If you end up looking out for a brand new houseplant, the Ficus Audrey could also be an awesome selection for you. It’s associated to different ficus species, such because the rubber tree/rubber plant (Ficus elastica), fiddle leaf fig tree (Ficus lyrata), and the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina). The Ficus is the nationwide tree of India. They contemplate it sacred, taking part in a giant half of their myths and legends.
It’s often known as a banyan tree and will be grown as an out of doors plant – or an indoor plant in the event you dwell in a cooler local weather. Botanically its identify is Ficus benghalensis, and it’s a reasonably simple plant to develop indoors in comparison with different bushes within the ficus household.
Most of this information will give attention to rising Ficus Audrey as a houseplant, although take into account it additionally makes a beautiful out of doors plant in the event you dwell in USDA rising zones 10-12. Let’s talk about learn how to present the very best look after Ficus Audrey, together with any rising issues you might encounter.
Fast Care Information
| Frequent Identify | Ficus Audrey, Banyan tree, Bengal fig, Ficus tree, Indian banyan, Strangling fig, Strangler fig |
| Scientific Identify | Ficus benghalensis |
| Household | Moraceae |
| Peak & Unfold | 5-6 ft tall, 3 ft unfold |
| Mild | Brilliant, oblique gentle |
| Soil | Natural potting combine with perlite |
| Water | Enable prime 2-3 inches to dry between watering |
| Pests & Illnesses | Spider mites, fungus gnats, root rot, bacterial leaf spot |
All About Ficus Audrey
Ficus benghalensis is the botanical identify for Ficus Audrey. Ficus benghalensis widespread names are Banyan tree, Strangler fig, Ficus tree, Indian banyan, and Bengal fig. It’s native to the Indian subcontinent and is the nationwide tree of India. Its pure habitat is the tropical rainforest.
Within the wild, the Ficus Audrey tree can develop to 100 ft tall with an enormous cover protection. It’s an exquisite tree and one which grows nicely as a houseplant. Even inside, it might develop as much as 6 ft tall and has a 3-foot unfold, so that you’ll wish to be sure you have loads of house for it to thrive.
Ficus Audrey is comparable in look to the Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) and the rubber tree. Like different ficus bushes, it has oval-shaped shiny deep inexperienced leaves with a easy edge. Deep branching veins within the leaves comprise a sap that’s irritating to the pores and skin and poisonous if ingested. The fruit may be very technically edible, however barely so; it’s unpalatable, and we don’t advocate consuming it.
The sunshine-colored trunk and stems are easy. Ficus Audreys within the wild have lengthy aerial roots that present help for the tree. As a houseplant, you received’t see this function because it stays small.
The Audrey ficus can dwell 20+ years as a houseplant, relying on the care it receives. Fortunately, it’s simpler to look after in comparison with different ficus vegetation. You’ll discover essentially the most progress out of your Audrey ficus throughout the spring and summer time months, slowing down within the winter.
Ficus Audrey Care
Ficus Audrey is among the best ficus vegetation to look after. The fiddle leaf fig and rubber plant require extra consideration, whereas Ficus Audrey care is extra easy. This subsequent part will go over the necessities to achieve success when rising the Audrey plant.
Solar and Temperature
Ficus benghalensis prefers oblique gentle from both an east-facing window or a west-facing window, so it receives at the least 6 hours of daylight per day. Direct daylight can scorch the foliage, and it’ll endure in low gentle.
Since Ficus Audrey is native to the tropics, thriving in USDA hardiness zone 10-12, it is going to do nicely at indoor temperatures larger than 70 levels Fahrenheit. It should acclimate to decrease temperatures, however any temperature decrease than 60 levels Fahrenheit will kill it. Additionally, maintain your plant away from drafts.
Water and Humidity
Like most ficus bushes, Ficus Audrey doesn’t prefer to be over-watered. Drainage holes on the backside of the pot will assist take away extra water. Present water as soon as the highest 2-3 inches of the soil is dry. Water constantly within the spring and summer time to maintain the decrease soil moist but in addition permit for small intervals of under-watering to stop it from changing into soggy.
