Grow a Ficus Benjamina
While the Ficus benjamina is notorious for being difficult to grow, it is possible to raise a healthy tree. Just follow a few simple guidelines, and your tree will have the best chances for a long life.
Contents
Steps
- Ficus Benjamina enjoys indirect light, so don't place it in a window where it gets more than an hour or two of sun each day.
- Water only when the top {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of soil is dry.
- Fertilize lightly, using a soluble mixture. Well-rotted compost is a nice top dressing, but will not provide all the nutrients your houseplant requires. You should fertilize your plant every two weeks to a month or so in summer, but not in winter.
- Prune only when necessary to keep the tree from flopping over. Alternatively, you can use nursery ties to stake the tree.
- If you have a braided tree, you may decide to keep the braid or not. It is braided like a typical 3-strand braid. Either prune off side branches or incorporate them into one of the three main strands. You'll only want to braid the new wood, which is flexible enough to bend into the braid. Do not force your tree limbs or they will break. To keep the new braids from becoming too loose, you can use nursery ties.
Tips
- If you need to replant, expect a total leaf drop. As F. benjamina does not like to be moved, the movement during a replant can send the tree into shock. It should recover with new leaf growth within two weeks.
- All F. benjamina lose their leaves from time to time. Leaf drop typically happens in the autumn, but houseplants can interpret autumn at different times. This will depend on your house's temperature, etc. Just because all the leaves are gone does not mean your plant is dead. Keep up with your watering and fertilizing schedule, and you should see new leaf growth within a week or two.
- Keep the room at a fairly steady temperature through the year, a little warmer during the day (ideally about 20° to 23°C) than at night (ideally about 16° to 18°C). Temperatures below about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} may kill the plant.
- If your tree is in a smaller pot (under 30 cm), you'll want to water when the top {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of soil is dry. A larger pot should be allowed to dry out more.
- See also Select a Ficus benjamina
Warnings
- If your F. benjamina is getting too much sunlight, the leaves will bleach to light green to yellow.
- DO NOT over-water. This is the #1 killer of most houseplants, including F. benjamina.
- When buying a new plant, do not buy it on a very cold day - moving it from store to car, and car to home, may kill the plant if the temperature is below {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Also never drive with it uncovered in an open pick-up, the wind speed created by the driving will dry out and kill the leaves.
- F. benjamina dislikes excessive movement. If it is necessary to move your tree, do so with gentle motions. You don't want to just grab and shove the pot, of course.
- F. benjamina are prone to mealy bug and scale. Look for white clumps that look like cotton on the backs of the leaves and where branches meet--this is mealy bug. Scale are extremely small brown bugs that make the plant feel sticky and give the leaves a glossy shine. If you have either of these, you may spray your plant every three to five days with a mixture of twenty drops of dish washing liquid (make sure it is not anti-bacterial) to a litre of water. Spray the whole plant, especially under the leaves for four to six weeks.
