BOTANICAL NAME: Ficus benghalensis
ORIGIN: Native to India and Pakistan. She is the national tree of India
GOOD FOR: Beginner plant parents
HEIGHT: Indoors can grow up to 10 feet tall. Outdoors can grow 100 ft tall and several acres wide.
LIGHT: Bright, indirect light is best. Rotate your plant weekly to allow all sides to grow evenly. While Audrey can handle brighter lighting conditions, make sure she is not sitting in the direct afternoon sun, as the leaves will burn.
WINDOW PREFERENCE: Ideally placed in an east facing window, or a few feet from south or west facing windows, so they are not in direct sun.
WATER: Once the top 1-2” of topsoil is dry, water around the base of the plant until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. At this point, you can stop. While Audrey is less finicky about water, she prefers to be evenly moist, not too dry and not too soaked.
HUMIDITY: Prefers a more humid environment.
TEMPERATURE: Prefers to be above 60-85 degrees. Keep away from drafts and heat vents.
SOIL / REPOTTING: Needs well-draining, well aerated soil. Roots on a Ficus grow very slow and will not need to be repotted until the roots have filled the entire bottom of its pot. Repot in a container 1 size up.
PLANT FOOD: In spring and summer, feed once a month. We recommend using Joyful Dirt Houseplant Plant Food. Stop feeding in fall and winter due to slower growth and dormancy.
PRUNING: Prune to maintain the shape and encourage a bushier plant. This will also allow you to control the size of the tree.
PESTS: Aphids, Mealy bugs, Scale, Whitefly are possible infestations to look out for.
TOXICITY: Toxic
ANGRY PLANT PROBLEMS: Leaves becoming brown and crunchy, leaves dropping – under watered. Yellowing leaves, leaves dropping,– overwatered.