Through the winter months, you may taper off the quantity of water since it’s extra dormant. Spritzing the leaves with water or sitting the pot on a tray of pebbles full of water will assist this tropical indoor tree really feel at house.
Soil
The most effective soil to make use of when potting your Ficus Audrey is a well-draining soil with perlite added. The popular soil pH is 7.0-7.5. Nicely-drained soil prevents the roots from changing into waterlogged, and the perlite supplies respiration house to maintain the roots wholesome. It’s essential to have drainage holes to take away extra water from the soil too.
Fertilizing Ficus Audrey
Within the spring, fertilize your Ficus with a balanced granular slow-release fertilizer. This may present loads of vitamins by way of the rising season and encourage wholesome progress. You might additionally use an natural liquid fertilizer as soon as per 30 days throughout the rising seasons. Through the fall and winter, there isn’t a have to fertilize.
Pruning Ficus Audrey
Pruning will maintain your Ficus at a manageable stage because it has the potential to develop tall. It should additionally assist stabilize the plant and supply a lovely fullness. Within the early spring, take away any leggy or lopsided stems. Pruning the highest of the plant encourages bushier progress. It’s possible you’ll wish to put on gloves whereas pruning to guard your palms from the skinny latex-like sap that may be irritating to the pores and skin.
Ficus Audrey Propagation
Stem cuttings are by far the most well-liked methodology of propagating Ficus Audrey. Some gather seeds from an out of doors tree to propagate Ficus Audrey, however it’s good to be the place they develop naturally. That is what retains Ficus Audrey uncommon within the plant commerce. Nonetheless, we are going to give attention to stem cuttings to get a brand new plant.
Take a stem chopping utilizing sharp pruners, selecting a department that has a number of leaves. Dip the tip in rooting hormone, place it in a moist potting medium, and calmly cowl it with plastic wrap. Correct gentle throughout this time is oblique however sunny. Alternatively, place the tip in water, watch for roots to develop, and plant in moist soil. Put on protecting gloves to stop getting the irritating sticky sap in your pores and skin. Getting roots to type can take as much as 3 to 4 weeks for each strategies.
Repotting
Ficus Audrey doesn’t require common repotting. This plant prefers to be somewhat root sure. Repot each 2 to three years or once you see roots coming from the underside of the container. Spring is the very best time to repot your plant.
Select a pot measurement that’s 2-3 inches bigger than the one your plant is at present in. Place it within the new pot with contemporary potting soil and water nicely. If you happen to don’t need your ficus tree to develop bigger, merely reduce off among the bigger roots and put it again within the authentic container with contemporary soil.
Troubleshooting Ficus Audrey
As talked about earlier within the article, Ficus Audrey care is pretty easy. Nonetheless, there are a number of rising issues, and pests and illnesses to be careful for. We’ll talk about troubleshooting strategies within the subsequent part.
Rising Issues
Frequent rising issues of the Audrey plant are yellowing or browning of the leaves, which fall from the plant. Yellowing leaves are the results of overwatering, and browning leaves are attributable to not sufficient water or humidity. Water your Ficus Audrey when the highest 2-3 inches of soil are dry, and spritz the leaves with water to emulate a moist atmosphere. Planting in well-drained potting soil is an effective apply for stopping issues.
Pests
Frequent pests when rising this tropical plant are spider mites and soil gnats. Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) feed on the sap of the plant, inflicting the leaves to wilt and die. A big infestation can kill your plant if left untreated. These tiny arachnids appear to be tiny white to virtually clear dots, and so they hang around on the underside of the leaf. You may additionally discover advantageous silk threads in your ficus.
Neem oil is efficient at killing these pests, and you’ll forestall them by not permitting the potting medium to turn into too dry and dusty as this attracts the mites.
Soil gnats (often known as fungus gnats) will present up when there may be loads of moisture, so over-watering your ficus is the first wrongdoer. The grownup gnat lays the eggs within the dust, and as soon as the larvae hatch, they feed on the roots of the plant. In two weeks, they emerge as an grownup.
