If you ’re looking for a minuscule indoor tree to liven up your home , try a classic : Ficus benjamina , also cognise as the weeping fig . This graceful houseplant , easy to recognize with its little , pointy leaves , can exist for years and develop evenhandedly tumid with the correct care .
Bookmark this guide for everything you ask to know about Ficus benjamina and how to care for your weeping fig indoors !
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About Ficus benjamina
Description
It ’s promiscuous to see why houseplant enthusiasts have been growing Ficus benjamina in their home for ten now . There ’s a lot to love about this pretty indoor tree diagram , a eccentric of wild fig belonging to the mulberry crime syndicate Moraceae .
One machine characteristic in picky that sets this Ficus apart from other tree - type houseplants , including its cousin , the popularfiddle folio common fig tree ) , is that F. benjamina has small leave ( unremarkably up to 5 inches ) rather than the cock-a-hoop foliage you ’d normally associate with a tree . The leave on crazy - type plants are a thick emerald green in coloration , pointy , and glossy .
The rough-cut name “ weeping Libyan Islamic Group ” is a reference to the fact that this species ’ farewell and slender stems lean to arc downwards . Its droopy foliation does n’t make this plant look sad , instead ease up it an graceful look somewhat similar to a weeping willow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
There are different variety of Ficus benjamina useable , roam from plants with braided stems to mini bonsai reading . I ’ll talk about those in the next part .
Did you know?
A unwarranted Ficus benjamina can farm into a full - sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , up to 100 foot gamey . In the habitation , it stays a destiny little : usually under 10 feet .
Natural habitat
This houseplant is course found in Asia , occurring in much of Southeast Asia ( Thailand , the Philippines , Vietnam , Indonesia , and more ) and beyond ( China , India , Bangladesh , etc . ) . It also grows in coastal northern and eastern Australia .
In the wild , Ficus benjamina favors tropic rainforests . In part with strong climate , it ’s also pop as an ornamental in parks and gardens ; it go particularly well for creating dense , low hedge .
TheIUCN Red Listconsiders Ficus benjamina to be a species of Least Concern , meaning it ’s not endangered in the wilderness . It notes the population size is in all likelihood static .
As an invasive species
In some places , such as Florida , “ escaped ” weep figs have manage to tame . The invasive plants apparently distribute only by means of nonsexual generation , such as through root suckers or fallen twigs finagle to rootle .
The reason a Ficus benjamina ca n’t really bring out viable seeds outside of its natural home ground is fascinating . Each Ficus carica tree diagram mintage , let in this one , is link with one or a few specific type(s ) of fig wasp(s ) . Only this or these wasp(s ) , rather than “ regular ” pollinator likebeesorbutterflies , can cross-pollinate its flowers .
As such , it ’s crucial to ascertain that the fig wasp connect with Ficus benjamina is n’t introduced anywhere outside of its natural cooking stove ( like Florida ) . If it is , this plant would be capable to spread a mass more rapidly .
Issues with this admit it potentially crowding out important aboriginal greenery , prejudicial construction and infrastructure with its roots , making messes when its fruits drop , and causing trouble when the trees inevitably fall when exposed to hurricane - force wind .
Ficus benjamina varieties
As is usual with houseplant that have been around for a long time , nurseries have create a whole lot of selectively bred variations ( cultivar ) of Ficus benjamina . The original version has dark-green foliation , but if you need something more interesting , you could also consider :
Where to corrupt
Ficus benjamina plants
Caring for Ficus benjamina
Light and temperature
Although Ficus benjamina does n’t need pile of light , it ’s not as oppose to the sunshine as many sources mention . Consider : This is a tree . It would get lots of direct sunshine in the wild ! Please do n’t keep yours in a dark corner , as it will be much more difficult to keep active this fashion .
In your habitation , a tears common fig tree will do estimable if you place it right next to a window . Indirect light is fine , but this mintage definitely wo n’t say no to some direct irradiation either . The important affair is to acclimate it to more brightly - lit spots over the row of a few calendar week to foreclose leaf singe .
In terms of temperature , this is a typical tropical . It does n’t wish the cold and can start to struggle if temps drop below 50 ° F , so keep it away from A / ampere-second unit or drafty window . If you experience comfy in your home ( around room temperature ) , the same run short for your plant . gamey temperature are not an issue .
Important
No Ficus likes being moved , but this one is particularly picky about it . pluck a nice and vivid , warm spot where your benjamina can hang out for the next distich of eld , or you may end up having to treat with severe leaf release every sentence you move your plant .
