The Ficus Bonsai, commonly known as the Weeping Fig or Ficus Tree is a beautiful houseplant which is loved by numerous plant parents. It has a unique curved trunk with dark green, oval leaves making it a brilliant centre piece for your living room or side table. Plant them in shallow but wide pots to show if its magnificent stem and roots.
Description for Ficus Bonsai Plant
Ficus is a pan-tropical genus of trees, shrubs and vines occupying a wide variety of ecological niches; most are evergreen, but some deciduous species are endemic to areas outside of the tropics and to higher elevations. Fig species are characterized by their unique inflorescence and distinctive pollination syndrome, which utilizes wasp species belonging to the Agaonidae family for pollination.
The always popular ficus tree is a member of the fig family and perfect for caring for as a houseplant. There are several varieties of this plant that are grown as houseplants. Among these are the ficus benjamina or weeping fig, the ficus lyrata or fiddle head fig, and the ficus elastica decora or rubber tree.
Ficus plants range from large trees to woody shrubs to trailing vines. The ficus comes in many shapes and sizes that make this a popular focal point in your home.
Ficus (genus Ficus), a group of about 900 species of trees, shrubs, and vines, commonly called figs. Native primarily to tropical areas of East Asia, they are distributed throughout the world’s tropics. Many are tall forest trees that are buttressed by great spreading roots; others are planted as ornamentals.
The always popular ficus tree is a member of the fig family and perfect for caring for as a houseplant. There are several varieties of this plant that are grown as houseplants. Among these are the ficus benjamina or weeping fig, the ficus lyrata or fiddle head fig, and the ficus elastica decora or rubber tree. The Bodhi tree, under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment, is believed by many to have been a ficus religiosa. The most popular as an indoor tree is the ficus benjamina.
| COMMON NAME | FLOWER COLOURS | BLOOM TIME | HEIGHT | DIFFICULTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ficus Bonsai | – | The flowers are inconspicuous and the plants are grown mainly for their foliage | upto 2 feet | easy to medium |
Planting and care
| SUNLIGHT | SOIL | WATER | TEMPERATURE | FERTILIZER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most ficus trees enjoy bright indirect or filtered light with variegated varieties happily able to take medium light. Bright, direct light may result in scalding of the leaves and leaf loss. | Rich, humusy and well-drained soil. | When watering, always check the top of the soil first. If the top of the soil is wet, do not water as this means they have enough moisture. If the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, this indicates that they need water. | Ficus trees also cannot tolerate low temperatures or drafts. They need to be kept in temperatures above 60 F. (16 C.) and actually prefer temperatures above 70 F. (21 C.). | Feed with slow-release pellets in the beginning of the growing season. Fertilize once a month in the spring and summer and once every two months in the fall and winter. |
Plant Essentials
Fertilizer/ feed for the plant: Feed your Ficus a good fertiliser monthly during summers. During winters the plant growth naturally slows down so no need to fertilise in winters.
Repotting: When repotting, choose a pot 2 to 3 inches larger in diameter than your current pot. The best time to repot your Ficus is during spring.
Propagation: Ficus can be easily propagated by a leaf or a stem cutting.
Common Problems
1. Why are my Ficus leaves drooping?
A wrong watering schedule or improper light can cause drooping of leaves. Try changing the watering schedule of your plant and also change the position of the plant, move it to a brighter spot.
2. Why are my Ficus leaves curling?
Both under-watering and overwatering can cause curling and yellowing of leaves. Fix your watering schedule to correct this problem.
3. Why are my Ficus leaves turning brown and shedding?
If your Ficus is receiving insufficient water the leaves will start turning brown and eventually fall off. Water your ficus more often to prevent the browning of leaves.
Style and Decor
Light Requirements: Ficus thrives in bright and indirect sunlight. They grow best when placed in a spot they like and moved as little as possible. Make sure that you are rotating your plant to ensure that all sides get sufficient directional light.
Locations: The Ficus is a great indoor plant. Indoors, make sure you keep your plant next to a window, not farther than 5 – 7 inches away from the light source. You can also grow your ficus outdoors on hedges.
Styling/decor tip: Oval, dark green leaves of the Ficus Bonsai can add colour and life to your homes. Place your Ficus Bonsai in your living rooms on a centre table or your office desk to liven your space up and add an element of nature!
Caring for Ficus Bonsai Plant
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- Cold drafts from windows or doors will harm them, so make sure to place them somewhere where drafts will not be an issue.Losing its leaves is the most common problem with ficus plants. Leaf drop is a ficus trees standard reaction to stress, whether its from any of the following:Under watering or over watering, Low humidity, Too little light, Relocation or repotting, Drafts, Range in temperature (too hot or cold).
- If your ficus is losing its leaves, go through the checklist of proper ficus tree care and correct anything that you find wrong.
Typical uses of Ficus Bonsai Plant
Special features: Most ficus bonsai trees can produce aerial roots in their natural habitat, which are often presented in appealing bonsai creations with many aerial root pillars or root over rock styles. To enable aerial root growth in our homes a humidity of nearly 100% must be achieved artificially.
You can use a glass cover, fish tank or a construction with transparent sheets for this purpose.
The Bodhi tree, under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment, is believed by many to have been a ficus religiosa.
Fig species are characterized by their unique inflorescence and distinctive pollination syndrome, which utilizes wasp species belonging to the Agaonidae family for pollination.
Culinary use: The common fig (Ficus carica) is cultivated for its pear-shaped, edible fruits, which are really hollow fleshy receptacles (syconia) containing hundreds of male and female flowers.
Ornamental use: Ficus trees can maintain their tree-like shape regardless of their size, so this makes them ideal for bonsais or for massive houseplants in large spaces.
The plant is used for ornamental purposes. It’s generally kept indoor in the living room and in the terrace area.
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