How to Water Ficus Trees

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The ficus is a popular houseplant and requires a little effort to maintain and keep healthy. The Ficus Benjamin, otherwise known as the weeping fig tree, is the most common variety of ficus. This variety of trees can be sensitive, especially when it comes to environmental changes. When watering ficus trees it is very important not to over water them and to mist them regularly.

Feel the top 2 inches of the soil with your finger before watering ficus every time. This will help ensure you do not over water the ficus (the leaves turn brown when this happens). The top couple inches of the soil must be completely dry.

Mist the leaves of the ficus tree twice a day, once in the morning and again in the late afternoon. This helps provide humidity for the ficus. Use a tray with a thin layer of gravel, and fill it with water to provide the humidity if you do not want to mist the leaves every day.

Reduce watering the ficus tree if you notice the leaves turn a yellowish color. This means that the tree has had enough water for the time being.

Water Do Potted Ficus Trees Need?

Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina) are probably the most common of all potted, indoor trees. So they grow well in many homes and on patios. The soil needs water more frequently in spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing, than in fall and winter. Running a humidifier will help the potted trees immensely. Misting by hand, using a spray bottle, needs to be done many times each day to be really effective, but every little bit helps indoor ficus trees prosper. Potted ficus trees are not heavy feeders and don't need much fertilizer. A monthly application of fertilizer from late spring to early fall is sufficient. If at all possible, put indoor ficus trees outdoors during warm weather; the greater light levels and rain will act like a tonic and spur greater growth.