If you have a hobby of gardening, you can definitely enjoy indoor plants too. Gardening or planting indoor trees are good for getting a healthy environment around your residence. If you want to grow your indoor plant collection, you can definitely try a ficus tree, for instance. It is a very common tree that can be easily planted in a pot. The tree is not a very high-maintenance tree, but it needs a few maintenance tips. So, you can easily go for a ficus tree.
Ficus benjamina is a major species that is used as an indoor plant. It does not need direct sunlight. It can grow in a homely atmosphere. The only thing you have to ensure is the humid environment around the tree. Also, a well-drained pot is required. The tree is widely known as the weeping fig or benjamin fig. Here in this article, we have added all the details you should know about the ficus tree. We have discussed maintenance tips, how to grow, uses, and benefits of the tree. So, go through the article and check out what you have to do with your tree.
Ficus tree: Key facts
| Botanical name | Ficus benjamina |
| Family | Moraceae |
| Common name | weeping fig, benjamin fig or ficus tree |
| Plant type | woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes |
| Native | Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean |
| Leaf type | simple and waxy |
| Varieties available | Ficus Benjamina, Ficus Elastica, Ficus Robusta, Ficus Decora, Ficus Burgundy, Ficus Audrey, etc |
| Height | 10 feet tall indoors, 60 feet tall outdoors |
| Season | spring and summer |
| Sun exposure | bright, indirect sunlight |
| Soil type | fertile potting soil with nutrients |
| Ideal location for placement | Indoor, balcony, garden |
| Maintenance | consistent, but moderate watering, Liquid feed during active growth, 55 degrees F to 85 degrees F temperature |
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Ficus tree: Physical description
Ficus trees can get a height of 30 m normally. It has drooping branches. The bark is smoother in appearance. Leaves are waxy and glossy. Leaves are usually 6 to 13 cm long, and they have acuminate tips. If you plant the tree in a pot, it can go up to a height of 5 feet. The petiole is 1 to 3 cm in normal condition.
Ficus trees are known as monoecious. The floral part of the tree is egg-shaped and bright green in colour. Fruits of the ficus tree are orange to red in colour. Fruits can have a diameter of 2.0 to 2.5 cm.
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Ficus tree: How to grow?
Here’s how you can grow your very own ficus tree.
- Get a cutting from the nursery. It should be six inches long.
- Place the bottom of the stem in water for a few hours.
- After two to three days, transfer the stem to a pot.
- Fill the pot with potting soil.
- Keep the pot in a humid area.
- Direct sunlight is not required.
- Keep an eye on the pests.
Ficus tree: Maintenance tips
- You have to provide the tree with a humid atmosphere.
- The soil should not be waterlogged, but it should not be completely dried out, either.
- Cutting the overgrown areas of the tree is mandatory.
- Make sure that there are no pests around the tree. You have to keep the tree clean as much as possible.
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Ficus tree: Is this plant toxic?
Yes, the ficus tree can be toxic for animals and also for children. The ficus tree extract can cause skin irritation in humans as well as pets. So, keep the tree away from children and pets.
Ficus tree: Uses
Here are some noticeable benefits of the ficus tree.
- Ficus tree has antimicrobial, antinociceptive, antipyretic, and anti-dysentery benefits.
- In some traditional areas, extract of the ficus fruits is used in skin care regimes.
- Twigs and leaves extract are natural insect repellent.
FAQs
How can I water my ficus tree?
You should not overwater the tree, but the soil should not be dried out; you can water it every 6 to 7 days.
What are the varieties of ficus trees?
There are a lot of varieties of the ficus tree, among which some important varieties are Ficus Benjamina, Ficus elastica, Ficus robusta, Ficus decora, Ficus burgundy, Ficus Audrey, etc.
Is the ficus tree a high-maintenance tree?
The ficus tree is not a high-maintenance tree, but when you want to keep the tree as your indoor tree, you have to take care of it with utmost priority.
Can I cut my ficus tree?
Yes, cutting is a very important factor you have to consider, especially when the tree is growing rapidly.