How do I Care for a Ficus Tree Plant?
Ficus trees are some of the most popular indoor trees around. These decorative trees are part of the fig family, and grow lush, bright green leaves that contrast against light grayish-brown wood. The trees grow in both standard tree structures and as bushes, depending largely on pruning and location, but rarely get taller than 8 to 10 feet. Like their cousins the figs, ficus trees require some very specific care to thrive. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Put ficus trees in the right pot and foundation. These trees require good drainage, so pot them in rich, loose, quick-draining soil and use a pot that has a drainage hole to prevent standing water. Make sure you choose a pot that is heavy enough to balance these lush trees, which tip easily and may break in a fall. Use a pot that is larger than the ficus tree's root ball.
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Place the ficus tree in a spot where it gets full, bright natural or artificial light during at least 34 of the day. Keep ficus trees between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and try to avoid large temperature changes.
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Water ficus trees with an inch of water a week, and spray the tree lightly once a day to maintain its natural humidity levels. Never allow the soil to become completely dry, but only water the tree when the soil will be dry within the next day or two. Over-watering causes leaf drop, as does lack of drainage.
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Prune off dead or damaged branches and twigs, or any wood that's lost its leaves, regularly. Leaf drop is normal when a ficus tree is new, but pruning off the exposed twigs will allow light and circulation into the remaining foliage, and restrict further leaf loss.
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Tips & Warnings
Repot ficus trees regularly to avoid root binding. If a ficus tree stops growing, it may be because it needs a bigger pot. A good general guideline is to repot the tree every year to move it to a bigger growing environment.
References
- Photo Credit ficus image by c-chez-marc from Fotolia.com
