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FICUS GUIDES

Ficus benjamina houseplant with wavy lanceolate leaves

Ficus Benjamina – droop LeavesFiddle Leaf FigRubber Plant

Ficus benjamina , also known as the ‘ Weeping Fig ’ , ‘ Java Fig ’ or ‘ Java Tree ’ , is a democratic houseplant .

It can be placed outside in summertime in a balmy and sheltered placement , but it iscommonly grow indoors year - circular .

lanceolate leaves of a weeping fig tree growing indoors

It is extremely prized as a houseplant for its elegant form and sheeny green leaves .

Overview

PreferredBright but indirect lighting

ExposureSheltered

Height2.5 – 4 megabyte

Ficus benjamina ‘Starlight’ with variegated cream and green leaves

Spread1.5 – 2.5 M

PreferredLoam - base compost

MoistureMoist but well - drained

Ficus ‘Too Little’ bonsai growing with ferns in a large greenhouse

pHAny

With the right caution , this plant can front seriously telling andbring a taste of the tropicsto a home .

It also has a tolerance for relatively poor growing weather , making it a good choice for those who are not inevitably the most light-green - fingered of people and for those calculate for a comparatively down in the mouth - maintenance houseplant that wo n’t be too particular to grow .

large sized Ficus benjamina plant with curled lanceolate leaves growing outside

Common Types

As well as raise the species typeFicus benjamina , which has received an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS , you may also deal a variegated edition with lily-white variegation on the leaf .

The variegated cultivar‘Starlight’has also been given an Award of Garden Merit .

There are also compact cultivars to take from if space is limited .

yellow watering can irrigating the base of a small variegated weeping fig tree

‘ Too Little ’ , for lesson , is popular with bonsai enthusiast .

Weeping Fig Care

Caring for a weeping Libyan Fighting Group is relatively simple as the plants are patient of of a mickle .

However , there are sure thing that you do need to bring home the bacon to grow these plants successfully , since not getting the basic principle right means that these plants can turn a loss their leaves .

Below are the main thing to guess about .

a hand pruning the drooping dark green leaves of a Ficus benjamina plant with green scissors

outside , where they can be placed in the summer , weep figs require full sun to partial shade .

Indoors , where they are often kept , they will do well in a south or Dame Rebecca West - face window , in undimmed but filter light .

These flora can contend with temperature of 5 - 10 ° ascorbic acid but not below and will not pull through in freezing conditions .

potted weeping fig with a pale brown trunk and dark green lanceolate leaves

A steady temperature of 16 ° century is idealistic – which is why these flora are generally grown indoors or only placed out of doors in summertime .

These plant need humus - fat soil which is dampish yet free - draining .

A loam - based potting mix that is peat - costless is loosely look at to be the idealistic growing medium when you are growing aFicus benjaminaindoors in a container .

Ficus benjaminawill require regular watering , but it is also crucial not to overwater and to let the growing spiritualist dry out somewhat between waterings .

Water deep when the top few centimetres of the growing sensitive finger dry to the touch .

I would beg you to water well but to verify that excess water can drain away freely .

I tend to find that if I am a neglectful works parent and forget to water my Ficus regularly , this is a plant that is quite good at let you know it is unhappy – often by wilting , turning icteric and dropping folio .

Curtail lachrymation , but do not stop completely , during the winter month .

During the spring and summertime months , it is beneficial to fertilize weeping figs with an constituent , balanced liquid plant provender every twosome of week .

I find that a seaweed feed is ideal , but tip only occasionally during the cold part of the year .

Ficus benjaminais inRHS Pruning Group 1and has a naturally well - balanced model of subdivision and a pleasing shape – so they do n’t of necessity need pruning to keep them in shape .

Light care pruning is all that will ever be required when develop these plant and even that unaccented pruning is not always required .

In late winter or early in the spring , check the plants over and if there is any damaged , pathologic or dead material , this can be pruned out .

you could trim branch that are crossing or overly congested too if you wish .

It is not ideal to repot aFicus benjaminatoo oftentimes .

These plants can have a disposition to drop their leaves in answer to environmental change , which includes being moved to a new pot .

If they really need it , young weeping fig plants can be repot into a slimly large pot in the spring .

Once they are larger and more establish , it is beneficial to keep the same mickle .

you may , however , replenish any nutrients by tot up a top bed of compost in the existing pot each spring .

When aFicus benjaminahas been placed outdoors during the summer , it will require to be brought back indoors or undercover before temperatures drop below 13 ° degree Celsius to forefend any outcome .

call up to reduce watering and feeding over the wintertime month and keep temperatures to 13 ° blow or above at all times during the cold part of the year .

Ficus benjaminacan be propagated by way of seed or cuttings .

folio bud or semi - hardwood cutting can be deal to raise on and become Modern plants to add to your houseplant collection .

Like other houseplants , weeping figs can get infested with pests such as scale insects , mealy bug , thripsand red spider mites .

But most of the issues that occur when growing these plants get up because of a job with the environmental conditions or because of a sudden change in the surround .

If you do remark your industrial plant ‘ acting up ’ , I ’d broadly speaking give notice you to look at lite exposure and watering in the first representative .