Care of Outdoor Potted Ficus Trees

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• Potted ficus grow best in full sun to partial shade. If the leaves of a ficus appear scorched with brown spots or curl up, the tree is getting too much sun and will benefit from more shade, especially from midday on.

Water

• Ensure that outdoor potted ficus do not dry out completely. Check their potting soil every day during the hottest part of summer and every other day during the rest of the year. Some varieties of ficus drop their leaves for the winter months; reduce the amount of water when the tree is bereft of leaves.

Varieties

• The weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) is the most commonly grown ficus for indoor use. It also grows well outdoors in pots, providing it is situated in partial shade. The rubber tree (Ficus elastica) has been widely grown as an indoor potted plant, and is increasingly used outdoors. The fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) has large, deeply lobed leaves.

Insect Pests

• Mealybugs, scales and thrips are the primary insect pests that bother ficus. Treat them with horticultural oil spray or insecticidal soap, following the manufacturer's application instructions.