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The Daily Insight

Are ficus trees low maintenance?

Author

John Thompson

Published May 26, 2026

Are ficus trees low maintenance?

Whether growing indoors or outdoors, ficus trees are beautiful, low maintenance plants.

How often should I water my ficus tree?

Drainage and a watering schedule Water your ficus when the top two to three inches of the soil dries out—you can easily measure this by using the first two knuckles on your finger. The larger the plant, the more water it needs. A plant in a 12-inch pot needs at least 1-1.5 liters of water a week in the summer.

Are there any problems with my ficus tree?

From a mass dropping of leaves to bugs rising out of the soil when watered, these problems can perplex their owners. The majority of problems are easy to fix, and only a few simple gardening tools or pesticides are needed. Read on to learn how to care for these attractive plants, both in the home and on the patio!

When is the best time to prune a ficus tree?

Most people recommend pruning in winter or early spring. Your plant will be dormant at this time and has a better chance of healing more quickly. Any dead, diseased, or broken branches can be pruned from your plant at any time of year. Doing this will reduce the risk of infection and put extra energy into producing healthy leaves in springtime.

Water your ficus tree regularly throughout the growing season. Just make sure to allow the compost to dry out a bit before re-watering. Fertilize every three weeks with a well-diluted house plant feed, but only throughout the summer months. The extra nutrients will help to promote new shoots and leaves.

How tall does a ficus tree grow in the wild?

Known as the official tree of Bangkok, it’s native to Asia and Northern Australia. The ficus tree is known in those locales as a large ornamental, flowering tree with a vigorous growth habit. In the wild, it’s not unusual to see these trees reaching a huge 80 to 100 feet tall.

Is it normal for a ficus tree to lose its leaves?

First of all, realize that it is normal for a ficus tree to lose some leaves. A few leaves dropping of a ficus tree will not hurt it and they will regrow, but if your ficus is losing more than a few leaves, the following reasons could be why:

Why are the leaves on my ficus tree turning yellow?

The tree should recover. Leaf Spot Fungus: These are also known as cercospora spp. This looks like tiny black dots on the backs of the leaves of the tree. The leaves may turn yellow and fall off. Remove the diseased leaves and spray with Benlate (follow the instructions exactly). Do not mist the leaves.

Water your ficus tree regularly throughout the growing season. Just make sure to allow the compost to dry out a bit before re-watering. Fertilize every three weeks with a well-diluted house plant feed, but only throughout the summer months. The extra nutrients will help to promote new shoots and leaves.

Most people recommend pruning in winter or early spring. Your plant will be dormant at this time and has a better chance of healing more quickly. Any dead, diseased, or broken branches can be pruned from your plant at any time of year. Doing this will reduce the risk of infection and put extra energy into producing healthy leaves in springtime.