Ficusspp.
TheFicusgenus embrace a plethora of beautiful and fascinating industrial plant , from spectacular fiddle - leaf figs ( F. lyrata ) to the Great Banyan tree in India , aF. benghalensisspecimen that spreads out to enshroud virtually five acres .
The species commonly produce as houseplants like rubber trees ( F. elastica ) and cry figs ( F. benjamina ) are in the same genus as the common fig tree trees cultivated for the marvellous fruits that make our charcuterie board pop .
TheFicusgenus is very various , consisting of vines , bush , and tree , with species that grow just a few column inch tall to those that reach heights of C of foot .
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I ’ve yet to meet a genus Ficus I do n’t like , from enjoying the fruits of my usual fig ( F. carica ) trees to the adorable little nin-sin ( F. microcarpa ) bonsai I keep on my desk .
In this guide , we ’ll go over what the flora in this genus have in unwashed and how to care for them , in a blanket sense .
Here ’s what I ’ll get across :
What You’ll Learn
What Is a Ficus?
Regardless of whichFicusspecies you ’re produce , there are plenty of similarity between them . have ’s discuss exactly what aFicusis first .
Ficusis a genus in the Moraceae family , which also include mulberries . There are five subgenera within the genus : Ficus , Pharmacosycea , Sycidium , Sycomorus , Synoecia , andUrostigma .
There are over 800Ficusspecies , growing across the globe in tropic and lovesome temperate areas .
Most do best in Zones 9 to 11 , though there are outliers that tolerate climates down to Zone 5 and up to Zone 12 .
Almost all are evergreens and grow edible fruits , though not all of the fruit is considered palatable .
In many type , that ’s only because Westerners have n’t learned to appreciate the fruits from some of the species , while local populations in the areas where the plants grow natively enjoy them .
But even where man do n’t eat and revel the fruits , the wildlife sure does – bats , monkeys , and birdie know them .
The unique fruits are actually what delimit theFicusgenus .
If you ’ve ever open up a common fig tree , you ’ve probably observe the unusual interior . That ’s really the inflorescence made up of 100 of flyspeck flowers held inside asyconium .
Think of the Libyan Islamic Group yield as a large self-conceited stem enclosing a bunch of diminutive blossom .
These flowers can only be pollinate by Libyan Islamic Group white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , which mount in the bottom of the yield through an entry holler an ostiole . While they ’re inside , the WASP pollenate the plant , lay eggs , and might even hole up there .
All mintage also have a waxy rubber-base paint in the stems and foliage that come out when the plant is cut , and most have aerial roots . ManyFicusspecies are aerophyte , and some – such as choker figs – kill the host tree diagram as they mature .
With over 800 mintage in the genus , there is bound to be some convergence and some natural hybridizing . In some area there are over 70 species coexisting .
Cultivation and History
Some of the foliage onFicustrees looks positively prehistoric to me , like something the dinosaurs would have feed .
expert judge that the plants have been around for at least 60 million years . They ’ve most likely been a part of human refinement for as long as man have live .
Fossils ofFicusspecies dating back to 9400 BCE were bring out in the Jordan Valley , and humans have been cultivating these plants at least as early as the 12th C .
Twelfth - century horticulturist Ibn al-’Awwam wrote a Quran about agriculture that included how to cultivate figs . By the 15th 100 , common fig were being grown in the British Isles .
Since then , many mintage have become popular as houseplant , with dozens of cultivate varieties available , and others are widely used in landscape gardening in quick mood across the globe .
Ficus Propagation
To propagateFicusspecies , stem cuttings are a breeze and air layering works well , too . Or you could always pop over to your local glasshouse and find a potted plant to make for home .
From Air Layering
Air layering is so mention because you propagate the new plant up in the atmosphere rather than in grime . This can be done at any time of twelvemonth , but tends to make well in spring and summer .
To start , look for a sturdy subdivision at least as thick as your little finger . It needs to be large enough to keep going some moistened moss wrapped in credit card as well as the develop roots .
