Therefore, winter is … This tip might seem obvious, but it's not something to overlook. Treat any issues as soon as possible, and quarantine the plant from your other houseplants. If natural light is hard to find indoors, you can place a small plant growing lamp over your ficus. As a tropical plant, everything about the weeping fig is tailored to warm weather. This will ultimately help to perk up the foliage and maintain as many healthy leaves as possible. Generally moderate watering, in the growth period that runs from March to August a little more than in winter. Weeping figs should only be planted outside permanently if you live in a location that never receives frost. How to Care for a Ficus Tree. It can be grown as a tall indoor tree with leafless braided trunks, or a tall bushy indoor plant, or even as a short pot plant. Caring for Ficus benjamina Once properly settled in and if it isn’t disturbed too often, the Ficus tree is a plant that is relatively easy to care for. Ficus trees (Weeping fig) are beautiful and interesting household plants. This is a natural way for your plant to conserve energy. May 28, 2020 - The Weeping Fig With the cheerless winter lingering on, we’ve been enjoying the company of our leafy friends at home and so the choice for this week’s houseplant post was as much inspired by it’s personality as by its name. It is sometimes confused with Ficus microcarpa, which is actually less weepy and more upright. How to grow Ficus benjamina It … Ficus are full-sun trees in their native habitats, meaning they prefer at least six hours a day of direct sunlight. Genus Ficus can be evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or climbers, with often leathery, simple, entire or lobed leaves and tiny flowers borne within a hollow receptacle which enlarges to form the fruit . These symptoms -- especially the yellowing and loss of leaves -- may occur if you have watered the plant too much or too little and from root rot. Easily grown in a soil-based potting mix. The leaves are much smaller, more oblong, and the branches tend to be longer and more slender. Your plant will likely lose leaves during the winter "dry" spell. North Dakota State University horticulturist Ron Smith suggests cutting back affected branches until you see green growth at the location of the cut. Ficus Trees Don’t Like Drafts Many houseplants are sensitive to the drafts in homes coming from leaky windows, or register vents blowing heat in the winter and cool air in the summertime. Partial or full leaf drop may follow. It must be set in a luminous room but cannot be exposed to direct sunlight. One common problem with them, especially Ficus benjamina, are dropping leaves. Routine pruning is a great way to keep your tree strong and robust. Like many houseplants, the ficus is really a warm-weather plant. It is often cultivated for this purpose. Portions of the tree may still retain leaves, but some sections may drop them. It is the official tree of the city of Bangkok in Thailand. ", How to Grow and Care for Chinese Money Plant, Tips on Preparing and Caring for Houseplants in the Winter, Why Leaf Drop Occurs on Houseplants and What to Do About It, Growing a Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) Indoors, 3 Ways to Keep Tropical Plants All Winter, How to Care for and Maintain a Bonsai Tree, Growing Ming Aralia (Polyscias Fruticosa), 6 Common Causes for Yellowing Leaves on Houseplants. As you can see, Ficus Benjamina looks quite different from ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig). Also, this is the time to repot it if its roots are too tightly bound in its existing pot. Leaf drop is common throughout the winter months, but the wrong thing to do is respond with a deluge of water. Just remember to turn off the lamp at night to simulate the cycle of night and day. 1. associated with the mulberry family (Moraceae) 2. genus: Ficus 3. name of variety: Ficus tree (Ficus benjamina) 4. evergreen tree or shrub 5. located in the entire tropical belt, mainly in India, China, Malaysia and Australia 6. dark green, light green or creamy white, shiny leaves 7. growth height in indoor cultivation from 200 to 300 cm, rarely higher 8. leaf shapes: oval, obovate, ovate-lanceolate with smooth or curly edge 9. creamy whit… Watering. Ideally you should be able to minimize leaf loss and send the plant into a kind of suspended animation throughout the winter. This includes cold drafts from windows and doors, as well as hot, dry air from heating vents. Trailing style ficus are particularly susceptible to over- and under-watering. The ficus species contains over 1,000 different types of plants. It needs even soil moisture but not overwatering to the point of soggy soil. Make sure soil is just moist, not dry or drenched, at all times, but cut back waterings in the winter. The weeping fig is hardy to 30 F, according to Arizona State University, but prolonged periods at this temperature can damage the branches and foliage. Extremely popular as a houseplant, Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) is an evergreen shrub or tree adorned with a dense, rounded canopy and gracefully drooping branches. So make sure you pay attention to your plant's care needs throughout the warmer months. It is a species native to warm regions of Asia and Australia. Weak winter light made many of the white patches turn green. However, one severe frost can lead to severe damage or even death. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Weeping ficus or fig is one of the most popular houseplants found in homes, offices, and interior landscaping. Do not allow the soil drying out in nature, he lives in conditions of high humidity. So while a ficus might be able to handle a little nip in the air, it can't withstand true winter weather. Ficus trees prefer warm weather for optimal growing conditions. You can let the soil dry out a bit before watering again. The best way to prevent frost damage is by moving the plant indoors when fall arrives. The ficus originates from Africa, South America and the southern United States. So that's why you don't have to water a ficus as frequently during the winter dry season. The combination of water and cold may damage the tree. Smart Pot is the top brand chosen by professional plant growers for over 20 years. It's a good idea to rotate your ficus a quarter turn or so at least weekly, so different parts of the plant face the light from the window. So while a ficus might be able to handle a little nip in the air, it can't withstand true winter weather. The ficus benjamina, also known as a weeping fig, is a popular indoor tree due to how easy it is to grow, and it's relatively low maintenance. Ficus Benjamina or as it's more commonly known, the Weeping Fig, is a common indoor houseplant which comes in multiple different looks and styles. Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home. Scratch along the bark with a small knife or your fingernail to reveal the wood color. Ficus tree pruning needs to take place when the plant is no longer actively growing. Ficus benjamina 'Danita' is a form of Ficus or Weeping Fig tree as they are perhaps better known with a wonderful deep black-green glossy leaf. Brittle-looking and dry branches are often another sign, indicating dying wood. Located in Pittsburgh, Chris Miksen has been writing instructional articles on a wide range of topics for online publications since 2007. Weeping fig is one of the best plants for improving air qua… Most ficus plants have rubbery limbs and do not require much attention to thrive. Ficus Benjamina winter 2019 update The second last plant to cover in my end of winter 2019 recap. And it benefits from monthly fertilization in the spring and summer, backing off to fertilization every other month in the fall and winter. Don't wait until winter to bring the plant inside, because the temperature difference between outside and inside can stress the tree or shock it. Ficus plants need consistent, but moderate watering throughout the growing season, with dry spells in the winter. They can grow well in a shady spot or even in the house. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions. Then, when the weather starts to warm back up and the daylight hours increase, go back to spoiling your ficus with more regular watering and feeding. Goal with wintering a ficus may begin to wilt and die if it is survival reaction in people... 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