How to Care for Ficus Plants

Overview

The ficus plant, a popular leafy houseplant, can grow tall, reaching for the ceiling. Although they can be added to the landscape, ficuses are especially suited to indoor living as they don't require frequent repotting and will tolerate a snug-fitting container. Many varieties of the ficus exist, such as the weeping fig, India rubber tree and the fiddle-leaved fig.

Step 1

Choose a location where there is bright indirect lighting. A good location for a ficus is in front of curtain-filtered lighting.

Step 2

Make sure the ficus is in an area where night temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees, and day temperatures range from 75 and 85 degrees.

Step 3

Keep the soil barely moist at all times. Do not let it get dry and don't let it get soggy.

Step 4

Fertilized the ficus every 6 months, beginning 6 months after repotting. Don't fertilize a ficus right after repotting. You can use a liquid houseplant fertilizer, mixed with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 5

Repot in the early spring if the new leaves appear to be stunted or lacking nourishment. Increase the size of the pot, and use a potting soil that is a mixture of equal parts loam, peat moss and sharp sand. For every gallon of mixture stir, in 1 tablespoon of ground limestone, ½ teaspoon of 20 percent superphosphate and 2 teaspoons of 5-10-5 fertilizer.