How to Care for Ficus Benghalensis Audrey

Ficus benghalensis, known as the Ficus Audrey, is the national tree of India. It has become a popular houseplant and is often considered a less demanding alternative to the Fiddle Leaf Fig. The plant’s large, velvety green leaves with light-colored veins and a smooth, pale trunk make it an elegant statement piece for indoor spaces.

Ficus Audrey Care Guide

Ficus Audrey thrives in bright, indirect light. Place it near an east-facing window or a few feet from a south or west-facing one. While it can handle soft, direct morning sun, intense afternoon rays will scorch the leaves. Finding a stable location is important, as this plant is sensitive to being moved.

Use a well-draining potting mix to prevent water from stagnating around the roots. You can amend a standard indoor potting mix with perlite or orchid bark to improve aeration and drainage. For watering, allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out completely. Then, water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot. This “soak and dry” method prevents root rot from overwatering.

Ficus Audrey prefers warm temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C) and should be kept away from cold drafts. It can adapt to average household humidity but thrives in a range of 50-70%. If you notice browning on the leaf edges, this can indicate low humidity. You can increase humidity by grouping it with other plants or using a pebble tray.

During the spring and summer growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength every 4-6 weeks. As growth slows in the fall and winter, reduce fertilizing to once every two months or pause it completely. This seasonal adjustment in feeding mirrors the plant’s natural growth cycle.

Pruning and Shaping

Pruning helps manage your Ficus Audrey’s size and encourages a fuller, bushier appearance, as it can reach 10 feet indoors. To stimulate branching on a tall, single-stalk plant, cut the top off during the spring or summer growing season. New branches will grow from the nodes just below the cut.

Use clean, sharp pruning shears to make cuts about half an inch above a leaf node. The plant will release a sticky, milky white sap when cut, which can be a skin irritant, so wearing gloves is recommended. You can stop the sap flow by dabbing the cut with a paper towel.

To create a balanced shape, remove branches that grow inward, cross others, or make the plant look lopsided. Rotate your plant regularly to ensure it grows evenly instead of leaning toward the light. To create a tree-like shape, you can remove lower leaves to expose more of the trunk as the plant matures.

Propagating Ficus Audrey

Ficus Audrey is easily propagated from stem cuttings during the spring or summer. Select a healthy stem with at least two to three leaves and a few nodes. Using sterilized shears, make a clean cut below a node to create a cutting that is at least six inches long.

For water propagation, place the cutting in a glass of clean water, ensuring no leaves are submerged. Change the water weekly to keep it fresh. Roots will appear from the nodes in a few weeks to a few months. Once the roots are 2-3 inches long, plant the cutting in soil.

To root directly in soil, dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a small pot with well-draining potting mix, burying at least one node. Water the soil lightly and cover the pot with a plastic bag to create humidity. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged until new growth appears.

Common Issues and Solutions

Leaf drop is a common reaction to stress from environmental changes, such as being moved or inconsistent light and watering. Yellowing leaves often point to overwatering. Brown, crispy spots can indicate either underwatering or sunburn from direct sun exposure.

Common pests include spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Spider mites create fine webbing, while mealybugs look like small, white cottony masses. Inspect the undersides of leaves regularly to catch infestations early. To treat, wipe pests off with a damp cloth or apply neem oil or insecticidal soap.

The milky sap of Ficus benghalensis is toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Chewing on the leaves or stems can cause mouth and stomach irritation and, in some cases, vomiting. Place the plant out of reach of children and pets to ensure their safety.