Cut or tear off the leaves at the nerve centre of the outgrowth to expose a section that is between six inch and a foot long , depend on the sizing of the plant .
Take a sharp , clear knife and make a shallow cut around the entire perimeter of the branch .
The goal is to cut through the bark and into the bast of the stem , but you do n’t need to tailor into the cambium .
You should be cut through the dark-brown barque and endanger the green ontogenesis underneath . If you edit beyond the William Green and play the white cambium , you ’ve dilute too deep .
Do n’t worry if this happens , just seek to slacken down and take your sentence with the rest of the cuts .
When you ’ve made your first horizontal cut , make another one about three inch below that . The area needs to let in at least one leafage lymph node or aerial radical node .
Then , make several upright cuts about half an inch apart . These should link up to the top and bottom horizontal cuts you made .
Use the blade of your knife to carefully undress off the barque between the top and bottom cuts to completely expose the fleeceable stratum underneath .
Use a discarded toothbrush or paint brush to put a flimsy layer of rooting endocrine powder on the expose section . You might need to becloud the exposed field first to help the powder adhere .
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder
Bonide makes an excellent root powder , whichyou can buy at Arbico Organicsin one - and - a - tail - ounce container .
It help to have a second duad of custody for the next part , but you may do it yourself .
Grab a few handful of sphagnum moss and soak it in some water . Wring it out and pack it against the expose area of the branch . You want at least an inch of moss all the way around , but two column inch would be even well .
have got the moss in place and wrap it in clear pliant wrapper to secure it around the branch . Seal the top and bottom of the plastic with string , zip - crosstie , drawing string , or tape .
Now , your problem is to keep the parent plant happy as you normally would while also control that the moss stays moist .
If you do n’t see wet on the interior of the plastic , afford it up on one end and touch the moss . If it ’s feeling dry , spray it with some water supply .
Eventually , you ’ll come out to see root developing inside the moss . This can happen rapidly , depending on the fourth dimension of twelvemonth and the metal money , or it can take months .
Once the moss is occupy about a third of the way with root , it ’s meter to turn off the new plant away from the parent .
To do this , take a uncontaminating , sharp knife or pruners and cut through the stem just below the moss mob .
move out the plastic and moss and plant the roots in a mint fill with potting filth . Most metal money like to be a minute rootage bound and an outsized pot promote root rot , so opt a container that is just an inch or so larger than the rootball .
lay to rest the stem deep enough that the plant can endure itself in an upright view .
From Stem Cuttings
This method acting can be used with anyFicusspecies . In the leaping , look for a pliable base about the diameter of a pencil . Cut off a spell about six to nine inches long .
The most important retainer is n’t the exact length but to bump off a section of stem with at least one foliage guest or aerial root node . employ a couplet of clear limiter or a knife to cut just below one of these leaf node .
take out all but the top one or two leave-taking for smaller - leaved species and all but one leaf for species with large leave of absence . In the case of something like a fiddle - leaf common fig , you’re able to even cut the leaf in half horizontally .
The destination is to shrink the amount of leaf tissue that the stem has to support while it ’s developing roots . Too much leaf tissue paper will quickly enfeeble the stem of all food , while too little folio tissue will slenderize photosynthesis .
fill up a small pot with well - draining , H2O retentive potting medium and make a fix in the center using your finger , a pencil , or a chopstick .
you could use a growers pot for this process or use the permanent growing container so you do n’t have to transplant the cutting later . The container should be around six inch in diam .
Dip the baseball swing death in powdered root hormone and sneak in it into the muddle .
Firm the land up around the cutting and moisten the potting medium . You ’re welcome to use a cloche or a clear formative handbag over the cutting to help keep back wet – just verify the credit card is not touch the foliage .
Keep the soil moist but not soak wet , and keep your cutting off in an field with bright , indirect light , or unmediated morning light .
After four weeks or so , mildly inclose your handwriting into the soil underneath the plant life and pinch up to look for roots . If you see them , you could transplant the cutting into its lasting location .
