Ficus trees are great indoor plants—if you’ve got what they need. Well, isn’t that true of most plants? There are many to choose from: Weeping Figs, Rubber Trees, and Fiddle Leaf Figs, among others. I have a weeping fig, one of the first plants I have ever bought. I used to worry over every yellow leaf it ever had. I worry about pruning it so much because it’s touching the ceiling. Ficus all need the same things—bright light and well-draining soil. So here’s how to take care of your Ficus tree.
Ficus Year-Round Care Tips
Because they like bright light, Ficus is not the plant to put in that empty corner of the living room unless that corner has windows. They prefer to be directly in a window that gets bright, indirect light all day. My nearly seven-foot-tall Ficus receives direct sun in the mornings before 10:30 AM, then very bright indirect the rest of the day. I would avoid direct sun between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM as it could burn the foliage.
All Ficus like their soil to dry close to halfway down before watering. Just don’t allow it to go bone-dry.
How to Feed
Feed your Ficus during the growing season (from March through October) with a fertilizer with balanced numbers, such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. Don’t feed in late fall or winter. Days are short, and sunlight is so much weaker that plants are maintaining but not actively growing.
When to Prune Your Ficus
The best time to prune a ficus is late winter—mid-February to March, just before the longer days of spring induce new growth. Light shaping can be done anytime.
When to Move Your Ficus Outside
I usually move my ficus outside in spring toward the end of April to the first part of May after I’ve checked the long-range forecast to be sure we’re not dropping below 60 degrees or so. If you want to do the same, when you first move it out, like with all plants, move it out under a tree for a week or so before you begin inching it into bright, dappled sun/shade to avoid sunburn.
Fall and Winter Care
In the fall, bring it in when night temperatures fall to the low-60s. Ficus does not like it too cool. In early fall, I move mine back into mostly shade for a couple/three weeks around mid-September so it can get used to the slightly lower light when I bring it back inside.
Remember to keep the leaves dusted in the winter. Ficus are already disadvantaged by shorter days and weaker sunlight,, so a layer of dust will reduce the light level.
One Final Important Thing
Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, enjoy it!