How to Care for Ficus Plants
Plant Guide

Ficus trees do not like a change of environment. So if temperatures are fluctuating, or you move your Ficus tree to a different spot in the house, the light green leaves may turn yellow and drop. Eventually, it will acclimate, and if you follow the guidelines above, your tree should be happy and healthy again in no time.

Propagating a Ficus is easy, but it tends to get messy due to the milky sap that oozes out when cut. First, take a branch and cut about 12 inches off. Next, remove the lower leaves from the cutting, and apply a rooting hormone to the base of the tip cutting. Fill a small pot with well-draining potting soil and place your cutting in the potting soil. Once your plant is secure in the potting soil, water thoroughly and put it in a sunny location, but not direct sunlight. Try Placing a plastic bag over your plant and pot. Doing so will create an artificial greenhouse. After around one to two months, you should start to see new roots. Once the root system has been established, you are free to move your plant into a 6-inch pot and watch it thrive.

If you want your Ficus tree to remain small and tidy in its container, you can prune off branches and leaves that no longer suit the desired look. Yearly pruning is also highly recommended to remove any dead branches and encourage new, lush foliage to grow. When you are ready to prune your plant, make sure it is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Also, watch out for a white milky substance that might ooze out from the cutting. It is slightly toxic and can irritate your skin. We recommend wearing a pair of gloves to protect yourself when handling this houseplant.

Ficus leaves may start to turn yellow if the plant has either been overwatered, underwatered for too long, or is not receiving enough nutrients. First, check the soil - if it is very soggy, you may need to repot the plant in fresh soil and check for any signs of root rot. If the soil is very dry or has begun to pull away from the pot, rehydrate slowly and carefully. You can try underwatering: allow the pot to sit in a bowl of water until it has absorbed as much water as it is going to, then remove from the bowl of water and allow to drain fully. Use this underside watering technique only when the top two inches have become dry again - this method ensures that you are watering deeply to the roots without letting the plant sit in any excess water for more time than needed. If your watering routine is balanced, then make sure you are following a balanced fertilizer schedule as well.

Ficus trees are prone to pests, such as leaf and root mealybugs, aphids, plant scale, and spider mites. The best way you can watch for any pests is by checking on your plant's leaves regularly. If you see any unfamiliar bugs or the leaves seem to be damaged, try spraying off your plant with water. Water will typically remove pests without having to use a chemical pesticide. Like other rubber plants, your Ficus can sometimes be prone to fungal diseases like Anthracnose. Also, all variegated Ficus trees suffer from brown spots at some point in their lifetime. This could be caused by too much direct light, low humidity, or over-fertilizing.

Cleaning the leaves is an important Ficus Tree care step. Its foliage becomes dusty quite often. to clean the leaves simply place one hand on the underside of the leaf and gently pull a damp cloth over the upper surface of the leave. Use a soft cloth so you will have no worry about scratching the surface of the leaf. After the leaves dry you can give your Ficus Audrey Bush a glossy look by using Bonide Leaf shine and Moisture Guard.