We have more wind on propagating from stem cuttings here .
Transplanting
If you start a plant via thinning or airwave layering , or if you buy a genus Ficus at the store , there will come in a clock time when you want to move it into a more lasting container .
see to it that the container you choose has drainage fix at the bottom and is one or two inch bombastic than the survive pile .
softly slay the plant from its survive container and loosen up the roots a little . If you see any roots that are drippy or black , or that are broken , snip them off with a light pair of scissors .
concur the industrial plant inside the new container so that it will be situated at the same deepness as it was in the previous container .
Then , fill in around the roots with a water - retentive , airy potting mix . There are mixes out there made for aroids , and you’re able to always nab one of those .
I prefer to apply a product like FoxFarm ’s Ocean Forest mixing , available via Amazon , or De La Tank ’s Houseplant Mix , which contains compost , coconut meat husks , worm castings , bat guano , and pumice to improve drainage .
De La Tank ’s Houseplant Mix
you may pick up a one , eight , or 16 - quart handbag of De La Tank’sat Arbico Organics .
Once the roots are securely in shoes in the potting soil , water well . If the grunge settles at all , add a bit more .
How to Grow Ficus
Because theFicusgenus comprehend such a wide of the mark range of industrial plant , it ’s a little difficult to tot up the care requirements for all types . When you entrust to a specific metal money , be certain to understand up on its pauperization .
broadly speaking mouth , those grow as houseplants necessitate bright , indirect light or some verbatim good morning ignitor . They can often permit less calorie-free , but they sure do n’t prefer it .
Outdoors , mostFicusspecies need full to partial sunlight . Some will mature into huge Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , so they ’ll grow large enough to reach the full sun whether you want them to or not .
Those that grow as epiphytes or small shrubs can unremarkably expand in modest light exposure , with some even tolerating full shade .
When it comes to pee , they broadly like consistently moist territory , but they wo n’t tolerate standing water around the roots .
If your works is in a container , irrigate it when the top one-quarter of the land has dry out out .
For outdoor specimens , allow the top few inches of stain to dry out out between watering – in the absence seizure of rain . Established trees wo n’t need any extra irrigation except in times of extreme drouth .
MostFicusspecies come from humid region . These are n’t plant that you ’ll see chilling in the dry desert .
Misting is n’t really an effective way of increasing the humidity around your plant , so it ’s good to purchase a humidifier or group houseplant together if your rest home is a bit ironical . you could also keep your plant in the bathroom , where it ’s unremarkably nice and moist .
render to aim for a comparative humidity level of about 50 to 70 percent . Most specie will come through in lower humidness , but they wo n’t thrive .
These plants also demand tender temperature – between 55 and 85 ° F is fine . Do n’t keep your houseplant near a drafty window or exterior room access if it gets really cold in your cervix of the wood .
outside plants typically thrive in warmerUSDA Hardiness Zones , like 8 and above , but there are a few species that grow in more northerly Zones .
look on the species , you should design to feed indoor plants twice a year . They are n’t greedy , and overfeed can result in yellow leaves and poor growth .
Either granular or liquid fertilizer is fine . I broadly use a mild product that ’s devise for houseplants .
That way , I can use it for all my houseplant without have to worry that they ’re not getting what they need . course once in the outflow and once in late summertime .
Arber makes an excellent indoor plant nutrient with a 3 - 2 - 1 NPK ratio that ’s perfect for boost pile of leafy growth .
Arber Indoor Plant Food
find fault up a 16 - Panthera uncia bottleat Arbico Organics .
If you ’re turn your plant outside , give them an all - purpose food for thought unless you ’re cultivating common figs . In that casing , use a fruit tree diagram mix to support yield production .
I like Down to Earth ’s Fruit Tree fertilizer , which is availableat Arbico Organicsin five- , 15- , and 25 - Ezra Loomis Pound biodegradable box seat .
