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Growing Ficus Plants – A Full Guide

Growing Ficus Plants

Hello gardeners, we are back with a new topic about the ficus plant article. Today’s article is all about growing ficus plants. Do you want to know how to grow the ficus plant? Well, and then you will need to follow this complete article to know about how to grow ficus plants. In this article, we also mention all the requirements for growing ficus plants.

Introduction to Growing Ficus Plants

Ficus plants are the most common plant in both home and office, mainly because they look like a typical plant with a single trunk and by a spreading canopy. But for all of their most popular, ficus plants are very choosey. However, if you know how to care for a ficus plant, then you will be better sufficient with keeping it very healthy and even happy in your home for many years. Now. let us get into the planting procedure for growing ficus plants.

A Step-By-Step Planting Guide for Growing Ficus Plants

Guide for Growing Ficus Plants
Guide for Growing Ficus Plants (Iamge credit: pixabay)

The ficus plant genus of beautifying plants is a range of species and genus that are very most popular for growing for ficus plants indoors, whether in a house, conservatory, office, or even in a hotel. They are not hard ficus plants to grow and most people just above beginner level can easily grow and maintain them very well.

Ficus plants are also called weeping ficus. The Ficus tree plant family includes a very large number of species and even genus including the rubber plant that is a fig tree, weeping fig that is a Ficus Benjamina, and Ficus Lyrata. Ficus plant grown as houseplants is very much smaller than their outdoor counterparts, which most ficus plants are grown indoors. Most ficus plants grown indoors are woody tree-like plants with single or two stems or branch containers. When most caring for indoor ficus tree plants, the proper sunlight, soil, pruning, and even fertilization are essential for a very healthy ficus plant.

Overview Table of the Ficus Plant is Given Below

Botanical NameFicus Benjamina
Common NameFicus tree, ficus, weeping ficus, fig tree, and even called as weeping fig
Plant TypePerennial
Mature SizeOutdoors up to 70 feet tall and even 70 feet wide. Indoors it grows up to six feet high and even three feet wide
Sun ExposureFiltered bright sun
Soil TypeRich and fast draining
Soil pH6.5 to 7
Bloom TimeIndoor plants are not likely to bloom out very easily. Outdoor plants are bloom during the spring season.
Flower colorSmall Yellow or White blossoms

Suitable Soil for Growing Ficus Plants

A ficus plant needs well-draining, fertile soil. Moisture soil-based potting mixes should work well for this ficus plant and supply the nutrients it needs. To avoid using warm soils for roses or flowering shrub, since these are more acidic potting mix soils. Don’t use degrading soil in ficus plants

Ficus tree plants grow in rich and fast-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Soil Beds with a lower pH level supply too much acid, which causes the ficus tree to decline. Standard potting soils fall within the proper pH range but avoid any moisture soils labelled for azalea or rose use, as these are formulated to contain very more acid. Ficus plants require a soil pH test to ensure the soil isn’t too acidic. The soil test indicates the pH level and lets you know if a lime application is necessary to raise the pH before planting the ficus plant.

Suitable Light for Growing Ficus Plants

Ficus tree plants need very bright light, but only climber’s plants can handle the direct sun. They admire being moved outside in the summer season but do not place them in direct sunlight. Shinning, direct sunlight will scald the ficus leaves and cause leaf loss.

Ficus tolerates very low light and it doesn’t require a very large mixing pot, but be sure to maintain equilibrium a very large ficus plant in a small pot so it won’t tip over. For health and best condition, keep the ficus leaves clean—wipe them with a damp cloth or give your plant an outdoor shower.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Growing Ficus Plants

These ficus plants cannot tolerate very low temperatures or even drafts. Maintain a temperature above 15°Cat at all times; they will do much better with temperatures above 21°C. Any very cold drafts from windows, doors, or air-conditioning units will cause very harm. They like a relatively humid environment area. Regularly mist the ficus leaves or supply a pebble tray filled with cold water below the plant. Average humidity is very fine with some misting ficus plants.