You’ll wish to cease this life cycle as quickly as potential to eliminate them for good. Yellow notice playing cards lined in sticky glue will lure the gnats. Preserve these in place for a number of weeks to permit the present larvae time to mature into adults so you may as well catch them.
Lastly, fruit flies could go after the unpalatable fruit of this fig relative. Take away fallen fruit from the soil round your tree.
Ficus Audrey Illnesses
There are two illnesses to be aware of when rising Ficus Audrey vegetation. The primary one is root rot. This illness is attributable to overwatering or putting your plant in too giant of a pot the place the roots can’t soak up all of the water. The roots break down as a consequence of lack of oxygen, and the plant slowly dies. Signs are stunted progress, yellowing of the leaves, and leaf loss.
One of the best ways to deal with this drawback is to take away the plant from the pot and snip off any mushy roots. Contemplate your kind and measurement of pot. Select one which isn’t overly giant and has good drainage holes. Re-pot utilizing contemporary, well-draining soil. Contemplate altering your watering habits if over-watering was the wrongdoer.
The second illness is a bacterial an infection known as bacterial leaf spot. Extra moisture, poor air circulation, and too excessive humidity or moisture on the leaves is the wrongdoer. Indicators are small brown or yellow spots on the leaves that slowly unfold. It may possibly additionally have an effect on the general plant’s progress in addition to new progress.
To deal with this, take away affected leaves and deal with the remainder of the plant with a sulfur mud fungicide. Be aware that in the event you’ve just lately sprayed your plant with neem oil, you shouldn’t use a sulfur fungicide as it might trigger leaf scorching! Sure sorts of biofungicides produced from helpful micro organism like Bacillus subtilis could be a good different to sulfur or copper fungicide. Monitor your watering schedule and take care to not over-water. Guarantee your plant receives loads of air circulation.
Steadily Requested Questions
Q: How do you take care of Audrey ficus?
A: With somewhat care and a focus to gentle, water, and protecting it pest free, your Ficus Audrey tree will thrive. Ficus vegetation don’t like direct daylight and like to be watered when the highest 2-3 inches of dust are dry. Don’t use a leaf shine to wash the leaves of mud. As an alternative, use a gentle fabric and water.
Q: Is Ficus Audrey an indoor plant?
A: The Ficus Audrey is an out of doors tree native to India. Nonetheless, it is going to thrive as an indoor plant with oblique daylight, humidity, and heat temperatures. It should nonetheless take up house because the indoor plant can attain heights of 6 ft.
Q: Is a ficus Audrey simpler than a fiddle leaf fig?
A: Ficus Audrey care is simpler in comparison with the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). It doesn’t require as a lot daylight, watering wants, and total consideration. It doesn’t like drafts however is extra tolerant to temperature change than the fiddle leaf fig.
Q: Are Ficus Audrey poisonous?
A: Sure, Ficus Audrey vegetation are poisonous to pets and people if ingested. It may possibly trigger an upset abdomen and vomiting. The sap may also irritate the pores and skin. Whereas the fruit is technically edible, it doesn’t style superb and isn’t really helpful.
Q: Why are the leaves falling off my ficus?
A: The most typical motive for dropping leaves in your Ficus plant is the quantity of watering. An excessive amount of or too little water may cause the leaves to fall off. Water your ficus as soon as the highest 2-3 inches of soil are dry.
Q: How usually ought to I water my Ficus Audrey?
A: Water your Ficus Audrey as soon as the highest 2-3 inches of soil are dry to the contact. That is often as soon as per week, relying on the temperature and humidity of your own home.
Q: Does Ficus Audrey purify air?
A: Sure, the Ficus Audry purifies toxins and contaminants within the air. It is among the greatest air-purifying vegetation to develop indoors.
Q: Why do ficus Audrey leaves curl?
A: The leaves of the Ficus Audrey curl for a number of causes. The most typical isn’t sufficient water and harsh lighting circumstances. The Audrey plant doesn’t thrive in direct solar. It prefers oblique brilliant gentle and constantly moist soil.
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