How to Care for an Indoor Fig Tree

Grow fig trees indoors with the proper care.

Fig trees like the Ficus benjamina are a lush and graceful addition to any home, but they can be very fussy to maintain. Unlike a hardy pothos that you can over-water and ignore with no ill effects, caring for fig trees means being constantly watchful for the dreaded dropping leaves. Many people grow indoor fig trees with spectacular results, so it's not impossible. The trick to maintaining fig trees -- as with so much else in life -- is balance.

Things You'll Need

• Pot with good drainage
• Chopsticks
• Plant mister
• 20-20-20 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Put your fig tree in a pot that has holes for drainage, and keep the holes free of obstruction. Tip the pot and gently poke the holes with a chopstick to keep them open.

2. Place the tree in an east window, or a south-facing window that has curtains or shades on it to filter the light. Mist your tree between waterings, and make sure it is not sitting in the direct path of air from a heating or cooling vent.

3. Keep the soil moist. It should look dark, and when you poke your finger into the soil to test it, it should be damp for at least an inch beneath the surface. Water the tree until the excess runs out of the drainage holes. Empty the drip tray as soon as the run-off stops.

4. Feed your fig tree every six months with a 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer for houseplants that you have diluted with twice as much water as the instructions suggest. If your fig tree drops its lower leaves and the rest start to turn yellow around the edges, it needs to be fed even if six months have not quite passed.

5. Repot your fig tree into a larger container every two to three years, or when it seems to need constant watering and is dropping leaves. Make sure your new pot has good drainage.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn your fig tree once a month so that all sides get equal sun. This will help keep it lush and symmetrical.

• Putting a fig tree in dry air with direct sunlight can lead to spider mites.

• Don't panic if your fig tree drops a few leaves -- this happens normally as the seasons change.

References

• Denver Plants: Weeping Fig