The ficus plants are relative humidity is the amount of moisture contained in the air. For interior ficus tree plants, relative humidity below 20% is considered very low, 40% – 50% is medium, and above 50% is high. The humidity is a very important factor, but it is very easy to overlook. In a greenhouse, relative humidity is 50% or higher than 50%. Short time transpiration and water loss may result when newly purchased ficus plants are placed in the 10% – 20% relative humidity typical of most household plants. Most indoor ficus plants come from the tropics where the high relative humidity is common in ficus plants.

Planting Procedure for Growing Ficus Plants

To grow ficus plants indoors, plant them in well-draining and loamy soil of average fertility. ficus plant them in a drafty location that gets full sunlight or partial shade. Fertilize ficus plant in the spring season with ½ cup 10-10-10 fertilizer per ficus plant. Although ficus plants are somewhat surviving with protection, they do their very best with moderate soil moisture. Water them when the soil dries out 1- 2 inches beneath the surface and allow the loamy soil to dry again before watering. Under watering is one of the most common reasons for ficus trees to decline.

Prune ficus tree plants during the winter season to separate dead, diseased branches or branches that rub against each other. You can also prune to control size. The ficus plant stems and leaves contain milky gum.

Water Requirement for Growing Ficus Plants

Water the ficus plant evenly throughout the summer season and to reduce overwatering in the winter. In dry homes, provide plenty of surroundings moisture by misting often ficus plant. Do not let the root of plants dry out and check the moist soil before watering.

Ficus plants need stable, but moderate watering all over the growing ficus plant in the summer season, with dry spells in the winter season. Make sure loam soil is just moist, not dry or drenched, at all times, but cut back waterings in the winter season. Your ficus plant will likely be lost ficus leaves during the winter “dry” overlook. Shadowing style ficus plant is particularly exposed to over-and under-watering. Misting the ficus leaves can supply additional moisture during dry spells, with less threat of root of plant rot. Well-draining soil is essential to keep these ficus plants healthy.

How Care Ficus Plants?

When growing ficus plants outdoors, it is very important to maintain moderately high humidity around the ficus plant.  To regular misting or setting the ficus plant on a pebble stone filled with water is a very great way to increase their relative humidity but keep in your mind that while they like very high humidity, they don’t like most overly wet roots. Therefore, when watering the plants, always check the top of the soil first. If the top of the soil is wet, don’t water as this means they have sufficient moisture water. If the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, this indicates that they need more water. Also while most caring for a ficus plant, be aware that they are short time growers and require plenty of nutrients to grow ficus plant well. Fertilize once a month in the spring and summer season and once every two to three months in the fall and winter season.

Common Problems When Caring For Ficus Plants
  • Under watering or even overwatering
  • Low humidity
  • Very little light
  • Relocation or even re potting
  • Drafts
  • Change in temperature that is too hot or cold
  • pests

Potting the Ficus Plants

Whether you are potting a ficus plant you just got from the nursery or it’s time to report a ficus plant that has been growing in your home for years ago, the first step is to choose a container. Repotting a traditional ficus plant is usually best done in the late winter or spring season. Aesthetics are very important when selecting a container for your ficus plant, but make sure it can supply the best conditions for the ficus plant to grow.

Drainage is very critical, and even moist soil that stays too wet can damage the roots of the plant. Be sure the container you select has drainage holes at the bottom of the container to allow excess water to escape from it. Select a container that is one size larger than the container in which the ficus plant currently grows, to give guideness fine gardening If you do not want your ficus plant to grow larger, you can report it into the same container after removing some of the ficus leaves and roots of the plant,  to advises greenery unlimited

Better place a paper towel or mesh curtain at the bottom of the pot. This will keep the moderate soil in the pot while still allowing water to drain. Add a couple of inches of moderate soil-based potting mix to the bottom of the ficus plant. Gently loosen the root of the plant of the ficus and place it in the pot. There should be approximately 1-2 inches between the top of the roots and the rim of the pot. Make sure it is focussed ficus plant and fill the pot with an additional potting mix, leaving space at the top for cold water.

Fertilizers Requirement for Growing Ficus Plants

Feed your ficus plant with slow-release lead shots at the beginning of the growing season. They are short-time growers and will benefit from monthly fertilization in the spring and summer season and once every two to three months in the fall and winter season.

