How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Ficus ‘Audrey’

When you are on the lookout for a new houseplant, the Ficus ‘Audrey’ may be a great choice for you. It’s related to other ficus species, such as the rubber tree/rubber plant (Ficus elastica), fiddle leaf fig tree (Ficus lyrata), and the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina). The ficus is the national tree of India. They consider it sacred, playing a big part in their myths and legends. 

It’s also known as a banyan tree and can be grown as an outdoor plant – or an indoor plant if you live in a cooler climate. Botanically its name is Ficus benghalensis, and it’s a fairly easy plant to grow indoors compared to other trees in the ficus family.    

Most of this guide will focus on growing Ficus ‘Audrey’ as a houseplant, though keep in mind it also makes a lovely outdoor plant if you live in USDA growing zones 10-12. Let’s discuss how to provide the best care for Ficus ‘Audrey’, including any growing problems you may encounter. 

What is Ficus ‘Audrey’

Ficus benghalensis is the botanical name for Ficus ‘Audrey’. In the wild, the Ficus ‘Audrey’ tree can grow to 100 feet tall with a huge canopy coverage. It’s a beautiful tree and one that ‌grows well as a houseplant. Even inside, it can grow up to six feet tall and has a three-foot spread, so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of space for it to thrive.

Native Area

Ficus benghalensis common names are banyan tree, strangler fig, ficus tree, Indian banyan, and Bengal fig. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and is the national tree of India. Its natural habitat is the tropical rainforest.

Characteristics

Ficus ‘Audrey’ is similar in appearance to the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) and the rubber tree. Like other ficus trees, it has oval-shaped glossy deep green leaves with a smooth edge. Deep branching veins in the leaves contain a sap that’s irritating to the skin and toxic if ingested. The fruit is very technically edible, but barely so; it’s unpalatable, and we don’t recommend consuming it.

The light-colored trunk and stems are smooth. Ficus ‘Audrey’ in the wild has long aerial roots that provide support for the tree. As a houseplant, you won’t see this feature since it remains small. 

It can live 20+ years as a houseplant, depending on the care it receives. Luckily, it’s easier to care for compared to other ficus plants. You’ll notice the most growth from your Ficus ‘Audrey’ during the spring and summer months, slowing down in the winter.   

Planting

To plant a Ficus ‘Audrey’ find a pot with drainage holes and fill it with a high-quality potting mix. Transfer it from its nursery pot into the new pot by gently loosening the roots and placing it in the new container, ensuring the root ball is level with the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting, allowing excess water to drain out.

Keep the plant in a warm space with stable humidity, and occasionally wipe the leaves to remove dust and promote healthy growth.

How to Grow

Ficus ‘Audrey’ is one of the easiest ficus plants to care for. The fiddle leaf fig and rubber plant require more attention, while this one is more straightforward. This next section will go over the requirements to be successful. 

Light

Ficus ‘Audrey’ prefers indirect light from either an east-facing window or a west-facing window, so it receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. Direct sunlight can scorch the foliage, and it will suffer in low light. 

Since it is native to the tropics, thriving in USDA hardiness zone 10-12, it will do well at indoor temperatures greater than 70°F (21°C). It will acclimate to lower temperatures, but any temperature lower than 60°F (16°C) will kill it. Also, keep it away from drafts. 

Water

Like most ficus trees, Ficus ‘Audrey’ doesn’t like to be overwatered. Drainage holes at the bottom of the pot will help remove excess water. Provide water once the top two to three inches of the soil is dry. Water consistently in the spring and summer to keep the lower soil moist and allow for small periods of underwatering to prevent it from becoming soggy. 

During the winter months, you can taper off the amount of water since it is more dormant. Spritzing the leaves with water or sitting the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water will help this tropical indoor tree feel at home.  

Soil

The best soil to use when potting your Ficus ‘Audrey’ is a well-draining soil with perlite added. The preferred soil pH is 7.0-7.5. Well-drained soil prevents the roots from becoming waterlogged, and the perlite provides breathing space to keep the roots healthy. It’s important to have drainage holes to remove excess water from the soil, too. 

Fertilizing

In the spring, fertilize your ficus with a balanced granular slow-release fertilizer. This will provide plenty of nutrients through the growing season and encourage healthy growth. You could also use an organic liquid fertilizer once per month during the growing seasons. During the fall and winter, there is no need to fertilize.

