Ficus benghalensis Audrey Care Indoors; Watering, Light, Soil, Fertilizer, Problems
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Ficus Audrey grows best in bright light with some sunlight, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Ficus benghalensis Audrey also called Ficus Audrey, Bengal Fig, Banyan Fig, Banyan Tree, Indian Banyan or Strangler Fig is among the fast-growing Ficus varieties. It bears green, oval leaves with a fuzzy surface and a smooth light-colored trunk.
Bengal Fig has a high tolerance to drought and frosty conditions. It is considered much easier to grow indoors than its cousin Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig).
Indian Banyan is the National Tree of India where it is considered sacred as it is believed that Buddha received enlightment while under this tree.
Temples are often built near a Banyan Tree and it also provides shade in hot climates. The tree can grow very huge in its natural habitat.
Botanical name: Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey'
Family: Moraceae
Common names: Ficus Audrey, Bengal Fig, Banyan Fig, Banyan Tree, Indian Banyan, Strangler Fig
Origin
Ficus benghalensis Audrey is native to the Indian Subcontinent in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan where it grows as an epiphyte on trees but ends up suffocating its host hence the common name, 'Strangler Fig'.
Size
Banyan Fig can grow to a height of 65-100 feet and can fill acres of land in width in its native habitat. Indoors the growth can be controlled by pruning to 5-10 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. It is one of the best tree-like plants for the home.
Is Ficus Audrey poisonous?
Yes, Ficus Audrey is toxic to humans and pets as outlined by Pet Poison Helpline. The plant produces a milky white latex which is an irritant to the eyes and the skin. If ingested it can cause irritation in the mouth, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pains.
Where to Buy
Are you looking to add Ficus Audrey to your plant collection? You may get them from Etsy (Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).
Caring for Ficus benghalensis Audrey Indoors
To care for Ficus Audrey indoors, give it bright light with 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon sunshine, warmth of 16-260C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Bengal Fig requires regular pruning to keep it neat, reduce pests and diseases and also encourage a bushy growth. Repotting is only needed when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
How often shoild you water Ficus Audrey?
Do not water Ficus Audrey on a schedule to avoid either underwatering or overwatering as both negatively affect plant growth.
Water your Ficus Audrey liberally in spring and summer until water comes out through the drainage holes. Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting and yellowing leaves.
Cut down on watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is reduced at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely as it can result in wilting and drooping leaves.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent sogginess as it can lead to leaf drop and root-rot and death of the plant.
Use tepid (room temperature water) to prevent stunted growth and leaf drop. Make sure that the water is chlorine-free to avoid getting brown spots on the leaves.
Light Requirements
Does Ficus Audrey need sunlight?
Yes. Ficus Audrey needs bright light with 4-6 hours of morning or late afternoon direct sunlight. Keep it away from hot direct sunlight to prevent scorching; brown, crispy spots on the leaves.
Bengal Fig can adapt to lower light conditions but it will grow much slower. Too little light will cause yellowing and leaf drop. If the natural lighting is too low, use full spectrum grow lights to increase it.
For uniform growth and avoid leggy growth, give the pot a quarter turn monthly, to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
Temperature & Humidity
Ficus Audrey thrives in a warmth of 16-260C. Keep it away from drafts to prevent temperature flactuations which can lead to stunted growth, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.
Bengal Fig prefers a humidity of 50-55%. Too dry air can cause brown leaf tips. To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Do not mist the leaves and maintain good airflow to minimize fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed your Ficus Audrey with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer monthly during the growing period (spring and summer) for a lush growth.
Do not feed in the cold season (fall and winter) as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn resulting in brown leaf tips and edges.
Potting Soil
The best Ficus Audrey soil should be a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil; one that retains some moisture but drains quickly. A mix made up of 2 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite (for aeration) and 1 part coconut coir or peat moss (for moisture retention) is ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Repot your Ficus Audrey at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when it has become pot-bound. Usually, repotting every 2-3 years is adequate for this plant.
Avoid frequent repotting as it prefers to be pot-bound. Repot only when it has outgrown its current pot; when roots begin to grow through the drainage holes.
Use a pot 1-2 size larger that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Never allow the roots to sit in soggy soil as it may lead to leaf drop and root-rot.
For a large Bengal Fig which may be difficult to handle, annually replenish the top 2-4 inches of soil with fresh soil. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Ficus Audrey is easy. Remove dead and yellow leaves to maintain the plant neat and minimize pest and disease infestations.
When Bengal Fig has reached the maximum desired height or it has become leggy, cutback the branches to rejuvenate growth and encourage a bushy, compact growth. The foliage emanating from the pruning can be used to propagate new plants.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest and disease infestations.
Ficus Audrey Propagation
Ficus Audrey propagation is done by air layering or from stem cuttings. The best time to propagate is during the growing season (spring to early summer), when the plant is actively growing as it enhances establishment. Learn how to propagate Ficus Audrey in 3 easy ways.
Ficus benghalensis Audrey Problems & Remedies
Ficus Audrey problems indoors are brown leaves, yellow leaves, leaf drop, drooping leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.
Brown leaves
Why are my Ficus Audrey leaves turning brown?
Some of the causes of brown leaves on Ficus Audrey are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress or aging.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely for a long period.
Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, radiators, heat sources, drafty windows, windy doors and others.
Aging: This is a natural process; as the plant matures the older leaves turn yellow, brown and drop off.
Yellow leaves
The main causes of yellow leaves on Ficus Audrey are too little light, inconsistent watering soggy soil, temperature stress or aging.
How to fix it
Too little light: Position the plant in medium to bright indirect light or use a grow light if you do not have enough light in your home.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts to maintain a warmth of 16-260C.
Leaf drop
Dropping leaves on Ficus Audrey are due to sudden changes, underwatering, low light, temperature stress, being pot-bound or salts buildup.
How to fix it
Sudden changes: Avoid making too many changes at once; acclimate the plant gradually.
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Low light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light with 4-6 hours of sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts emating from AC units, stoves, windy doors, drafty windows among others.
Being pot-bound: Check for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one.
Salts buildup: Avoid too much fertilizer; follow the recommendations on the label. Leach out excess salts by drenching the soil until water flows out through the drainage hole.
Drooping leaves
Drooping leaves on Ficus Audrey are due to incorrect watering, temperature stress, pests and aging.
How to fix it
Incorrect watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant from drafts like AC units, radiators, windy doors, heat sources, stoves and others.
Pests infestations: Inspect the plant regularly and carry out timely control measures.
Aging: With maturity, the lower leaves drop leaving a bare stem with a crown of leaves at the top.
Pests
Common pests of Ficus Audrey are scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and spider mites which are common in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the infested plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat with neem oil as directed by the manufacturer.
- Keep the plant properly pruned at all times to reduce the breeding places for these pests.
- Group the plants together or set the pot on a wet pebble tray to elevate humidity as it discourages the pests.
- Maintain good air flow to reduce the pests infestation.
Diseases
Ficus Audrey is prone to root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil. It is characterized by wlting, yellowing and browning of the leaves which is rapidly followed by plant collapse.
How to fix it
- Carefully, slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots.
- Brown mushy roots indicate root-rot. Cut the brown-black roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
- Use a pot that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
- Cut down on watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time.
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