If you live in a northern area where you must plant your Ficus Altissima Golden Gem in a container we suggest first that you select the right size pot with adequate drainage holes. A Ficus Altissima typically wants to grow in about a 12” diameter pot. A large plastic pot such as the 14″ Brunello Planter that is part of our Crescent Collection of Resin Planters. These are ideal because it allows the moisture level of the Ficus Altissima Golden Gem to be maintained at a constant level between watering. This is very important for the proper growing of Ficus Altissima. Any pot will do however you will need to be sure the pot will drain. We suggest putting a layer of stones or gravel approximately 1 to 1.5 inches thick at the bottom inside of the container you choose. This will allow for proper drainage and assure the drainage holes in the pot do not become blocked over time.
Use a soil mix that is lightweight and drains well such as Ocean Forest Potting Mix from Fox Farm. If the mix you choose contains a large proportion of dense, absorbent material, such as peat moss, amend with 1/4-1/3 volume of pine bark. Before you fill the new pot with soil, now is a great time to add BioTone starter fertilizer to the soil mix before planting the Ficus Altissima Golden Gem. Bio-tone starter fertilizer is a great starter fertilizer that provides plants with mycorrhizae fungus. It is a naturally occurring beneficial fungus that colonizes on the new growing roots of plants. It creates a barrier between the roots of the plant and fungi and pathogens that can cause root rot. We love this product and use it on all plants we install at our own homes. Bio-tone is a gardener’s best friend and can help guarantee your success. Water in the Ficus Altissima Golden Gem thoroughly. Once the roots have settled, we prefer using Jacks Classic Houseplant fertilizer. Jacks classic fertilizer is specially blended for houseplants such as a Ficus Altissima Golden Gem. it is mixed with water and applied to the plant during watering.
