Weeping Fig Survives Indoors

10 January 2000
During the winter months indoor gardeners often ask about a good reliable plant that will survive a variety of household conditions. One plant that I try to acquaint them with is weeping fig - Ficus benjamina. Weeping fig is well-known for its durability and can be seen in many malls and office settings where conditions vary. The plant does have specific cultural requirements for optimum growth, but if you understand its limitations and work within this range, the weeping fig makes an ideal indoor plant.

Where space is available the weeping fig can develop tree-like proportions. The plant branches freely with numerous side shoots to form a full and compact plant. The foliage is narrow, about one inch wide and up to two inches long, and creates a rather fine textured plant. Older specimens do not have the mass and dominate qualities of the large-leafed plants such as phillodendron, rubber trees, or schefflera. Most weeping figs I've seen over the years have a light, airy texture to them. It is important to realize however that Ficus benjamina can double in size every two years in a bright window on the west side of a room.

Breeding and selections efforts in the greenhouse industry have brought more than 800 varieties of ficus to the marketplace. Most cultivars and selections have a medium green leaf, but types are available such as "Wintergreen" with a deep green leaf; or "Alii" which has a mahogany-colored trunk and long, thin leaves; or "Variegata" with cream and green colored foliage.

Weeping fig can be located 6 to 8 feet from a bright window and still put on steady growth. The plant usually indicates when light levels are too low by dropping its leaves. If you purchase a plant with large, thin, flat, flexible leaves there is a good chance that it has been acclimated to moderate light levels and should do well for some time if placed away from bright light. If leaves begin to drop, provide more light. The variegated types will need 50 per cent more light to maintain an attractive appearance.

Weeping fig is very tolerant of temperature and adapts well between 60 and 90 degrees F, but can survive lower temperatures without damage. Of course freezing temperatures will kill the plant, and temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees F. will result in minor leaf and stem injury. Avoid temperature extremes for best results, and if you are comfortable, your plant will be as well.

Keep the soil around the root system uniformly moist all the time. Try to avoid cycles of wet and dry soil, which stresses the root system and hampers its ability to properly absorb water and nutrients. Add enough water at each application so a portion of the water passes through the root system into a container below the pot. Discard any drainage water because it contains potentially toxic mineral salts. Plants under high light levels and higher temperatures require more frequent watering than those under lower light levels and cooler conditions.

If all goes well your weeping fig is going to get larger in time. Prune the plant to control wayward branches or encourage new side branches. Longer parts can be shortened to a smaller side shoot or removed completely back to the main trunk. If the plants are on the leggy side because of low light levels, pruning can be used to encourage additional side shoots and a fuller plant.

When the plant is repotted every few years, keep the root ball contained by moving it into a pot no more than 4 inches larger in diameter than the root ball. Use a well-aerated potting medium.

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**Dr. Robert Nuss is a horticulturist at Penn State. He coordinates all extension horticulture programs. He has bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in ornamental horticulture and has been on the Penn State faculty since 1966.