Plant Care Ficus Microcarpa

Ficus Microcarpa

4.6 out of 5 (177 experiences)

Ficus Microcarpa has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Ficus Microcarpa has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Ficus Microcarpa

Did you know that all plants in the Ficus genus produce figs? In fact, the word Ficus quite literally means figs! Even cooler, all figs are pollinated by tiny wasps that use the fruits as a safe place to raise their young. šŸ Ficus plants also contain latex which emerges as a milky sap when twigs are broken. This latex makes them toxic, so be sure to keep a close eye out if you have children or pets!

Taxonomy

Ficus microcarpa
Ficus
Moraceae
Rosales

Also known as

Ficus Ginseng, Ficus Ginseng, Chinese Banyan, Malayan Banyan, Curtain Fig and Indian Laurel

How to care for Ficus Microcarpa

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Ficus Microcarpa

Water needs for Ficus Microcarpa
0.5 cups
every 9

Ficus Microcarpa needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Ficus Microcarpa

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Ficus Ginseng in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Ficus Microcarpa: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Ficus Microcarpa love being close to bright, sunny windows šŸ˜Ž.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Ficus Microcarpa does not tolerate low-light šŸš«.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ficus Microcarpa in your home šŸ”.

šŸŖ“ Nutrients

How to fertilize Ficus Microcarpa

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ficus Microcarpa: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil itā€™s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Ficus Microcarpa after it doubles in size or once a yearā€”whichever comes first.

Browse #Ficus
šŸ’” FAQs
ā­ Difficulty Level

Ficus Microcarpa is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Ficus Ginseng →

Common Ficus Ginseng Problems →


šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Ficus Microcarpa prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Ficus Ginseng Water Frequency →


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Ficus Microcarpa requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.

Ficus Ginseng Light Requirements →

Ficus Ginseng Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


šŸ¶ šŸˆ šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Ficus Microcarpa is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Ficus Ginseng Toxicity to Humans →


šŸ’Ø Humidity

Ficus Microcarpa prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Ficus Ginseng Humidity Needs →


šŸŖ“ Soil

Ficus Microcarpa does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot Ficus Ginseng →


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Ficus Microcarpa should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as itā€™s refreshed yearly, you shouldnā€™t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


ā„ļø Dormancy

Itā€™s common for Ficus Microcarpa to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


šŸŒŽ Native Region

Ficus Microcarpa is native to worldwide Tropics.


šŸŒø Flowers

Yes, you may see your Ficus Microcarpa bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.


ā¬†ļø ā¬‡ļø Growth Pattern

Ficus Microcarpa will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

How and When to Prune Ficus Ginseng →


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Ficus Microcarpa can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Ficus Ginseng Temperature Tolerance →


šŸŒ± Propagation

Ficus Microcarpa can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2ā€ long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Ficus Ginseng →


šŸ‚ Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves arenā€™t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plantā€™s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, itā€™s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ficus Microcarpa, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


šŸ§ Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Ficus Microcarpa

Ficus Microcarpa

Ficus Microcarpa


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Ficus Microcarpa has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 108
Ficus Microcarpa has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 55
Ficus Microcarpa has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 32
Ficus Microcarpa has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 20
Ficus Microcarpa has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 18
Ficus Microcarpa has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 8
Ficus Microcarpa has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 3
@ExactPlumtree avatar
@@ExactPlumtree
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 36 XP
globe Hernando, FL
02/15/2022

very easy to take care of. a good starter plant.

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@LittleDreamer25 avatar
@@LittleDreamer25
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 305 XP
globe Sparta, WI
02/14/2022

I didnā€™t think about how hard it would be to own one, but Iā€™m excited and up for the challenge!

