Description
This Tropical Rainforest Tree Is a Lush Addition to Interiors
Belonging to the Fig Genus, the Ficus Tree is a very popular and appealing plant. With hundreds of species, the plant catches the attention of many. Nonetheless, very few can be found in cultivation. They are native to many regions of the tropics, mostly including America, Asia, and Africa.
Known by many names, some Ficus Trees are also referred to as fig trees, producing a well-known and enjoyable fruit.
Other common names are Ficus Benjamina (a variety of the plant) and weeping fig. Inside your home, the ficus can be a marvelous specimen plant that is abundant with lush foliage. However, to ensure that the plant thrives throughout the year, you must adhere to some specific care routines.
Caring for your Ficus Benjamina
People will often struggle when it comes to caring for the Weeping Ficus plant. These plants are not very resilient to cold conditions and respond to drafty conditions by shedding their leaves.
Not to mention, they do not fare well if you move them too much. Not only are they vulnerable to pests and infestation, but their tropical habitat means that you have to provide them with a particular environment if you wish to grow them indoors.
Light
The plant, in general, requires bright light; however, this does not mean that they will benefit if you place them under direct sunlight. The only plants that can withstand direct sunlight are the acclimated ones. You have to, therefore, make sure that they get high-intensity light, but not to the level of direct sunlight. Light is extra important for this plant to reduce leaf loss in its new home. If you don’t have a bright enough location, try the Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’ instead which can tolerate lower light conditions.
Water
The watering requirement to keep the ficus tree indoors changes according to the seasons. For instance, in the winters, it requires less watering compared to the summers. Moreover, since the plant is from a tropical habitat, it requires plenty of moisture to thrive.
Therefore, if your indoor atmosphere is very dry, your plant may suffer. To keep the moisture levels high, you will have to resort to misting and watering to keep the plant healthy. Also, make sure to check the soil after you water the plant and make sure that the roots do not dry.
Soil and Fertilizer
A ficus needs very fertile and nutrient-rich soil. Along with that, it also requires good pot drainage. Make sure that you do not use potting soils that are too acidic, and use soil-based potting mixes.
When feeding your ficus, slow-release pellets can work well at the beginning of the growing season. They have a rapid growth rate, and this means that you can benefit from feeding them in spring and summer. This also implies that you can slow down the fertilization in the colder seasons.
Common Issues (Pests and Disease)
Apart from being vulnerable to mites, whiteflies, and other insects, they also respond poorly to even the slightest changes in the conditions. Any stress will result in the loss of leaves, which is why you have to be thorough and precise when caring for this plant.
Pruning
Pruning the ficus tree is important. It keeps the plant in shape and, in some cases, prevents it from outgrowing the indoor space.
It is best to prune this plant during the winter season. This is the time in which the plant is not actively growing. When pruning, cut a few inches from a node to maximize sprouting success.
Propagation
Air layering is the preferred propagation method for the ficus. In this method, you have to wrap the stem with damp moss to encourage root growth.
Potting / Repotting
When you provide a ficus plant with adequate conditions and a healthy environment, it will easily outgrow your house, let alone the pot.
Keep in mind that this plant, in its natural habitat, is a surface tree. Repotting every other year can help slow the plant’s growth and keep it at a size that you can manage.
Judith Winebrenner (verified owner) –
Plant arrived in great condition, healthy, new growth, would definitely order from you again, would highly recommend your company.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Sarah Oldershaw (verified owner) –
I sent this plant to my mom for Mother’s day and she reported that it arrived in very good condition and she loved it!
Leah B. (verified owner) –
Gorgeous plant delivered for our Mom for Mother’s Day! The communication from PlantVine was phenomenal, 10/10 recommend!
Kurt Shelley (verified owner) –
Valerie Roberts (verified owner) –
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Notification to ship took 10 days as expected, but the tree arrived safe and sound. It was securely packed and I will order from this company again.
Brian P. (verified owner) –
Plant was in shock…. It’s not looking so well. Been trying to save it.
Jackie (verified owner) –
Great service. Highly recommend.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Not sure if this tree is going to make it. It looks very sad and tiny, not like this picture.
Nikolas J. (verified owner) –
We love our beautiful wintergreen! The box was dented upon arrival and we noticed a little bit of scrunching with the leaves, but that is no fault of Plantvine. We will absolutely be ordering more plants in the future!
Vicky R. (verified owner) –
Best buying experience ever.
Thank you.
Maria A. (verified owner) –
Lovely tree. She’s a wonderful young ficus. Settling for now and soon transplanted in a self watering pot near a window. Thank you!
Maureen Hansen (verified owner) –
Can someone email me back please. My tree looks dead.
Michelle (verified owner) –
Arrived in great shape. Great size. Thoroughly pleased.
Jennifer M. (verified owner) –
My plant lost a ton of leaves upon arrival and continues to lose leaves nearly a month later. I believe it was sent with some sort of pest or fungus and this is why it is dying. Very disappointing for an expensive plant purchase.
Susan (verified owner) –
Mine is smaller and scrawnier than every pic you have. I was pretty sad
Susan T. (verified owner) –
Beautiful tree, perfectly packed, arrived safely, excellent communication throughout the process, and detailed care instructions. PlantVine truly cares about their plants and their customers. AAA+
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Unfortunately all the leaves have fallen of and I don’t know what to do.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
The ficas is in extremely good shape. The packing was exceptionally careful. I look forward to repotting.
Angie M. (verified owner) –
Tree was beautiful when I received it. I think it was extra shocked when the FedEx man threw it at my porch. Hopefully it will pull out.
Kari (verified owner) –
Very saddened when I opened this up and out came the white flies, every leaf that was still intact had at least one fly on it. Just disappointed as there’s nothing I can do to stop that on my end. Other online plants stores I’ve never ever had problem with pests until now.
Ingrid Kunstel (verified owner) –
It is dropping quite a few leaves. Hope that stops soon.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
So far my beautiful little ficus tree looks quite happy in it’s new corner… very pleased with service and quality.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
The plant arrived well packed and seemed healthy, but turned out to be quite smaller in size than expected.
Jessica B. (verified owner) –
Love my tree. Well packaged and shipped quickly. Excellent customer service.
Catherina B. (verified owner) –
Awesome plants! arrived fast, healthy, and are loving their new home.. thanks!
Peter D. (verified owner) –
The plant was boxed very well and traveled without damage. The plant itself looked great when I received it and was not damaged at all.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Shawna (verified owner) –
I purchased a large, braided variegated Benjamin Fig for my mom a few years ago from PlantVine. It arrived in such great condition, bug free, and has been thriving ever since that I decided to get a smaller wintergreen fig for myself. It was packed so well. Minimal loose soil was in the box and the plant looked great! I’ve had it 5 days and it has lost only a few leaves, which is to be expected. If you are on the fence about purchasing a plant online, don’t be if purchasing from PlantVine. They even send you a pic of your plant ahead of shipment. I could tell it really was the same plant because of a cute little branch with a single little leaf that stuck up above the canopy of rest of the plant. It’s still there.