How to Grow and Care for Ficus Audrey

Ficus Audrey Care

Ficus Audrey usually isn’t considered a beginner plant, as it requires some specific attention and care. Proper light and watering are the most important elements to get right when it comes to keeping this tree happy indoors. It also benefits from regular pruning.

Light

Choose a location that receives several hours of bright, indirect light, such as a south or west-facing window. This indoor tree can tolerate some direct morning and evening sun. Just be sure to avoid extended periods of direct sunlight during the afternoon as it may burn the leaves.

Soil

Plant ficus Audrey in a moist but well-draining soil mixture. A combination of indoor potting soil, perlite, and sand is a good option for this tree.

Water

Allow the top two to three inches of soil to dry between waterings and then water thoroughly. Ficus Audrey does best in consistently moist soil and should never be allowed to dry out completely. Use a moisture meter to help you decide when to water if you are unsure.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to India, ficus Audrey is accustomed to warm, humid conditions. It does well in typical household temperatures, just ensure that it is not exposed to temperatures below 65 degrees.

Standard household humidity levels are also usually fine, although be sure to keep this tropical plant away from drafty windows or ACheat vents that may dry out the air around it.

If your ficus is showing signs of drying out (such as browning edges on the leaves) placing a humidifier nearby or moving the plant into a humid room such as a bathroom or laundry room will help.

Fertilizer

Ficus Audrey appreciates regular fertilizing during its active growing period. Fertilize once a month from the early spring to early fall with a balanced liquid fertilizer. You can also add natural fertilizers such as compost, worm castings, or boneblood meal to the soil of.

Pruning

Since ficus Audrey can grow up to 10 feet tall indoors, pruning is a necessary part of caring for this indoor tree. Not only will pruning help to control the size of your plant, but it also encourages the tree to branch more vigorously.

It is best to prune in the spring or summer months when ficus Audrey is actively growing. Before you start, make sure that you lay down a protective sheet below the plant. Similar to its cousin the rubber tree, pruning causes this ficus to expels a thin latex-like sap that is extremely sticky.

These indoor trees do not need vigorous pruning every year, but pruning a few branches will control the shape and encourage a fuller appearance. Target any branches that are leggy or give your plant a lopsided appearance.

If your tree doesn’t have any branches yet and is just a single tall stalk, you can cut the top of the stalk off wherever you would like branching to start.

Propagating Ficus Audrey

In the wild, ficus Audrey propagates readily through seed and offshoots, but indoors it is easiest to propagate this tree by stem cuttings. Lay down a sheet and wear protective gloves before getting started to avoid getting the Audrey’s sticky sap on yourself and the surfaces around you.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Identify a spot along the stem that you would like to propagate. Ensure that each stem cutting will have at least two to three leaves.
2. Using a pair of sharp, sterilized pruning shears or scissors, cut the stem to separate it from the main plant.
3. Prepare a small pot with well-draining potting soil and moisten it slightly with a spray bottle.
4. Add a rooting hormone to the end of each cutting and push the end of the cutting into the soil mix.
5. Place a plastic bag over the pot to create a greenhouse-like environment and put the cutting(s) in a location that receives bright, indirect light. Water as needed to ensure that the soil stays moist.
6. After three to four weeks, roots should begin to grow, and you can remove the plastic bag.

Potting and Repotting Ficus Audrey

Ficus Audrey does not require regular repotting and does well in the same container for two to three years. It doesn’t mind being a bit root-bound and should only be repotted once you see signs that the roots are outgrowing the container, such as roots growing through the pot’s drainage holes.

Once you have determined it is time to repot, it is best to do so in the spring or summer months. Choose a new pot for that is around two to three inches wider.

Remove the tree from its previous container and gently loosen some of the old soil around the roots before moving it to its new pot. Add fresh well-draining soil to the pot, keeping the rootball at the same level as it was before. Water thre freshly planted ficus Audrey well.

If you are trying to control the size of of the plant and do not want it to grow any taller, you can choose to refresh the soil but not increase the pot size. You will need to prune back the roots at this time, so the tree can continue to grow in its original container.

Common Pests 

Ficus Audrey is prone to sap-sucking pests that love its sticky sap. Keep an eye out for pests like mealybugs, scale, and aphids.

Although they aren’t a sap-sucking pest, fungus gnats can also be a problem as they love to lay their eggs in moist soil. Check for pests as part of your regular care routine in order to catch potential infestations early.

Common Problems with Ficus Audrey

The most common problems with growing a ficus Audrey indoors usually come from improper watering. Compared to other ficus trees, the Audrey is relatively resilient to some occasional over- or under-watering. However, it will suffer over the long term if it is not cared for properly.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellow leaves can be the result of a couple of different problems. First, if you notice one or two older leaves yellowing and falling off this could just be a natural part of the tree’s life cycle. It is normal for older leaves to fall off eventually.

If you notice newer or an unusual number of leaves turning yellow and falling off, this is likely due to either over- or under-watering.

Dropping Leaves

While ficus Audrey is less fussy than its relative, the fiddle leaf fig, they both share the habit of dramatically dropping leaves if their watering schedule is off. If your ficus Audrey is dropping leaves it is most likely because it is under-watered.

These trees can tolerate a short period of drought after each watering, they should not dry out completely and will start to drop leaves if they dry out too much. A good watering should stop leaves from dropping.