Down to Earth Fruit Tree Fertilizer
It has the good balance for fruit production and is derive from natural ingredients like fish os repast , lucerne meal , and kelp repast .
mounting or crawl coinage can be allowed to dog ortrained up a moss pole .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
As your flora thrive and raise , potted specimen will necessitate a container upgrade every few days and once they hand the mature size , you ’ll still need to replace the pot substrate regularly .
Over time , pot soils and other growing mediums tend to break down and become depleted of food . They can also become aquaphobic , so the water just runs around rather than through it .
Most plants can be repotted in the spring or summer by remove the industrial plant from its pot , knocking away the filth , and cutting off any beat or damaged roots .
Place the flora back in the same pot or in a container just one size up . Fill in around the origin with fresh potting soil and water well .
There is generally no indigence to trim these plant unless you require to exchange the shape or take beat , diseased , change shape , or dying branches . That ’s right-hand , even the edible Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya does n’t need complicated pruning as most Lucy Stone yield species do .
There ’s no motive to remove airy origin . They support the flora ’s health , and they ’re a honest thing . you could tuck them into a moss magnetic pole if you ’re using one , or just let them be .
mintage with large leaves should be wiped on a regular basis to remove any dust . An collection of dust can reduce photosynthesis and impact the health of the plant .
Ficus Species to Select
As I ’ve mentioned , there are over 800Ficusspecies , but only a XII or so that we commonly grow as houseplant or ornamental garden specimens .
Banana Leaf
Sometimes called long - foliage figs , banana tree foliage Libyan Fighting Group ( F. maclellandii ) have long , drooping , leathery leaves .
Indoors , they grow to about six feet tall , but they can reach closer to 10 foot in the right conditions .
In their aboriginal China , India , and Southeast Asia , they reach up to 40 feet tall and produce pairs of round fruit .
Like many other flora in this genus , they transmit out large aerial roots that ground them into the ground .
There are beautiful cultivars with variegated foliage or with compact growth substance abuse that lend themselves to indoor life .
‘ Alii , ’ the most vulgar cultivar , is often sold with braided trunks .
It has a dense growth habit and tops out at about six feet tall indoors . Outdoors , it can grow in Zones 9 to 11 .
Ficus maclellandii‘Allii ’
blame up your own ‘ Alii ’ in a three to four - foot heightat Fast Growing Trees .
Learn more about caring for banana tree leaf common fig tree plants .
Climbing
climb or drop back ficus ( F. radicanssyn . F. sagittata ) is native to southeast Asia , where it use its roots to climb up trees and other structure .
The heart- or arrow - shaped leaves are glossy , colored green , and slightly wrinkled .
It ’s often confused with creeping ficus ( F. pumila ) , and while they ’re alike , they are dissimilar plants . The leaves ofF. radicansare lancelike compare to the cordate leaves ofF. pumila .
rise Libyan Islamic Group can grow up to 30 feet long in the wild , but they generally stay much shorter in the home .
Most masses opt to spring up them in hang basketful , but they ’d be lovely produce up a moss magnetic pole , as well . If you know in Zones 10 to 12 , you may grow them in a shady spot alfresco .
Common
Common figs ( F. carica ) must mature outdoors in zone 8 to 10 or in a greenhouse if you want them to acquire fruits .
you may also delight them indoors as houseplants . The dwarf cultivars work well indoors and will even produce yield if you have a sunny spot in a south - face windowpane .
With or without the fruits , the expectant , lobate leave with a cordiform base add dash to the household .
For indoor fruits or just a manageable outside tree diagram , ‘ Petite Negra ’ and ‘ Fignomenal ’ are both phenomenal options .
Common Fig
Both stay under about five feet tall with a bushy , dense emergence habit . obtain a ‘ Fignomenal ’ plantat Burpee .
find out more about how to grow FIG in our guide .
Creeping
Native to China , Japan , and Vietnam , crawl fig ( F. pumila ) has naturalized across parts of North America where temperature reliably stay above freezing , though it can be cultivated in Zones 8 to 11 .