Fertilize during the active growth period in the summer season. You will see new ficus leaves to show and branches grow during this time. To use a general-purpose fertilizer watery diluted to half strength and fertilize every three or four weeks until the active growth period ends. There is no need for fertilizer during the winter season. You can also take benefit of the warm summer to set the ficus plant outdoors. Place the ficus plant in normal bright, indirect light during the frost-free months.

Common Pests and Diseases in Growing Ficus Plants

Typically diseases are not very picky and are affected to very few diseases.

  1. If you have observed brown or yellow spots on the ficus leave these are the typical fungus signs. Another sign is the shrub dropping ficus leaves.
  2. Sticky ficus leaves stuck together with liquid dropping off sometimes are a sign of Diaspididae or spider mites.
  3. Ficus leaves getting dry and collapsing off might be a sign of pests’ infection as well.

To remove the diseases and the pests with the cotton stick and clean the pollute area with the fungicide. Neem oil is considered to be one of the most common and effective pesticides for potted plants.

Of course, it is better to prevent an infection rather than to cure an existing one. Remember to keep the ficus plant clean and dry. Only mist the ficus leaves when it is compulsory as too much water is one of the causes of the major diseases. If one of your shrubs has got pests on it you should fast move it away from the rest of the ficus plants. This way you will stop the infection from spreading to the ficus plants. If you took the potted ficus flower outside for the summer check it from top to bottom before taking it back indoors. These simple tips will help you prevent pests and diseases from ever landing on your ficus plants.

Commonly Asked Questions about Growing Ficus Plants

In case if you miss this: How To Grow Strawberries In Greenhouse.

Questions about Growing Ficus Plants
Questions about Growing Ficus Plants

How long do ficus plants live?

“If you give a ficus plant what it necessary, it’s the near you come to allow a ficus plant indoors,” says Barbara Pleasant, author of The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual. “With the support of a ficus plant can live for nearly about 20 years.”

Is Ficus a good indoor plant?

When people think of the Ficus plant, they often think of the weeping fig, Ficus Benjamina. Ficus Benjamina is a popular office plant and houseplant because it is low expensive and easy to find. However, it also sheds leaves very easily which can be infuriating. Ficus plants enjoy direct sunlight as well as bright, indirect light.

Can you cut back a ficus tree?

Because the ficus plant is sufficiently hardy and resilient, pruning can be done year-round if necessary, not just during the proper period in summer or fall. Dead or broken branches and stems can be pruned at any time.

Do ficus trees clean the air?

The ‘Weeping Fig’ or ‘Ficus plant’ is a popular houseplant and office plant that purifies the air around you which is why it is in the top 7 air purifying plants. Ficus Benjamina(ficus plant) was found to be actual at cleansing the air of formaldehyde, xylene, and even toluene in NASA’s study.

How much water do ficus trees need?

Water your ficus plant when the top two to three inches of the soil dries out—you can easily measure this by using the first two knuckle duster on your finger. The larger the ficus plant, the more water it most essential. A ficus plant in a 10-12-inches pot needs at least 1-1.5 liters of water a week in the summer season.

What kind of soil do ficus trees like?

A ficus plant needs well-draining, fertile soil. Most soil-based potting mixes should work well for this ficus plant and supply the nutrients it needs. Avoid using soils for roses or shrubs, since these are more acidic potting mix soil-based. The ficus plant genus of beautifying plants is a range of species and genus that are very much appreciated for growing ficus plants indoors, whether in a house, conservatory, office, or hotel. They are not hard ficus plants to grow and most people just above beginner level can grow and maintain them very well.

Do ficus trees like to be root bound?

Trim along the outer bounds of the ficus plant’s root system of the plants to keep the middle roots intact and avoid cutting too much. Ficus plants prefer to be root-ball in their pots. Avoid choosing a pot that is significantly larger than the root system of the plants, as this can slow the plant’s growth easily.

That’s all folks about growing ficus plants, hope this information will help you to grow this wonderful plant.

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