Licensed representative photographPlant Guide
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina
Other known names: Benjamin Fig
A fine-leaved tropical fig that may shed leaves after abrupt changes in light, temperature, or root-zone moisture.
Published source-backed guide. This guide meets Lorekeeper's published source, care-completeness, safety, and identity checks. It is source-backed, not an expert-review claim.
Toxic. Latex sap may irritate skin and is unsafe for pets to chew.
Care
- Light
- Bright indirect light; acclimate before direct sun.
- Water
- Water when the upper root zone dries and the pot lightens.
- Growing medium
- A well-drained general container mix.
- Feeding
- Feed lightly during active growth.
- Temperature
- 60-85 F; protect from cold drafts.
- Humidity
- Average household humidity.
- When to consider watering
- Use observed moisture, pot weight, light, and season instead of a fixed weekday.
- Watering method
- Water when the upper root zone dries and the pot lightens. Wet the root ball evenly and never leave drainage trapped in a cachepot.
- Repotting
- Repot only when roots, drainage, stability, or broken-down medium justify it; increase the pot size modestly.
- Pruning
- Remove damaged growth with clean tools and avoid unnecessary pruning during stress.
- Beginner note
- Treat reminders as prompts to observe. Record what you found, then complete, snooze, pause, or adjust the care item.
Observe the plant and growing medium before acting. A reminder is a prompt to check, not an automatic instruction to water.
Characteristics
A fine-leaved tropical fig that may shed leaves after abrupt changes in light, temperature, or root-zone moisture.
Names & botanical identity
- Accepted name
- Ficus benjamina
- Plant family
- Moraceae
- Plant group
- Indoor Trees
- Other known names
- Benjamin Fig
- Safety
- Toxic
Latex sap may irritate skin and is unsafe for pets to chew.
Growth
- Growth habit
- Woody evergreen tree with arching branches.
- Mature size
- 2–10 ft tall indoors
- Native range
- South and Southeast Asia through northern Australia.
- Temperature
- 60-85 F; protect from cold drafts.
- Humidity
- Average household humidity.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Propagation
Root stem cuttings or use air layering.
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Problems to recognize
These links describe possible or look-alike relationships, not a diagnosis. Start with visible evidence and rule out alternatives.
- Excess moisture / root stress: Leaf drop can reflect root stress, cold, or relocation; inspect before acting.
- Spider mites: Dense foliage can conceal mites on leaf undersides.
- Mealybugs: Stem joints and branch forks can conceal insects.
History & lineage
Ficus benjamina is a tropical tree widely trained as an indoor specimen, bonsai subject, and landscape tree in frost-free regions.
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