Wintergreen Ficus Care Guide
One of the most popular tree houseplants around, but sometimes tricky to care for, is the wintergreen ficus!
Why People Love This Plant
While easy to grow, but sometimes finicky, Ficus trees have been popular house plants for years! This tree will usually stay in the 3 to 6 foot range, but can grow as tall as 10 feet indoors! Depending on the look you are going for, the ficus tree is grown with a single trunk or with a braided trunk for a more decorative flare.
Your Guide to Care
Care: Easy to care for, but can be finicky.
Light: Give your ficus tree a bright spot filled with indirect light. It can even receive a small amount of direct sunlight, of which morning sun would be ideal. Too much direct sunlight can result in burned leaves and leaf loss.
Water: Ficus trees are sensitive to moisture levels and changes. Try to water and keep the soil regularly moist, as well as not too dry or too wet. We recommend watering when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. You will be able to water less during winter months.
Temperature: 65 to 85F is ideal. Do not allow your wintergreen ficus to see temperatures below 55 to 60F, keep away from drafts as they will cause damage. As they generally prefer temperatures 70F and above, they will suffer if the temperature indoors drops below 70F and the AC is heavily used.
Humidity: High humidity is preferred by ficus plants. Low humidity risks drying out leaves and potential droppage. Mist often and use a humidifier if you are in a dry area.
Feeding: Very hungry plant. Make sure to give your ficus plenty of fertilizer during growing season (spring and summer). We recommend fertilizing monthly during growing season, and every two months otherwise.
Bonus
When a ficus tree experiences stress, leaf drop is its standard reaction. It can be for any one of these reasons: over or under watering, not enough light, humidity too low, repotting or new location, and temperature changes or drafts.
Tag us on Instagram @tropicalplantsofflorida with a Wintergreen Ficus plant selfie!
