Ficus Tree

There are over 800 species of trees that belong to the genus of figs. These plants are native to Asia, Africa as well as America. Ficus benjamina is one of the most popular indoor plants. However, this plant is known for its notorious nature of being difficult to grow and leaves turning yellow and falling off. However, a bit of care will help reduce these problems and leave you with a flourishing indoor plant.

Information
This tree is native to regions that have a tropical or temperate climate. They are also known as Benjamin's Fig, and Weeping Fig. The name weeping fig have a possible reason for naming it so. The first one being the drooping leaves, that makes it look as if weeping. Next, this is one indoor tree that will make any owner weep with grief. This is because it's common for the dropping leaves to fall the minute there is a change in conditions. This makes it look like a bare tree without a single leaf. You can however, take good care and avoid these complications.

How to Take Care of the Tree
These trees are fussy plants that easily get stressed even if you move them from your living room to the bedroom. When you go over to the nursery, make sure you select a straight trunk plant that has no scars or warping. It should have green leaves with no signs of browning or yellowing. The soil should be moist and there should be no bugs present on them. If you observe a recent loss of leaves, it means the plant has been under stress.

When you bring home the tree, place it in a pot that is about 2 inches wider than its previous container. You need to place the tree in an area where it receives bright sunlight in the day. However, do not leave your plant in full sun all day long. Keep the temperature of the room around 65 to 75 ºF. Do not place the tree near an air conditioner or heater vent or even a large window. This is because the change in temperature throughout the day is not healthy for your plant. Water it when the top layer of the soil is dry. The soil should be kept moist not wet. Control the humidity and mist the plant once or twice in a day. This should be done, especially when the plant is still young. Humidity is important as the plant is used to the humid conditions of its native regions.

You will notice the plant tends to grow faster in spring and summer. This is the time when you should provide the plant with normal water, fertilizer and sunlight. At nighttime, the temperature should not fall below 50 ºC. A plant kept outdoors will help it bask in natural humidity and enjoy the bright sun. The growth tends to decrease in winter. Thus, provide the plant with less water and fertilizer as its growth has slowed down.

Under Stress
However, you should watch out for certain signs of stress to avoid leaf loss. When your plant begins to lose leaves, it indicates some kind of stress. The plant may lose more than half of its leaves due to changes in the environment, temperature and watering. If your leaves are turning yellow before they drop it indicates over watering. Drooping leaves indicate lack of vital nutrients and need for more fertilizers.

How to Trim the Tree
Whether you grow the tree outdoors or indoors, you need to give it an occasional trim. You need to trim the plant to control its shape and spread. You should trim any damaged, diseased or dead part. The cuts should be made on the outside area of the branch collar. If you cut the main branch, it will help prevent spread of diseases. Pruning individual branches will help you maintain the shape of the tree.

Diseases
These diseases occur due to unhealthy growing conditions. This includes improper temperature and water conditions. Most of the diseases are caused by bacterial and fungal agents. Some of the diseases include:

• Crown Gall
• Xanthomonas
• Anthracnose
• Botrytis Blight
• Corynespora
• Leaf Spot
• Sooty Mold

Most of these diseases can be treated with the help of fungicides and bactericides. It is also prone to insect infestation like aphids, scales, psyllids, mealy bugs, white flies, mires, etc. You need to spray the plant with insecticides to get rid of the bugs.

Although, you may face many problems, it remains a popular houseplant. The leaves are extremely sensitive to even small changes in light. The minute the changes occur, the leaves fall off replacing the old ones with new that have adapted to the new light conditions.