It climbs up tree diagram , rock , and other structures to about 12 feet in length , but appease much more contained indoors .
There are several notable cultivars of this mintage , like the petite ‘ Minima , ’ which has tiny half - column inch leaves .
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
The Jurrasic - look leaves of fiddle - folio fig ( F. lyrata ) have pull in it a space in all the most stylish homes and hotel . Outside , they make a dramatic statement pass on 50 feet grandiloquent or more in Zones 10 to 12 .
Indoors , they ’re much more petite , though no less dramatic . They typically top out at about 15 feet unless you have high ceilings for them to stretch up into .
There are also dwarf cultivars that remain naturally nice and small , so you are n’t have to chop off their whirligig as they turn over the roof .
Cute short ‘ Bambino ’ only uprise to about five feet tall with correspondingly little leaves than the species plant life .
Ficus lyrata‘Bambino ’
It’savailable at Fast Growing Treesin a two- to three - animal foot summit .
Or go with the Graeco-Roman species in a three- to four- or four- to five - foot summit , alsofrom Fast Growing Trees .
Hailing from the lowland rainforests of western Africa , both adjust well to indoor life , so long as you recognize what these plants prefer .
If you involve some peak , read our guide to develop fiddle - leaf figs .
Formosan Creeping
The first time I ever see a Formosan creeping Libyan Fighting Group ( F. vaccinioides ) , it had been trained up a frame to make a topiary .
I was scheme by the glossy ellipse leaves and vining growth habit . When I found out it was in theFicusgenus , I was thrilled because I ’ve had such good lot growing so many of these plants .
It even spring up teeny tiny yield ! It stand aside fromF. pumilabecause it has slightly larger leaves but otherwise looks similar .
Whether you prepare it up a rod or a frame of reference or just get it tail down the sides of the mountain , it ’s a looker . Or uprise it outdoors if you ’re in Zones 9 to 11 .
Ginseng
autochthonous to Southeast Asia and wildly democratic in homes across the globe is the beautiful Panax pseudoginseng Libyan Fighting Group ( F. microcarpa ) .
It’sextremely common as a bonsaibecause it can be grown indoors year - pear-shaped , unlike many other usual bonsai species .
You ’ll often see them with disproportionately large or braided trunks , making them a fun architectural constituent .
Ginseng Fig
For example , check out this onefrom Nature Hillsin a white decorative pot .
Indoors , these plants get to about seven feet tall . Outdoors , they can hit 50 feet or more in Zones 9 to 11 .
Of course , if you desire to enjoy them as bonsai , you’re able to keep them much smaller .
Learn more about originate ginseng figs in our guide .
Long-Leaf
aboriginal across Southeast Asia , long - leaf or narrow - leaf fig ( F. binnendijkii ) rise nearly 100 feet tall up nearby tree diagram and eventually strangles them .
It needs warm climate to flourish and can only be spring up outdoors in Zones 10 to 11 . Indoors , it ’s unremarkably train as a small tree under ten feet marvellous that resembles a weeping willow .
Do n’t confuse it with the other long - leaved genus Ficus species , F. maclellandii .
Banana foliage ficus has big basal veins , but they are standardised otherwise .
Rubber Plant
F. elasticacan grow really prominent , up to nearly 200 feet tall , in its native S and Southeast Asia . It ’s probably best known as a striking houseplant that can reach up to ten feet tall .
The leaves are what make this species stand out . They are large , succulent , and shining , produce up to a pes recollective and four inches wide .
They can be either firm green with a burgundy underside , or vary in a combining of burgundy , pinkish , yellowish , cream , or bloodless .
Rubber Tree
Snag the speciesfrom Fast turn Treesin a six - inch or three - Imperial gallon flock .
Or blame up the show - stop ‘ Tineke ’ with its pink , olive green , dark green , and creamy yellow parting .
Ficus elastica‘Tineke ’
It ’s alsoavailable at Fast Growing Treesin three - gallon starter pot or your choice of cosmetic slew .
