How to Grow Variegated Ficus

Of the 800 or so species of ficus, only a few are commonly grown as houseplants and fewer still are variegated. Among the most common variegated ficus houseplant cultivars are the rubber tree (Ficus elastica "Variegata"), variegated creeping fig (F. pumila "Variegata”) and weeping fig (F. benjamina "Variegata"). Variegated ficus leaves often have simple patterns, like contrasting margins or white or light green blotches against a dark green background. These houseplants have slightly different lighting needs than ficus with solid-colored leaves.

Container
Potting soil
Hand trowel or spoon
Plastic or rubber gloves
Pruning clippers
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Select a container at least as large as the ficus plant's original nursery container. Use a slightly larger pot for better growth or if the ficus is pot-bound in its original container. Make sure the pot has drainage holes or channels to funnel excess water out of the growing medium.
- 2
  Pour 2 to 3 inches of potting soil into the container. Use soil that has both good drainage and moisture retention. Water the potting soil to settle it and remove air pockets.
- 3
  Take the ficus out of its nursery container. Wear gloves to protect your hands from any sap leaking from the ficus – some people are allergic to the sap. If the plant's roots are tangled, use your fingers to loosen them. Cut away any broken roots with the pruning clippers.
- 4
  Set the plant into the center of the new container. If the top of the roots protrudes above the container's rim, remove some of the soil under the root ball to lower it. Pour potting soil around the root ball in the container to within 1/2 to 1 inch of the rim. Water thoroughly and add more potting soil, if needed.
- 5
  Spread mulch or decorative material over the surface of the container, if desired, but leave a small gap between the mulch and the base of the plant.
- 6
  Place the ficus in an area that receives bright to medium light. Light requirements vary by species and cultivar. Rubber trees can grow in areas that receive bright, indirect sunlight, while weeping and creeping ficus prefer sunnier locations.
- 7
  Water the plant until the excess drains out of the bottom of the pot. Do not leave water standing around the base of the pot. Water creeping fig whenever the surface of the growing medium feels dry; water other types of ficus less frequently, but do not let the soil dry out too much.
- 8
  Use a water-soluble fertilizer at half the strength called for on the fertilizer's label to feed the ficus every month during its active growing cycle. If the plant gets plenty of light year-round, continue feeding the plant every month.
- 9
  Repot the ficus into a larger container every two to three years, or when it becomes pot-bound.

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