Gardening Houseplants How to Plant and Grow Ficus With all the different sizes and shapes this houseplant comes in, you're sure to find the right look to liven up any room. By Lynn McAlpine Lynn McAlpine Lynn McAlpine is a lifelong gardener and long-time editor of gardening and home articles. Her work encompasses both print publications and online sites. She has hands-on experience with annuals and perennial beds, vegetable gardens, herbs, houseplants, and woodland management. Lynn has a B.A. in Journalism, Magazine Production from the University of Memphis and is a member of ACES, the American Copy Editors Society. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 14, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Frequently Asked Questions Close A versatile and tough group of plants often grown indoors, ficus comes in many forms, ranging from creeping vines to giant trees. Its glossy leaves grow in a variety of colors and patterns, and even though this cousin of the edible fig is a tropical plant, it survives in various conditions. The 850 species span a wide range of looks. The rubber plant leaves grow diamond-shaped and dark burgundy on the weeping fig, small as a pinky nail on some creeping varieties, and as large as a football on others. Gardeners in Zones 10-11 can grow ficus trees outdoors year-round. Those in cooler zones grow them in containers that can be moved indoors when frost nears or as houseplants. Some varieties can tolerate the chilly temperatures in Zones 6-9 with a lot of help. Ficus sap is toxic to pets. Ficus Overview Genus Name Ficus Common Name Ficus Plant Type Houseplant, Tree Light Part Sun, Shade, Sun Height 1 to 50 feet Width 1 to 40 feet Foliage Color Blue/Green, Purple/Burgundy Special Features Low Maintenance Zones 10, 11, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Layering, Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant Where to Plant Ficus When adding ficus to your landscape, select a location that receives full to partial sun. A sun-dappled yard or one with other trees that shield it from some sunlight is ideal. The soil must be well-draining. Ficus trees won't grow in wet areas, so give it plenty of space to grow. Some ficus are wider than they are tall, and their root systems may disrupt nearby concrete, plumbing lines, and swimming pools. Growing ficus in a container that can be moved indoors in cold weather is another option for gardeners in zones 6-11. Many gardeners are familiar with ficus only as a charming houseplant. When growing ficus as a houseplant, position it near a window that offers bright light and move it to different locations as seldom as possible. Ficus plants don't like change. The 18 Best Outdoor Planters of 2024 How and When to Plant Ficus Nursery-grown ficus trees are best planted outdoors in spring. Ficus trees grow quickly, so expect new growth in a couple of weeks. Dig a hole the same depth as the rootball or container and twice as wide in well-draining soil. Add compost or other organic material to the soil to improve drainage. Set the rootball in the hole no lower than it was in the container. Backfill with the amended soil, pressing down to firm the soil around the roots and prevent air bubbles. Water the tree deeply. Add 2-4 inches of mulch around the base of the tree. When planting ficus in a container, use a lightweight potting mixture with vermiculite or perlite. Select a container with drain holes. It must offer excellent drainage. Ficus Care Tips This tropical plant needs just the right environment to grow and stay healthy. 15 Best Indoor Trees for Turning Your Home into a Serene Oasis Light Ficus plants can be somewhat finicky about light. Ficus requires high light levels, especially for the best coloring of its leaves. However, some types of ficus tolerate medium to low-light conditions. In low-light conditions, ficus tends to be sparser and can have poorer branching habits. They also grow slowly in less light. If abruptly moved to a new spot with different light levels than it's used to, ficus may drop its leaves. Though alarming, the plant recovers once it adapts to new conditions. Soil and Water Needs vary among the types of ficus, but generally, they prefer well-drained, fertile soil kept consistently moist. Although ficus can tolerate an occasional missed watering, allowing them to dry out regularly stresses the plant. Temperature and Humidity Outdoors, ficus trees tolerate temperatures as low as 55°F and colder for a brief time, but these tropical trees prefer much warmer temperatures of 75°F and higher. They also like high humidity and appreciate occasional misting. Ficus plants are good indoor plants because they always need moderate temperatures. An average of 75ºF in the day and 65°F at night is perfect for them. Don't let the temperature fall below 60°F. They like a bit of humidity, so if it's dry in your home, mist the leaves occasionally. Fertilizer In spring, fertilize outdoor ficus trees with a slow-release, all-purpose granular fertilizer with an 8-8-8 ratio or 10-10-10, following the product directions for the amount to use. Sprinkle the fertilizer under the ficus and water it in. Indoor ficus plants need a different regimen. Apply a ficus-specific liquid fertilizer or an all-purpose, balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the spring and summer and every two months in the fall and winter, following the product directions. How to Fertilize Indoor Plants for the Lushest Growth Pruning Prune ficus during winter when they aren't growing. Keep leaves trimmed so the plant doesn't touch the ceiling, and prune it for shape and size. Ficus will quickly regrow, so prune when necessary. Potting and Repotting Ficus When roots begin to grow out of drainage holes, your ficus needs