With all the unlike sizes and chassis this houseplant amount in , you ’re indisputable to find the right face to enliven up any way .
A various and problematic group of plants often grow indoors , ficus come in many forms , ranging fromcreeping vinesto gargantuan trees . Its glistening leave grow in a smorgasbord of colors and normal , and even though this full cousin of theedible figis a tropic plant , it outlive in various condition .
The 850 species traverse a wide chain of mountains of looks . Therubber flora leavesgrow baseball field - shaped and coloured Burgundy wine on the weeping fig , small as a little finger nail on some crawl assortment , and as turgid as a football on others .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
gardener inZones 10 - 11can uprise genus Ficus tree outdoors year - round . Those in coolheaded geographical zone arise them in containers that can be moved indoors when freeze draw near or as houseplant . Some potpourri can endure the chilly temperatures in Zones 6 - 9 with a lot of help .
Ficus sap is toxic to pets .
Where to Plant Ficus
When add ficus to your landscape , choose a locationthat incur full to fond Dominicus . A sun - dappled M or one with other tree diagram that harbour it from some sunlight is ideal . The soil must be well - draining . genus Ficus tree wo n’t grow in wet area , so give it muckle of distance to get . Some ficus are wider than they are magniloquent , and their root system may interrupt nearby concrete , plumbery lines , and swim pools .
get ficus in a container that can be moved indoors in cold conditions is another option for gardeners in cooler clime .
Many gardeners are conversant with ficus only as a magic houseplant . When growing ficus as a houseplant , pose it near a window that offers smart light and move it to unlike location as seldom as potential . genus Ficus industrial plant do n’t like variety .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
How and When to Plant Ficus
Nursery - develop ficus Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are advantageously planted alfresco in fountain . Ficus tree grow quickly , so expect young growth in a couple of week . labor a holethe same depth as the rootball or container and doubly as wide in well - draining soil . Add compost or other constituent textile to the grease to improve drainage . Set the rootball in the hole no lower than it was in the container . Backfill with theamended grease , pressing down to firm the soil around the roots and prevent air bubble . pee the tree profoundly . Add 2 - 4 inches of mulch around the stem of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
When plant genus Ficus in a container , apply a lightweight potting miscellanea with vermiculite or perlite . Select a container with drain holes . It must offer excellent drainage .
Ficus Care Tips
Thistropical plantneeds just the right environment to rise and stick around respectable .
Light
Ficus plants can be somewhat finicky about light . Ficus need high luminance level , specially for the honorable colouring of its folio . However , some types of genus Ficus tolerate medium to low - luminousness conditions .
In low - light conditions , ficus tends to be sparser and can have poor forking habits . They also farm slowly in less light . If abruptly moved to a raw spot with different light stratum than it ’s used to , ficus maydrop its leaves . Though alarming , the plant recovers once it conform to new conditions .
Soil and Water
Needs vary among the character of ficus , but generally , theyprefer well - drained , fertile soilkept consistently moist . Although genus Ficus can endure an periodic miss watering , allowing them to dry out regularly emphasise the plant .
Temperature and Humidity
Outdoors , ficus Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tolerate temperatures as dispirited as 55 ° degree Fahrenheit and colder for a brief time , but these tropical trees favour much warmer temperatures of 75 ° atomic number 9 and higher . They also likehigh humidityand appreciate occasional misting .
Ficus plant are dependable indoor works because they always demand temperate temperatures . An average of 75ºF in the Clarence Day and 65 ° F at dark is perfect for them . Do n’t let the temperature fall below 60 ° F . They wish a bit of humidness , so if it ’s dry in your household , mist the leaves occasionally .
Fertilizer
In outflow , fertilise out-of-door ficus trees with a slow - waiver , all - purposegranular fertilizerwith an 8 - 8 - 8 ratio or 10 - 10 - 10 , follow the intersection directions for the amount to use . Sprinkle the fertilizer under the ficus and irrigate it in .
Indoor ficus plant need a dissimilar regime . hold a genus Ficus - specific liquid fertilizer or an all - purpose , balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the bound and summertime and every two months in the fall and wintertime , stick to the product direction .
Pruning
Prune ficus during wintertime when they are n’t growing . Keep leaves crop so the plant does n’t get in touch with the cap , andprune it for shape and size of it . Ficus will quickly regrow , so prune when necessary .
Potting and Repotting Ficus
When roots begin to farm out of drainage pickle , your ficus want repotting , ideally in the natural spring . Repot every other year to maintain a middling - sized tree diagram . Usetop - timbre potting soilfor your plant life , and go up a size or two when choose a new container .
Pests and Problems
Mites , exfoliation , mealybugs , whiteflies , and aphid are all pests that can affect genus Ficus Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Useneem oilto get free of them . If your genus Ficus gets leaf maculation disease , throw out infect farewell on the plant and any that have fallen off to prevent further spread .
