Q&A for How to Care for Ficus

You can take a cutting in the spring from a branch with visible new growth. The cutting should be about 5 inches long. Remove the bottom few leaves and place the cutting in water in a location with indirect sun. Roots should appear in a few weeks. Plant the cutting in potting soil when the roots are about ½ in long. Keep the plant moist.

It is likely too dry and hot to grow ficus outdoors in AZ. It needs more moisture since it is a tropical plant.

You wouldn't want to put it into direct light. If you have a plant that you are trying to bring back, try a mild/diluted fertilizer each time you water your plant. Follow by placing the plant in a bright room with a lot of natural light, but not in direct sunlight.

Leaves can yellow when the plant isn't receiving the right amount of water. Watering too often or too little for extended periods of time would cause yellowing and cause the leaves to shed.

Yes. Ficus trees adapt to the habitat around them, so they will grow to be another tree of the same genetics.

There really is no ideal schedule for a ficus, as they do best to have slight periods to dry between waterings. Depending on the amount of light your ficus gets and whether it is potted or in the ground will change the amount you would want to water. If it is potted, do the same as the article, water thoroughly and allow the top few inches of soil to dry through before watering again.

If there are any roots trying to escape from drainage holes or openings in the pots. If you notice any cracking or bulging of the pot the plant is in that may also be a sign that the roots are getting too compact. Try pushing your finger down into the soil around the plant to see if there is still plenty of soil in the planter.

Put some Vaseline around the roots; that really helps them to grow healthy and stronger.

Those could be cockroach larvae, which feed on plants before adulthood. They'll probably leave eventually, but use insect spray if they don't. Also, only buy special insect spray meant for protecting plants, as regular insect spray can harm vegetation.

Water with a pH of 9.5 is great for an indoor plant.

Spray the ficus leaves with water every week to knock the thrips off, and spray need oil on the leaves and soil every other week. Pick off the curled leaves where the nests are.

Yes, they can. Ficus trees grow all over mainland Europe where winter temperatures are regularly below freezing.

Possibly a pest. Look with a magnifying glass for small white bugs. Some ficus become prone to pests when soil is not optimal.

Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves of a ficus and potentially kill it eventually. To help your ficus thrive, place it in an area that gets bright indirect light such as near a window or on the side of your home. If your ficus is indoors, avoid placing it in a direct draft, or a cold area, which could kill it. Try to avoid moving your ficus once you place it. They're really sensitive and may drop their leaves even from slight climate changes.

The amount of water your ficus needs can vary, and overwatering them can easily damage their root systems. The best way to find out when your ficus needs water is to check the soil. If the soil is dry 2 inches (5.1 cm) down, then add enough water into the container to see it seep through the drainage holes at the bottom. In the wintertime, you'll need to water them a little less, but always check the soil to be sure.

A ficus does need a humid environment to thrive and they may not survive if the humidity falls below 40 percent. There are a few things you can do to help. You can mist the leaves 2-3 times a week. You can also place a saucer with 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) of room temperature water underneath the ficus's pot, which will evaporate slowly and raise the humidity levels. You could also place a humidifier in the room to keep the levels constant.