The ficus is a tropical tree that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. This plant has large leaves and can grow to a height of 10 feet or more. Ficus are easy to grow, but they do need just the right amount of water to stay healthy and beautiful.
How Often to Water Ficus?
Ficus grow best in moist but well-drained soil, so you don’t want to over-water them. Water them only when the top 1 inch of soil is dry, which means watering every 7-10 days during the growing season (when it’s warm outside). If your ficus is indoors, it will need more water than an outdoor one because your home’s heating system will dry out the soil faster than normal.
If you’re not sure whether or not your ficus needs water, stick your finger into the soil up to 1 inch deep and see if it feels damp. If you feel moisture, wait another day before giving it more water; if there’s no moisture at all, give your ficus some water immediately!
Ficus Water Requirements
Ficus trees have very specific water requirements and should not be overwatered. They are tropical plants that prefer soil that is slightly moist but well-drained. Ficus trees will grow best in bright, indirect light and outdoors. Indoors, they should be placed in a sunny window where they can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
The best way to water ficus is by misting the soil with water twice weekly or soaking the soil in buckets for five minutes before watering. The leaves of ficus trees will turn brown if they are over-watered and wilted leaves indicate that the plant needs a drink.
Indoor Ficus Water Requirements: Ficus trees prefer to be watered once every seven days while growing indoors. The soil should be kept evenly moist but not sopping wet at all times. If you notice your plant starting to wilt, it is time to give it some more water!
Outdoor Ficus Water Requirements: Outdoor ficus trees require more frequent watering than indoor plants as they do not have access to as much light as their indoor counterparts do. You may need to water your outdoor ficus tree every five days during periods of hot weather or when there are no rain showers for an extended period of time.
How To Tell It’s Time to Water Your Ficus
Ficus trees are easy to care for, but they do have their needs. If you’re not sure how to tell if your ficus needs water, it could be a sign that you need to repot the tree or change its potting soil.
If you want to make sure your ficus is getting the right amount of water, check out these signs:
The leaves are turning brown or yellowing. The leaves on some varieties of ficus will turn brown when they dry out. If you notice this happening, give your ficus a good soak and see if it goes away. If not, it might be time for a repotting or new potting soil.
The leaves are curling up at the edges or dropping off altogether. Drooping leaves are another sign that your ficus needs more water. Give it a good soak and see if the problem goes away. It may also be time for a repotting or new potting soil if this happens often or if there are other signs of root rot or overwatering as well.
How to Water Ficus
Ficus trees are not fussy about watering. They need to be watered regularly, but you can’t overwater them.
Ficus trees should be watered deeply, but infrequently. Watering less frequently will make the soil more compact and less able to absorb water. Watering more frequently dilutes nutrients in the soil.
Water your ficus tree when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch or when drops of water collected from the bottom of a pot placed on a flat surface roll off slowly (like syrup). If you use a commercial moisture meter, it will indicate when the plant needs watering by changing color from green to yellow as the roots become dry
When watering your ficus tree, place it in a sink or bucket and allow water to run freely through the soil until it comes out of all holes in the bottom of the pot. This ensures that air is circulating within the pot and that all parts are wetted thoroughly.
How Much Water Do Ficus Need?
Ficus plants are very tolerant of drought conditions, but they do need water on a regular basis. They should be watered thoroughly until water runs out of their drain holes then allowed to dry out before watering again. A good rule of thumb is to check your ficus every day for signs of wilting or drying out. If it does begin to show signs of wilting, you should water it immediately.
If you find that your plant is not doing well at all, it may have been overwatered in the past and its roots are rotting away or dying off from lack of oxygen. To remedy this situation, simply repot your plant into fresh soil and let it sit out of direct sunlight for a few weeks while its roots recover their health.
Signs of Excessive Ficus Watering
Ficus trees are prone to root rot, which is caused by overwatering. The signs of excessive ficus tree watering include:
Leaves that turn brown and fall off. This is a sign of water stress and nutrient deficiency.
Leaves with yellow spots or brown edges around the veins. These leaves are showing signs of premature leaf drop, which is also a result of overwatering.
Wilting leaves. If your ficus tree’s leaves are wilting, it means that its roots have been deprived of oxygen due to excessive moisture in the soil.
The roots growing out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot are white or pale green instead of dark brown or black. This means that there is too much water in the soil and not enough oxygen for them to breathe properly.
If you see any of these signs on your ficus tree’s leaves or branches, you should immediately stop watering it so as not to further damage its roots
Final Thoughts
Ficus trees need plenty of water and humidity to thrive. They like to be watered every day or every other day in hot weather, especially if the soil is dry. Water them less often during cooler weather when they are not actively growing.
It’s important to keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy or wet; avoid overwatering your plant so that it doesn’t get root rot from standing in water for too long. The top layer of soil should feel moist but not wet, just like a wrung-out sponge. If you have clay pots or planters, make sure they drain well so excess moisture doesn’t build up around the roots of your ficus tree.
