How to Take Care of a Ficus Plant

Overview

The ficus family of houseplants contains handsome, undemanding and pest-resistant plants that have been popular indoor garden plants for years. These easy-care natives of Southeast Asia thrive in warm homes with bright light. Rubber plants, weeping figs and fiddle-leaf figs brighten winter homes and shopping mall atria. Given the right conditions, ficus can grow into large tree-like plants. Some grow in a multi-stemmed shrub form whose stems can be braided to form an attractive trunk. Some grow into tall single-stemmed trees, outgrowing residential ceilings.

Step 1

Place ficus plants in bright, medium light near a window or under overhead lighting. Ficus grow in tropical under-stories and, although they can grow in direct sunlight, they may scorch if subjected to it for extended periods.

Step 2

Keep ficus warm; they prefer temperatures from 70 to 80 degrees. Don't set air conditioning too low in summer. During the heating season, mist ficus or set its pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water to humidify the air around the plant.

Step 3

Prune ficus to keep a compact shape and to control growth. Trim branches that drop leaves due to changes in light or temperature back to the node where the last leaf dropped; it will grow two new shoots. Prune back top growth as much as 20 percent to encourage bushiness. Prune top and roots to keep a plant from growing larger; tip the plant out of the pot and trim roots back with a sharp knife, then put it back in the same pot and supplement with new soil.

Step 4

Water ficus deeply until water comes out the bottom of the pot. Allow the soil to dry until there's just enough moisture to hold it together before watering again--soggy soil will cause leaf drop. Use room temperature water, preferably the water that bypasses the water softener.

Step 5

Prevent fungal and bacterial infections by watering soil, not foliage. Although ficus are generally pest-resistant, several insects may migrate to them from other plants; use systemic or indoor pesticides labeled for mealy bugs, scales or thrips.

Step 6

Fertilize ficus plants only when they are actively growing. Use half-strength houseplant fertilizer and feed every 3 or 4 weeks during summer; less frequently as growth slows in autumn. Begin fertilizing again in late winter or early spring when the plant begins putting out new leaves.