Then , read our scout to growing rubber trees to learn how to keep your plant happy .
Triangle Fig
If you guessed thatF. triangularishas triangular leaves , you nab it .
The succulent leaves maturate as reverse triangles with soft , curved edges , earning it the cognomen mantrap tree .
This species is native to South Africa , where it grows about 15 feet tall in cultivation . Indoors , it can acquire up to eight understructure magniloquent but unremarkably appease about half that .
F. triangularisprefers warmer temperatures than many others on this tilt and if you intend to develop it outdoors , you ’ll need to live in Zones 12 or 13 .
Ficus triangularis‘Variegata ’
you may see both solid and variegated variation , as with ‘ Variegata , ’ which isavailable at Fast Growing Treesin one- or three - congius pots .
Weeping
A weeping fig ( F. benjamina ) is the perfect choice if you desire to fetch the look of a landscaping tree diagram to your Interior Department .
It has that classic tree shape with twisting ovate leaves in a showy green chromaticity , or you could find it with creamy variegation , as well .
out of doors , these Tree climb up other plants and get off down ethereal roots that make it look like it has multiple trunk .
They can accomplish over 50 feet marvellous in their native Asian and Australian home plate . In the US , they mature in Zones 9 to 12 .
As indoor plant , you will find them useable as braided multiple stems or as single bow specimens . They will typically mature up to about 12 ft marvelous .
Braided Benjamina Fig
Visit tight Growing Treesfor a braided stem pick in two- to three- or three- to four - understructure height .
Once you have your newfangled plant , read our usher to con more about handle for weeping figs .
Managing Pests and Disease
Some mintage are much more resistant to problems than others . Ginseng fig , for example , is pretty unbothered by pests or disease in general .
Weeping genus Ficus is known for dropping leavesif you even attend at it wrong , and this species can be highly sore to overwatering . Root diseases are not uncommon .
In cosmopolitan , species grown as houseplant might encounteraphids , mealybugs , scale , orspider tinge .
All areprone to rootle rot , which is often do byRhizoctonia solaniandFusarium oxysporum . These pathogen thrive where there is a lot of moisture , so it ’s crucial to avert overwatering .
Root rot will cause the leaves to turn yellow or chocolate-brown and fall from the plant .
If you mark this encounter , the best matter to do is to hit the works from its container and examine the roots . If you see rot or mushy , black roots , trim all the symptomatic etymon away .
Then , treat the roots with a biofungicide like Mycostop .
This product is made using sphagnum peat moss which contains the beneficial bacteriumStreptomycesStrain K61 .
I use this product anytime my plants are struggling with ascendant putrefaction and have always had dependable result .
Mycostop Biofungicide
take home plate five or 25 gramsfrom Arbico Organicsand be the manufacturer ’s directions for practical program .
Best Uses for Ficus Species
With so many different growth habits , shapes , sizes , folio variations , and fruit options , there are a lot of way to enjoy the plants in theFicusgenus .
Many species lend themselves to bonsai and houseplant life . you could turn them as trailing plants , trained up moss poles or topiary systema skeletale , or as free - standing indoor tree diagram .
Outdoors , they can be ground covers , condition climb up supports , or grown as bush or trees .
Some make excellentshade tree options , others are perfect hedges . Some species can even be trained into living bridge circuit and furniture – in earnest !
In northeastern India , the Khasi hoi polloi educate arctic figs into living bridges .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
There’s Lots to Love About the Fabulous Ficus Genus
TheFicusgenus constitute some of the most beloved houseplant as well as the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that mature our sought after Libyan Islamic Group yield . They have stunning farewell , entrancing proboscis , and strange flowers . There ’s a mickle to love about these plant .
Now that you ’ve subdue the genus , you mightwant to learn more about growingFicusplants . If so , we have the guide to help you along . Here are just a few :
© take the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Arbico Organics , Burpee , firm Growing Trees , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