repotting, ideally in the spring. Repot every other year to maintain a reasonably-sized tree. Use top-quality potting soil for your plant, and go up a size or two when choosing a new container. Pests and Problems Mites, scale, mealybugs, whiteflies, and aphids are all pests that can affect ficus trees. Use neem oil to get rid of them. If your ficus gets leaf spot disease, throw out infected leaves on the plant and any that have fallen off to prevent further spread. How to Propagate Ficus Air Layering Propagate outdoor ficus trees via air layering, which is a process that encourages a ficus tree to grow roots in a specific area on a branch while it's still on the plant. Choose a point on a stem about 18 inches from a shoot tip and remove the leaves. Using a sharp knife, make a shallow cut all the way around the branch. Make a similar cut an inch or so below the first cut. Then, make a third cut vertically between the two previous cuts and remove the ring of bark between the two previous cuts. Scrape the exposed surface and sprinkle it with rooting hormone powder. Wrap a couple of handfuls of sphagnum moss around the exposed area and hold it in place by wrapping clear plastic wrap around the moss and branch, making sure all the moss is covered by plastic. Use twist ties to secure the top and bottom of the plastic wrap. Roots should be visible in the sphagnum moss in a month or two. When the root system is robust, cut the branch off just below the lower twist tie. Take off the plastic wrap, twist ties, and moss. Plant the new ficus in a pot filled with a well-draining soil/compost mix. Stem Cutting Houseplants that lack woody branches may be better suited to propagation by stem cuttings. Cut a 6-inch piece from the end of a healthy stem, cutting just below a leaf node. Remove the leaves from the lower third of the stem and dip the end of the stem in rooting powder. Plant it in a 4-inch pot filled with moist potting soil. Cover the cutting and pot with a clear plastic bag and place it in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Check it every few days to make sure the soil remains moist. After several weeks, tug gently on a leaf. When it resists, the cutting has rooted; the plastic can be removed. Types of Ficus Creeping Fig Dean Schoeppner Ficus pumila is a vining plant with small leaves and aerial roots that will cling to a wall or moss pole. It is sometimes used to cover topiary forms. It requires higher humidity and more frequent watering than most ficuses. Fiddle-Leaf Fig Denny Schrock Ficus lyrata can become a large tree with violin-shaped leaves that are more than 1 foot long. The stiff, waxy leaves are medium green on top and gray-green underneath. Mistletoe Fig Dean Schoeppner Ficus deltoidea makes an interesting indoor shrub. It forms spreading branches covered with wedge-shaped leaves and many small, inedible green figs that turn red in bright sun. It is sometimes listed as Ficus diversifolia. Narrow-Leaf Fig Michael Thompson Ficus maclellandii 'Alii' is a tree-type ficus with long, narrow, pointed leaves that give it a bamboo appearance. It is sometimes called Alii fig or banana fig and may be classified as Ficus binnendijkii. Rubber Plant Marty Baldwin Ficus elastica, also called rubber plant, has stiff, elliptical leaves, often tinged burgundy. Grow it as a multistem shrub or a branched tree. 'Starlight' Weeping Fig Dean Schoeppner Ficus benjamina 'Starlight' has the same arching plant form as regular weeping fig, but its leaves are ringed with a decorative white band. Variegation is most intense in bright light. 'Too Little' Weeping Fig Marty Baldwin Ficus benjamina 'Too Little' is a semidwarf, a slower grower than regular weeping fig. Individual leaves are smaller and rolled or curled, and the distance between branches is less, resulting in a more compact tree. Variegated Creeping Fig Dean Schoeppner Ficus pumila 'Variegata' is a small-leaf creeper with a narrow band of white on leaf edges. Like regular creeping fig, it likes high humidity and moist roots. Variegated Indian Laurel Fig Marty Baldwin Ficus microcarpa is similar to weeping fig but has slightly larger and more leathery leaves. It is also less likely to drop leaves with changes in light levels or temperatures. The plant is sometimes classified as Ficus retusa nitida. Variegated Rubber Plant Blaine Moats Ficus elastica 'Variegata' has tricolor leaves of creamy white, gray-green, and green with burgundy overtones. Its coloration is most intense in bright light. Weeping Fig Mike Jensen Ficus benjamina is the most widely grown ficus. Often, several are planted in the same pot and braided into a decorative trunk. Once you find a suitable location, avoid moving the plant around; leaves drop readily in response to environmental changes. Frequently Asked Questions How long do ficus plants live? With optimal care, ficus houseplants can live as long as 20 years, while ficus tree varieties grown outdoors in containers and moved indoors for winter can live up to 40 years. Outdoor ficus trees planted in their natural warm-weather habitats live more than 100 years. How big do ficus trees get? That depends on the variety and where it is located. Growing a ficus in a container or as a houseplant tends to keep the plant smaller. For example, popular Ficus benjamina grows to about 6 feet when grown as a houseplant but tops out at 60 feet outdoors. Some ficus are creepers or semi dwarf. Check the plant tag for information before you bring a ficus home from the nursery. Where is ficus native to? Ficus is native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean, where its fig-like fruits and other bush foods are important to the habitat's animals for nourishment. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Fig. ASPCA