Maintenance

Pruning will keep your Ficus ‘Audrey’ at a manageable level since it has the potential to grow tall. It will also help stabilize it and provide a pleasing fullness. In the early spring, remove any leggy or lopsided stems. Pruning the top encourages bushier growth. You may want to wear gloves while pruning to protect your hands from the thin latex-like sap that can be irritating to the skin.  

Ficus ‘Audrey’ does not require regular repotting. This ficus prefers to be a little root-bound. Repot every two to three years or when you see roots coming from the bottom of the container. Spring is the best time to repot. 

Choose a pot size two to three inches larger than the one your plant is currently in. Place it in the new pot with fresh potting soil and water well. If you don’t want your ficus tree to grow larger, simply cut off some of the larger roots and put them back in the original container with fresh soil. 

Propagation

Stem cuttings are by far the most popular method of propagating. Some collect seeds from an outdoor tree to propagate Ficus ‘Audrey’, but you need to be where they grow naturally. This is what keeps it rare in the trade. However, we will focus on stem cuttings to get a new one.  

Take a stem cutting using sharp pruners, choosing a branch that has a few leaves. Dip the end in rooting hormone, place it in a moist potting medium, and lightly cover it with plastic wrap. Proper light during this time is indirect but sunny. Alternatively, place the end in water, wait for roots to develop, and set in moist soil. Wear protective gloves to prevent getting the irritating sticky sap on your skin. Getting roots to form can take up to three to four weeks for both methods.

Common Problems

As mentioned earlier in the article, Ficus ‘Audrey’ care is fairly straightforward. However, there are a few growing problems, and pests and diseases to watch out for. We’ll discuss troubleshooting methods in the next section.

Growing Problems

Common growing problems are yellowing or browning of the leaves, which will then fall off. Yellowing leaves are the result of overwatering, and browning leaves are caused by not enough water or humidity. Water when the top two to three inches of soil are dry, and spritz the leaves with water to emulate a humid environment. Planting in well-drained potting soil is a good practice for preventing problems. 

Pests

Common pests when growing this tropical plant are spider mites and soil gnats. Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) feed on the sap, causing the leaves to wilt and die. A large infestation can kill it if left untreated. These tiny arachnids look like tiny white to almost transparent dots, and they hang out on the underside of the leaf. You may also notice fine silk threads on your ficus.

Neem oil is effective at killing these pests, and you can prevent them by not allowing the potting medium to become too dry and dusty as this attracts the mites. 

Soil gnats (also known as fungus gnats) will show up when there is plenty of moisture, so over-watering your ficus is the primary culprit. The adult gnat lays the eggs in the dirt, and once the larvae hatch, they feed on the roots. In two weeks, they emerge as an adult. 

You’ll want to stop this life cycle as soon as possible to get rid of them for good. Yellow note cards covered in sticky glue will trap the gnats. Keep these in place for a few weeks to allow the current larvae time to mature into adults so you can also catch them.

Finally, fruit flies may go after the unpalatable fruit of this fig relative. Remove fallen fruit from the soil around your tree.

Diseases

There are two diseases to be mindful of when growing Ficus ‘Audrey’ plants. The first one is root rot. This disease is caused by overwatering or placing in too large of a pot where the roots can’t absorb all the water. The roots break down due to lack of oxygen, and it slowly dies. Symptoms are stunted growth, yellowing of the leaves, and leaf loss. 

The best way to treat this problem is to remove it from the pot and snip off any mushy roots. Consider your type and size of pot. Choose one that isn’t overly large and has good drainage holes. Repot using fresh, well-draining soil. If overwatering was the culprit, consider changing your watering habits. 

The second disease is a bacterial infection called bacterial leaf spot. Excess moisture, poor air circulation, and too high humidity or moisture on the leaves is the culprit. Signs are small brown or yellow spots on the leaves that slowly spread. It can also affect the overall growth as well as new growth. 

To treat this, remove affected leaves. Certain kinds of bio fungicides made from beneficial bacteria like Bacillus subtilis can be used. Monitor your watering schedule and take care not to overwater. Ensure your ficus receives plenty of air flow. 

Frequently Asked Questions