Ficus plants are one of the best toxic air-purifying small-sized trees that are good as household plants and live upto 20 years easily. Ficus plants are considered one of the most low-maintenance and tolerate some drought conditions. It grows well throughout the year indoors but becomes slightly sensitive to the winter.
Although its leaves are slightly toxic for consumption but very good to purify the toxic air. It is good for houses, offices, and other places where air quality is too bad.
Let's see how you can take care of your Ficus plant indoors.
Ficus tree indoor care
Indoors, Ficus plants can be restricted to a certain height of 3 feet and it can be turned into a bonsai tree easily. The Ficus tree root system is slightly different from others and more invasive than any other household plant. Let's start with its growing conditions and then I'll share some tips to take care of Ficus indoors.
Growing conditions of Ficus
- Soil type
Like other indoor household plants, Ficus needs well-drained rich soil to grow best. Potting soil sometimes happens to be more fertile and rich rather than well-drained. So if your soil is getting compacted, you need to fix it ASAP.
Well-drained soil helps water to reach the bottom as its roots grow faster and deeper.
- Temperature
Moderate temperature from 15C to 26C is a good range of heat and atmosphere around the Ficus plant. More or less than this range, Ficus plants start to feel uncomfortable in cold or too-hot temperatures.
- Humidity
Ficus plants like higher humidities indoors but they can tolerate it at a moderate level. Around 70% humidity is most favorable for Ficus but it can adjust to 30% humidity easily. Lower than 30% humidity is bad for Ficus and it will start giving you signs with yellowish leaves soon.
- Sunlight and shade
Bright sunlight is good for Ficus but it doesn't mean that you keep it hidden from direct sunlight. Better to keep it in an area where direct sunlight enters with less intensity. Dark spaces for longer periods are also bad for Ficus but not as much as hot intense sunlight. If you are not getting sunlight properly then you can arrange artificial light bulbs directly in the room particularly. You can keep them in the shade for enough periods but not in a dark place for a long time.
- Container type
Container size and depth matter for Ficus plants. Though this plant doesn't expand horizontally or vertically much its root grows longer and deeper. The container should be at least 10 to 12 inches deep or you need to transplant the Ficus plant at some point.
Don't forget to open the drainage holes in Ficus container so that it can ease the drain of water that reach to lower root sections.
Tips to take care of Ficus tree
Let's see even if the Ficus plant is a good air purifier and low-maintenance plant but still, the following are the tips to care Ficus plant-
1. Prune on time
Pruning helps to shift plants' focus on the main sections rather than producing new twigs and leaves unnecessarily. It helps to maintain the range of plant growth and make it suitable in size according to the room.
Spring is the best time to prune the Ficus plant when you can start it and continue it till the end of summer. Multiple pruning of Ficus plants is very common but don't do it in winter.
2. Irrigate regularly
Ficus plants can handle a few drainages though but keeping irrigation twice a week is not a bad thing with it. Just spray some water till it comes out from the drainage holes. Thus it'll reach the bottom roots and will keep away the plant thrust. If humidity is very low near the plant then you can spray some water in the air or improve the air moisture indoors.
3. Fertilize in spring and fall
Ficus plants need fertilization twice a year. You can use fully decomposed compost either in a liquid form or directly in the pot. It should be first in the spring and then during mid-fall. Spring and fall fertilization gives Ficus plant time to adjust the growth rate and improve the overall growth.
Just apply 1 to 1.5 inches of organic compost or vermicompost.
4. Diseases and pests
One thing that is very common with Ficus plants is diseases and mites attack it. They can damage the whole plant if you don't treat them. If it is possible then find neem oil from your nearest store and spray in a dilute solution on the trees every month. Mites will not touch your plant if you prevent their ideal conditions from the plant.
5. Don't shift drastically
If your house windows don't get sunlight properly or change the brightness fast in a day then don't get worried. You don't need to shift your plant in light with multiple shifts in a day. You can keep them in LED light throughout the day if sunlight is very low.
The drastic or sudden shift of the plant multiple times in a day is not good for the plant at all as it hesitates to change the current situation quickly.
6. Don't keep it in intense light or dark
Don't keep your Ficus plants in too intense light or too dark for a long time otherwise, they can't tolerate it and start losing life with specific signs giving.
7. Transplantation of ficus
It will happen for sure that your Ficus plant roots will grow longer than your pot soon. They'll come out from the drainage whole one day and then you have to be aware of it. In this situation, the plant will restrict its growth so you have two choices here. Either trim the bottom roots or transplant the Ficus plant in a bigger container.
In my opinion, the best thing is to prepare a new soil mixture, trim the bottom roots, and regrow in the same container to avoid extra stress.
8. Trimming and shaping
With time, trim your Ficus plants according to the need and growth of excessive leaves. You don't need to trim all the leaves but just excessive ones to shape the plant properly.