Ficus Care
Tips on Ficus Care
It would seem hard to believe that one of the most popular house plants would also be one of the easiest to maintain, but ficus care really is a breeze.
Most ficus trees are obtained from nursery stock or from supermarkets, and the only ficus care information provided is on the card stuck in the soil. There are a few particular facts that will help your new ficus tree get off to a successful start.
Often, it is a good idea to repot the ficus tree. This will ensure that the tree has the proper type of soil and give you the opportunity to choose a container what fits with your indoor décor. Choose a container that is slightly larger than the current one, and fill it 2/3 full of a standard potting soil. Mixing a balanced fertilizer in with the soil will provide the ficus with nutrients it needs to grow. Remove the ficus; care should be taken not to disturb the roots. Place the ficus in the new container and water well before adding the remainder of the soil just up to the root ball of the tree. Tamp it down and water again. A nice layer of sphagnum moss adds an attractive touch to the new plant.
With your new ficus now repotted into a decorative container, find the best location for the tree. Ficus enjoy brightness, but should not be placed directly in front of a window. A site close to the window where indirect sunlight will reach the tree yet cold drafts in the winter will not should be the perfect environment. There is one consideration about ficus care that is unique to this tree that bears remembrance. The ficus does not like change. Once you place your new ficus tree in a location and it becomes accustomed to the temperature and lighting of the area, you should really try not to change it. If it does become necessary to move the plant, the ficus will likely lose some or all of its leaves. The current leaves, which liked the old conditions, will drop so that new foliage, which will adapt to the new conditions, can emerge.
After planting, the ficus care will become a ritual. Once a week, water the tree thoroughly. Every couple of months, fertilize the plant to replace necessary nutrients that have washed through during regular watering. Once a year, if necessary, prune the branches of the tree to keep it at a manageable height and attractive shape.
Ficus care is not overwhelming, and will seem trivial when compared to the many years of enjoyment that the tree will provide in your home. Attractive and easy to care for; the ficus tree is the perfect houseguest.