Christel avatar
@Christel
leaf-1 45 Plants
xp 344 XP
01/31/2022

I made a Bonsai tree. Itā€™s ower 20 year old

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
@babigrimesz avatar
@@babigrimesz
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 165 XP
globe Sale, England
01/24/2022

difficult to look after i think .. :/

@ChummyBonsi avatar
@@ChummyBonsi
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 32 XP
12/25/2021

I love my tree

Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
Madi avatar
@Madi
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 572 XP
12/19/2021

I love my bonsai; however, it is a little picky and difficult to care for. When I first got it, it came in a plastic pot which seemed to work fine but I always repot my plants in terracotta pots so after a month or so I did! It worked charms and was doing really well and was SUPER lush and fullā€¦ Then out of nowhere it started dropping leaves and browning rapidly. It was losing 20 ish leaves a day and eventually it only had about 10 leaves left. I was super bummed and thought I killed it, but I placed it next to a growing light in hopes that would help, which is did!! Not only has it made a comeback, but it is now thriving. Ficus ginseng are tricky little guys, but worth it.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
Cheryl avatar
@Cheryl
leaf-1 21 Plants
xp 1,303 XP
12/12/2021

Bonsai 5 yrs old growing fast

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Icecreemman100 avatar
@@Icecreemman100
leaf-1 140 Plants
xp 14,124 XP
globe Eau Claire, WI
12/12/2021

This is the perfect starting plant, will survive almost anything.

Survivor Survivor
@sweet_tofu avatar
@@sweet_tofu
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 801 XP
11/13/2021

grows very easily and requires just a watering every now and then! great for people only just starting with plants

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@Mossinmysocks avatar
@@Mossinmysocks
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 34 XP
globe Willington, CT
11/10/2021

Iā€™m going to admit Iā€™m not the best plant parent at times and often I forget to water my ficus : ( But, he always powers through and continues to grow and prosper. As long as your little buddy is getting lots of sunlight heā€™s a survivor and super easy to care for!

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
@AlliesWateringLife avatar
@@AlliesWateringLife
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 161 XP
10/31/2021

Very pretty. For any of those tree-lovers, this plant would be for you. Itā€™s like having a miniature tree! I love it!

@EliSaavedra avatar
@@EliSaavedra
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 490 XP
globe Homewood, IL
10/26/2021

Bought it full of leaves and green then they all started dying, this was two months ago, and now I see new buds and looks like the plant is coming back

Survivor Survivor
@faithiweddle avatar
@@faithiweddle
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 3,834 XP
10/10/2021

He is losing his leaves quickly!

@Chew_becca avatar
@@Chew_becca
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 171 XP
globe Allendale Charter Township, MI
10/09/2021

A fan favorite

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Earthling.olive avatar
@@Earthling.olive
leaf-1 30 Plants
xp 602 XP
10/05/2021

So far I really love my ficus! Iā€™m still learning how to take care of it and so far I havenā€™t had any problems that Iā€™m aware of. Honestly so pretty and I canā€™t wait for it to grow big and strong šŸ˜

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@rosie avatar
@@rosie
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 125 XP
09/20/2021

they are VERY forgiving if you over/under water and also look very nice! although they are on the expensive side i donā€™t regret getting one at all

Survivor Survivor
@laj551 avatar
@@laj551
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 306 XP
globe Goliad, TX
09/19/2021

itā€™s very pretty but if you are a day late watering it the leaves will start falling off pretty quickly

Browns easily Browns easily
@NellBell85 avatar
@@NellBell85
leaf-1 20 Plants
xp 495 XP
globe Boulder, CO
09/17/2021

I got this little guy recently bc I love the feature on the trunk that reminds me of an elfin face. Itā€™s easy to care for, & a nice bonsai. I plan to let grow for awhile & then style it as a bonsai in s few years. I would absolutely recommend this as for anyone, as it is easy to keep happy inside year round.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@plantsrlife avatar
@@plantsrlife
leaf-1 21 Plants
xp 1,001 XP
globe Grand Junction, CO
09/14/2021

Mine just happens to be too cuteā€¦ that being said, I think they like to drinkšŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø seems they brown more if I let them get too dry, havenā€™t had it very long.

Browns easily Browns easily
Emmanuelle avatar
@Emmanuelle
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 46 XP
globe Sept-Ǝles, QuĆ©bec
09/09/2021

Easy to grow

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