You might have seen the Mile Marker boards that parents create for their children – they highlight things like the height, weight, likes, and dislikes of their child at various stages of life. We at Nick’s Garden Center think Plant Parents should have something like this for their Plant Babies as well! Our Plant Parent Chalkboard Photos and blogs will provide you with an overview of what each plant needs in order to “grow up” happy and healthy!
Any Plant Parent will recognize the family of Ficus. The most popular Ficus plant is probably Ficus Lyrata – or Fiddle Leaf Fig. Ficus Lyrata is known for being difficult to care for, but Ficus Audrey is a little more forgiving. This member of the Moraceae family is the official tree of India and can grow to be 100 feet tall, and acres in width! However indoors you’re likely to see about one tenth of that growth, which is still quite impressive at up to 10 feet in height.
Ficus Audrey, or Ficus Benghalensis, grows on a trunk that eventually becomes a whitish color, and has leaves similar to Fiddle Leaf Fig, but rounded instead of shaped like a fiddle. Its foliage is dark green with neon green veins. It does occasionally flower, but its flowers are small and not significant.
Water Ficus Audrey with the top inch of soil is dry. Try not to over water in order to prevent damage to roots and to discourage development of pests like gnats. Use a soil that will stay evenly moist, and make sure your pot has good drainage. This is especially important with a plant that will get as big as Ficus Audrey will. With smaller plants it’s easy to gently tip an over-watered pot and allow excess water ro run out, but that gets rather difficult with a ten foot tree. Use a moisture meter to check on the saturation of the soil at the bottom of the pot before watering, and use the Drench and Drain method of watering.
Ficus Audrey needs bright indirect light, but she will let you know when she is getting too much light. Watch for round brown spots on the leaves, as this will indicate leaf burn which means the light it’s getting is too strong. Ficus Audrey is a good communicator and will let you know when it’s unhappy… basically by throwing its leaves like a toddler throws a temper tantrum. If your Ficus Audrey is throwing leaves, check on your moisture level and light strength. Make sure to rotate Ficus Audrey when the right light level is achieved in order to encourage even growth.
Keep Ficus Audrey way from small humans and animals as the sap inside the tree can cause irritation and could be toxic if ingested. It’s also important to make sure that Ficus Audrey is kept safe from drafts and vents as she likes an even climate. Keep Ficus Audrey in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to keep her from throwing her leaves. When she’s happy, Ficus Audrey will return the favor by helping to keep the air in your space clean.
Because Ficus Audrey has some demanding requirements, we think she’s best suited for Plant Parents who have some experience with picky plants, or are ready to level up in their plant care efforts.
Don’t forget to download our Plant Parent Chalkboard image for future quick reference!