Why did I choose this plant ?
The Ficus is native to tropical regions, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. There is more than 850 species listed. I’ve got two different species : Benjamin and Elastica. (I will talk about Elastica on my next article).
This is the first one that I got. This lovely plant is commonly known as ‘Weeping Fig’ or ‘Benjamin Fig’.
I chose it because it is really easy to take care of once it is properly settled and it is a nice plant. For exemple, I settled mine in the corner of my bedroom.
Things to know about Weeping Fig ?
- It can be settled indoor or outdoor. It prefers higher humidity but keep it away from radiators.
- 📏 : 10 feet (3 meters) indoors or 100 feet (30 meters) outdoors
- 🌱 : You have to use soil mix
- You should repot your ficus tree every 2 or 3 years, when the pot is too small.
How to take care of it ?
- 💧 – Watering
It is needed when the soil is dry. Water every 7 to 10 days, but make sure it is well drained and is not sat in water.
- 🌞 – Exposure
It cannot be expose straight under the sun. It must be set in a luminous room.
- 🚫 – Toxicity
It is not pet friendly.
What does this plant will bring to you ?
- It is an air purifying plant
- Its leaves are used as insect repellant
When do you need to repot a plant quickly before spring ?
The 3 signs a plant needs to a bigger pot :
- Roots grow out of the drain hole, they are tightly packed into the container or grow out the top of the soil.
- You watered your plant couple days ago and your plant still seems thirsty.
- The leaves are turning yellow. Be careful overwatering your plant can also lead to this problem.
The kind of problems that you might meet ?
Currently, I am facing a problem with my ficus. Two weeks ago, I decided to repot it because its pot was too small. Since then, all its leaves are falling off.
I have done some research about this topic. It seems I have to wait. When you move your ficus or you repot it, your plant needs to adapt to its new spot.
Tell me in the comment below, how do you take care of your benjamina or if you’re up to get one !
© Mégane POLGE
Plantlovers : one plant a week 
Hi Megane ! I have the exact same plant in my bedroom. Indeed, it doesn’t need lots of water or sun so it’s easy to manage. But I have a cat, so can you please tell me why it’s not pet-friendly? Xoxo
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Hi Marie. Thank you for commenting. It is not pet friendly because if your cat eat the leaves. The leaves of the ficus contain a sap that can be very irritating to cats and dogs. According to the ASPCA, contact with the skin can cause dermatitis, while ingestion can cause oral irritation, salivation and vomiting. But as you know I have a kitten and it never tried to eat it so I think they kind of know it.
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Hello Mégane ! When did you get yours? How big is it? 🌱
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Your blog is really aesthetically pleasing, it really is a pleasure to watch! Unfortunately I have a cat so the benjamina would not be a great choice for me…
But I could use some tips for other plants, I have killed so much of them without knowing why! I think your article made me realize something: my plants always get yellow leaves and I thought it was because of dehydration. You said that it might also be overhydration, and I didn’t know about this! I might try again with this in mind… Thank you very much!
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Hello Claire ! Thank you for visiting and your comment ! I used to killed some of my plant too because of overwatering them. The best advice I can give you is to only water when the soil is dry. In my next post, I’ll tell you about a special trick I use to control watering!
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Hello Megane,
I very much appreciate your blog, very peaceful.
I want to buy a ficus exactly like you.
Do you have any idea where I can find a beautiful ficus ?
Thx
Ulysse
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