Water and humidity
As a tropic , Ficus benjamina wish its dirt gently moist . have the medium go solely juiceless can cause leaf exit ; on the other hand , if you systematically keep it too wet , lethal root rot may set in . It ’s good to pose a digit in the plantation owner to judge the moisture grade rather than blindly watering on a weekly schedule .
Remember that the amount of water a plant need count on different factor , specially the season . When the days become shorter and temperatures drop , your Ficus will reduce its emergence pace . As a outcome , it wo n’t ask a boozing nearly as often as it would in high summer .
It also is n’t too especial about humidness . The independent affair is to ward off placing it too close to heaters or open fireplace , as the atmosphere around these is usually very dry . This can cause the leaves to crispen up .
Soil and planting
One of the nice things about this houseplant , which can be a bit of a drama queen in other vista , is that it ’s not finicky when it do to grime . A veritable high-pitched - tone houseplant dirt should work exquisitely , although the ideal would be to add a handful ofperlite for improved drain .
If you really desire to featherbed your weeping Libyan Fighting Group , you could also add a little compost or worm castings for contribute nutrients . If you choose to do so , you wo n’t have to utilize fertilizer for the first year after repotting .
The eccentric of planter you apply for this Ficus does n’t really weigh as long as it has a drain gob in the bottom to countenance excess water to run out freely . You broadly wo n’t have to repot often , as this coinage does n’t mind being a slight cramp . Every two to three twelvemonth is usually okay . you could go up one commode size at a meter .
Do n’t recycle potting filth when you ’re repotting . After multiple years in the same territory , your weeping fig will treasure some fresh growing medium !
recommend merchandise for Ficus benjamina flora care :
Fertilizing
cry figs are n’t do it for being ultra - quick growers , but they definitely wish getting a little fertiliser during the spring and summertime develop time of year . No need to buy expensive or fancy products ; a normal , balanced houseplant plant food play well . You could also consider one mellow in nitrogen , which stimulates folio growth .
Simply use fertilizer as line on the product promotional material . It usually involves thin the works solid food in water and then water your plants as normal .
Do n’t fertilize if your Ficus is n’t doing well , and never do so in wintertime when it ’s abeyant . you’re able to also skip the plant food if you ’ve recently repot your plant , especially if you used some compost .
advocate fertilizers for Ficus benjamina :
Pruning
You usually do n’t need to cut back a Ficus benjamina much . If it ’s outgrown its current location in your home , you may re - shape it a little ; head to the section on generation below to find out what to do with the prow you ’ve trim .
Dividing or repotting
Like other Ficus trees , Ficus benjamina does n’t tend to produce offshoots indoors . This means it ’s not a desirable candidate for division . If yours outgrow its planter , you ’re best off just repot it .
Propagating Ficus benjamina
turn one Ficus benjamina into two ( or several ) without expend any money : sounds like illusion , but it ’s just propagation . breed this houseplant using stem cuttings is a breeze .
Here ’s how you do it :
First , use some clean pruning shears to withdraw one or multiple young , pliable shoot . Each cutting should be around 5 to 6 inch and have a few leaves .
Next : patience ! It can take a while before a cutting manages to establish itself , especially during winter .
If you opt to propagate in pee , your new plant can be pot once the roots are around 2 inch in duration . When propagating in pot soil , it can be more difficult to see whether a press clipping has rootle or not . you could give the stems a little squirm once every few hebdomad ; if you sense any resistance , you could seize source have appeared and your multiplication attempt has been a success .
If you ’d care to propagate a thick , older Ficus benjamina base , you could consider tune layer . This proficiency control a branch roots before cut it , work it idealistic for older and hard stems that would n’t unremarkably produce roots as easily in body of water or filth .
Common questions about Ficus benjamina care
Is a weeping fig toxic to cats and dogs?
Although a few nibbles wo n’t spite your furry supporter , this plant ’s sap can do soreness and tummy aches . If your kat or dog is vomiting or suffering from diarrhea after intake , be sure to offer plentitude of body of water to avoid evaporation . Consider visit your vet to ask whether you should bring the animal in or not .
The ficin find in Ficus benjamina sap can also irritate your work force if you come to it . folk who are raw to latex may want to consider wearing glove when manage their plant .
in conclusion , some people are in reality full - on allergic to this Ficus . If your eyes start to itch or you discover any asthmatic symptom , you may be better off hand your benjamina to someone who is n’t move .
Why is my weeping fig dropping leaves?
Yeah , they do that ! Although they ’re stalwart once they get used to a location , a Ficus benjamina will start dropping its foliage at the slightest inconvenience , especially when you move it . If you just brought your plant place , do n’t panic and just give it some time .
If you did n’t move your Ficus , get by checking the temperature and grease . It may be inhuman , or the sensitive may be drying out too quickly ( which can find when it ’s time to repot ) .
