Ficus Care and Pruning

The genus Ficus includes many types of tree and plant species, including commonly known varieties such as weeping fig, fiddle-leaf figs and rubber plants. All varieties of ficus plants enjoy bright light and consistent moisture, but they are relatively low maintenance and require little care once established. In addition to regular watering, ficus plants benefit from occasional light pruning to look their best and encourage growth, although it only needs to be performed once a year.

Things You'll Need

• Planter
• Potting soil
• Bark mulch
• Tray
• Small pebbles or gravel
• 5-5-5 ratio fertilizer
• Pruning shears
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Repot the ficus after purchase. Choose a ceramic-glazed planter at least 2 inches larger than the original nursery pot. Ceramic-glazed pots are best when potting a ficus because they minimize moisture evaporation.

2. Mix two parts potting soil to one part bark mulch. Fill the bottom of the planter with the potting medium. Remove the ficus from its original pot. Lightly shake the root ball to loosen the soil and aerate the roots. Place it in the planter and fill around the roots with potting medium.

3. Fill a flat tray with gravel or small pebbles. The tray should have a lipped edge and it must fit beneath the ficus planter with an additional 1 to 2 inches around the edges. Place the ficus planter on top of the pebbles. The tray will catch any excess runoff from watering and will help add humidity to the air around the ficus.

4. Choose the best place for the ficus. It should be within three feet of a large, sunny window where temperatures range between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. A window with a sheer curtain is ideal because it protects the ficus from direct sunlight, which is damaging to the leaves.

5. Water ficus plants regularly and deeply. To prevent root rot, only water ficus plants once the top 2 inches of soil have dried out, which is approximately once per week. During hot weather, a layer of bark mulch should be added around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and cool the roots.

6. Fertilize ficus plants every other week during spring and summer. Use a fertilizer with a ratio of 5-5-5, which means it contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Liquid fertilizer is best because it is more readily absorbed than granule fertilizer.

7. Prune ficus plants in early spring before active growth begins. Trim away damaged branches or stems with a pair of small pruning shears. Pruning may also be used to shape the ficus, but do not trim away too much during shaping.

8. Mist the leaves of ficus plants with a spray bottle once or twice a day year-round. Not only does misting add humidity to the air, it also helps remove dust from the leaves.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not move ficus plants once they are acclimated to a certain area of the home. Moving them will cause leaves to drop due to stress.

References

• "Tropical Foliage Plants: A Grower's Guide"; Lynn P. Griffith; 1999
• "The ABC's of Indoor Ficus Trees"; Patricia Hamilton; 1991