How to Propagate Ficus
Air Layering
Propagate outdoor genus Ficus trees viaair layering , which is a outgrowth that encourage a genus Ficus tree to grow roots in a specific area on a offset while it ’s still on the works .
select a level on a base about 18 inches from a shoot tip and remove the leaves . Using asharp knife , make a shallow cut all the elbow room around the branch . Make a like excision an column inch or so below the first cut . Then , make a third cut vertically between the two previous cuts and remove the halo of barque between the two former cuts . skin the expose surface and disperse it withrooting hormonepowder .
enwrap a couple of smattering of moist bog moss moss around the give away area and prevail it in shoes by envelop clear moldable wrapping around the moss and offset , making certain all the moss is covered by plastic . practice twist ties to insure the top and bottom of the plastic wrapping . beginning should be visible in the sphagnum moss in a calendar month or two . When the root system is full-bodied , write out the branch off just below the low-down turn crosstie . Take off the charge plate wrap , kink necktie , and moss .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Plant the new ficusin a pot fill with a well - drain ground / compost admixture .
Stem Cutting
houseplant that lack woody branch may be better suited to propagation bystem carving .
Cut a 6 - inch piece from the end of a level-headed stem , cutting just below a leafage node . Remove the leaves from the lower third of the stem and dip the end of the fore in settle down powder . Plant it in a 4 - inch pot filled with moist potting filth . Cover the cutting and pot with a exculpated plastic traveling bag and place it in a affectionate place out of direct sunlight . ascertain it every few days to check that the soil remains moist . After several workweek , tug gently on a leaf . When it resists , the cutting has rooted ; the plastic can be take .
Types of Ficus
Creeping Fig
Ficus pumilais a vining plant with minuscule leaves and aerial antecedent that will cling to a paries or moss pole . It is sometimes used to covertopiary forms . It requires higher humidness and more frequent tearing than most genus Ficus .
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Ficus lyratacan become a large tree with violin - shaped leafage that are more than 1 foot long . The stiff , waxy leaves are medium unripe on top and gray - K underneath .
Mistletoe Fig
Ficus deltoideamakes an interesting indoor bush . It forms go around branches underwrite with wedge - shaped leaves and many humble , uneatable dark-green figs that work blood-red in bright sun . It is sometimes listed asFicus diversifolia .
Narrow-Leaf Fig
Ficus maclellandii’Alii ' is a tree diagram - eccentric ficus with foresightful , narrow , pointed foliage that give it abamboo appearance . It is sometimes bid Alii Libyan Islamic Group or banana fig and may be classified asFicus binnendijkii .
Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica , also hollo safety plant , has stiff , elliptical leaves , often tinged burgundy . arise it as a multistem shrub or a bifurcate tree diagram .
‘Starlight’ Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina’Starlight ' has the same arching plant form as even tears fig , but its leaves are ring with a cosmetic white lot . diversification is most intense inbright light .
‘Too Little’ Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina’Too Little ' is a semidwarf , a slower grower than regular crying fig . private leaves are smaller and rolled or coil , and the aloofness between ramification is less , result in a more compact Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Variegated Creeping Fig
Ficus pumila’Variegata ' is a small - leaf creeper with a minute band of white on leaf edge . Like even crawling Libyan Fighting Group , it likeshigh humidityand moist roots .
Variegated Indian Laurel Fig
Ficus microcarpais similar to weeping common fig tree but has slimly great and more leathery leaves . It is also less probable to drop leaves with modification in light levels or temperatures . The plant is sometimes classified asFicus retusa nitida .
Variegated Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica’Variegata ' has tricolour leaves of creamy bloodless , white-haired - green , and green with burgundy overtones . Its coloration is most intense in bright light .
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjaminais the most widely grown ficus . Often , several are institute in the same potentiometer and braided into a ornamental trunk . Once you find a desirable location , avoid moving the industrial plant around ; leaves spend readily in response to environmental change .
Frequently Asked Questions
With optimal care , genus Ficus houseplants can live as foresighted as 20 years , while ficus tree varieties grown alfresco in containers and move indoors for winter can hold out up to 40 year . outside ficus Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree planted in their natural warm - atmospheric condition habitats survive more than 100 years .
That depends on the variety and where it is settle . Growing a ficus in a container or as a houseplant be given to keep the flora smaller . For object lesson , popularFicus benjaminagrows to about 6 feet when grown as a houseplant but top out at 60 pes alfresco . Some genus Ficus are creepers or semi gnome . hold back the flora tag for information before you bring a genus Ficus home from the greenhouse .
Ficus is aboriginal to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean , where its fig - like fruits and other bush foods are important to the habitat ’s animals for nourishment .
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Fig . ASPCA .
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Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
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