Skip to main content

4 Steps to Growing a Ficus Tree in Your Home

Do you have a ficus tree in your home? I've had a ficus tree, also known as a weeping fig, in my home for 35 years.  It's thriving. It's not too big and it makes just the impact that I'm looking for in a room with very high ceilings.

If you have a space that you need to fill think about getting yourself a ficus tree.  It will give you many years of beauty and joy.

How to Grow and Care for a Ficus Tree in Your Home

A Ficus tree will thrive in your home for many years.



It really doesn't take a whole lot of care to keep a ficus tree living for 35 years.  To keep it green and pretty and a living and breathing part of your home and decor for all that time takes minimal time and effort.

Watch My Ficus Care Video

Click Here to Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Key Elements of Ficus Tree Care

Be Sure You Have the Right Light

My ficus tree is in a room that is south-facing.  West light comes in through a window on the side of the tree.

My tree loves it in its southwest position.  At first, I tried it in another place in the house,   and it dropped its leaves. A ficus tree will talk to you.  It will tell you when it's not happy. It will drop and drop and drop its leaves.

When I moved my tree to the southwest corner of the house, it was so happy.  That was the perfect light for my tree in New England.

Don't Overwater Your Ficus Tree

The second step to keep your tree living and really thriving in your home is to make sure you don't overwater it.  Ficus trees only need water once a week to every two weeks.  Your tree will actually tell you when it needs water.

I generally look for one yellow leaf somewhere on the tree.  That's the way my ficus tree talks to me and tells me that water is required. If you have a ficus tree start paying attention. Watch the leaves. When you see one yellow one, it's time to water.

Fertilize Your Tree During the Growing Season

Fertilize once a month during the growing season using a 10-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer.
That has been enough to keep my tree healthy all these years.

Prune Your Tree As Needed

Take your smaller tree outside at least once a year for a good shake and pruning. The shake will loosen all the little bits, and the pruning will help you maintain the tree's desired size and structure. You'll want some excellent pruners on hand to make this an easy task.

How to Prune A Ficus Tree Video



If your tree is larger you may want to prune it while inside your home.  I have started to do that recently.  Here is an updated video showing how I prune my tree inside my house.

Preparing Your Ficus for Fall and Winter Video



It's easy to grow a ficus tree in your home.  My 34 years with my tree is the proof.

If you want to grow a ficus tree in your home just follow these few steps.

1. You need to have the right light.

2. Make sure that you don't overwater your tree.

3. Prune it occasionally and pay attention to how it's talking to you.

4. Fertilize as needed during the growing season.



That's all you have to do. It's easy to grow a ficus tree in your home.  My 35 successful years with my ficus tree is the proof.


Comments

  1. Your ficus is beautiful! I have always grown mine outdoors, but would love to try one inside. You didn't mention drainage. How do you handle that so you get proper drainage without ruining floors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cindy. My ficus is planted in a 17” plastic pot. I keep it in a pot dish to protect the floor. It catches any overflow from watering. I try not to overwater. If I see the water leaking out after I water I am very careful next time to monitor the amount. You can usually find a sturdy pot dish in the outdoor pot section of you local nursery or home hardware supplier.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Talk to me. I welcome your comments. (These comments are strictly moderated. Spammers take note.)

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.

Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches

These calla lily tea sandwiches are an easy way to create something truly special for a bridal shower, tea party, or small gathering, without making things complicated. One look at these calla lily tea sandwiches and you might think they are far too fussy for you to make for your special gathering.   Fear not! These calla lily tea sandwiches are adorable, tasty, and not too fussy once you get your assembly technique down. Best of all, these calla lily finger sandwiches make a beautiful presentation on your buffet table. Calla Lily Finger Sandwiches (This post includes affiliate links.) Calla Lily Tea Sandwiches If you are looking for finger sandwiches that are a little different, you have found them here. These calla lily sandwiches are a perfect little bite to add to your party menu.  They are especially perfect for bridal show...

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

An Old-Fashioned Cookie That Always Turns Out There’s something about a good gingersnap cookie that just feels right. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just dependable… and really, really good. These crunchy, spicy gingersnaps are the kind of cookie you make when you want something you know will turn out—and something everyone will recognize and enjoy. They’ve got that classic crackled top, a warm blend of spices, and just enough sweetness to balance it all out. And the best part? They’re easy. No mixer required. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation.

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies.  Fruit flies in the kitchen.  Fruit flies in the bathroom.  Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home.   It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another.  If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance.  This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time. 

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling – no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a luscious, creamy filling.  While their ...

The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Today's recipe will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma and lots of smiles. It's homemade cinnamon swirl bread made with your bread machine. If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect cinnamon swirl or ended up with gaps or leaking filling, this method fixes that using your bread machine. Bread Machine Cinnamon Swirl Bread (Soft, Easy Recipe) This post includes affiliate links. This recipe brings together the ease of your trusty bread machine with the deliciousness of a warm, sweet, and perfectly swirled cinnamon bread. Get ready for a slice of pure comfort!

Make Dinner Easier with a Go-To Meal List

How to Be Sure You’re Never Stuck Wondering What’s for Dinner There’s a moment most of us face at least a few times a week. It’s 4:30… maybe 5:00. You’re tired, you’ve had a full day, and the last thing you want to do is figure out dinner from scratch. That’s exactly why I’ve come to rely on something simple, but incredibly effective: A small collection of quick, dependable dinners I can make without thinking. These are not recipes I have to look up. They’re not complicated meals that require planning. They’re just a handful of go-to meals I know I can pull together fast.

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family?  If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time.  You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig.   I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long.   How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies?   Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center.  This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...