Tips

  • Your ficus doesn't need much fertilizer. Use a standard houseplant fertilizer, following the directions on the bottle, every other month during the growing season (summer).
  • Consistent care, maintaining the same watering, temperature and light levels, is 1 of the best ways to keep your ficus tree healthy and prevent it from dropping large quantities of leaves.
  • You may see ornamental ficus trees for sale, with trunks or even branches braided and trained into decorative patterns. You can create a similar effect yourself if you start with young, supple trees or branches. Trim outcropping branches away, if necessary, then braid the trunk or branches into the desired pattern; as they grow, they'll graft together.

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Sources and Citations

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