How to grow Weeping Fig

Ficus benjamina · Benjamin fig, Ficus tree

Evergreen tree-like houseplant with arching, drooping branches and small glossy leaves, popular for its graceful form. It sheds leaves easily when its conditions change.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Moraceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 13 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	18…29 °C	nitrogen, 14 days into the stage; nitrogen, 44 days into the stage; nitrogen, 74 days into the stage; nitrogen, 104 days into the stage; nitrogen, 134 days into the stage; nitrogen, 164 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 14 days	13…29 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright indirect or curtain-filtered light; a few hours of morning or evening sun are fine, especially in winter. Too little light causes leaf drop.

Soil

Loam-based potting compost with added fine bark, or a general-purpose potting soil. Never leave the pot standing in water.

Care

In spring and summer water regularly with water at room temperature, letting the compost dry slightly between waterings; in winter keep it only just moist. Keep it warm and even, ideally 18–21 °C at night and 24–29 °C by day, never below 10–13 °C, away from draughts and heat vents, and raise humidity with a tray of damp pebbles or misting. Once it has a good spot, don't move it, as moving, draughts, over- or under-watering and low light all make it drop leaves. Feed with a high-nitrogen fertiliser every month or two from spring to late summer. Repot in spring every couple of years. The milky sap may irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning; it is toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).

Pests and diseases of Weeping Fig

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.