Ficus are popular indoor plants for homes with bright lighting. Unfortunately, Ficus is a tropical plant, and so in most homes, it needs to be kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
However, with the right Ficus fertilizer, you can have a beautiful and healthy indoor ficus no matter the time of year.
Fortunately, fertilizing does not have to be complicated when caring for your indoor Ficus. There are many different fertilizers available that work wonders on ferns: both natural organic ones as well as synthetic chemical-based ones.
Miracle-Gro All Purpose fertilizer is a popular and effective option for your ficus plant.
What To Look For In A Good Ficus Fertilizer?
You should consider a few things when selecting fertilizer for your Ficus.
First and foremost, ensure the fertilizer is specifically made for Ficus.
Ficus plants have specific requirements for fertilizer, and a plant fertilizer not made for Ficus will not be as effective when used on your Ficus.
It is best to opt for a slow-release fertilizer that you will use at half-strength early in the growing season.
Additionally, check the NPK ratio of the fertilizer.
N – The amount of nitrogen in a fertilizer indicates how fast the plant will grow.
Generally, you want a fertilizer with a high amount of nitrogen if your plant is growing too slowly or is damaged and needs to be returned to health quickly.
F – The amount of phosphorus in a fertilizer determines how easy it is to grow flowers and fruits on your plant.
C – The amount of calcium in a fertilizer determines how strong your plant’s stem is.
Organically Based Fertilizers
When it comes to fertilizers for your Ficus, organic fertilizers are some of the best.
Organic fertilizers are made of natural ingredients such as the following:
- Seaweed
- Worm castings
- Fish meal and more
These fertilizers are safe for humans and the environment and will not harm your Ficus.
Not sure where to get organic fertilizer? Try making your own! There are many recipes online for homemade fertilizers.
The most important thing to remember when using organic fertilizers is that these fertilizers take longer to break down than synthetic fertilizers.
This means that your plants are going to need more time to grow.
However, many growers think the wait is worth it due to the health benefits of using organic fertilizers.
Ficus plants naturally grow fast anyway, so a good organic fertilizer can simply help boost it.
Synthetic Chemical-Based Fertilizers
If you are growing your Ficus in a pot and not in the soil, synthetic fertilizer may be the best choice for your Ficus.
Synthetic fertilizers are made from chemical compounds that break down quickly and are easy to apply.
Before applying a synthetic fertilizer, it is important to read the instructions on the packaging.
Some synthetic fertilizers should be applied every couple of weeks, while others should be applied once each month.
The main downside of synthetic fertilizers is that they are not as healthy for your plant as organic fertilizers.
Synthetic fertilizers can contain chemicals that are harmful to your Ficus, which means that they are not as sustainable in the long term.
That being said, synthetic fertilizers work great for quick and easy plant growth.
Can I Use Coffee Grounds to Help My Ficus Plant Grow?
You may have heard that you can use coffee grounds as fertilizer for your plants.
This is partially true: coffee grounds are great for your Ficus in moderation.
Coffee grounds provide the Ficus with many nutrients and will help your plant grow healthy and strong.
However, it is important to know that coffee grounds are used in compost and not as fertilizer.
If you want to use coffee grounds as ficus tree compost, simply dump the grounds into a compost pile.
Make sure the ratio of coffee grounds in this type of compost is only 10% to 15% percent.
Composting coffee grounds are an excellent way to fertilize indoor plants and gardens.
If you are growing gardening plants outside, however, you might want to choose fertilizer over the compost.
How Often Should You Fertilize Your Ficus?
You can feed your Ficus once a week or every two or three months, depending on the type of fertilizer you choose.
Always follow the instructions on the packaging when applying fertilizer to your Ficus.
Using too much fertilizer or applying fertilizer too often can be just as harmful as using too little fertilizer.
Using too much fertilizer can harm your Ficus by burning the roots and killing the plant.
However, too little fertilizer often leads to stunted growth and unhealthy plants.
Fertilize Your Ficus With Care
The ficus tree makes an excellent indoor plant. However, to keep your Ficus happy and healthy, you need to fertilize it properly.
There are many different fertilizers that you can use to feed your Ficus, but it is important to find the right fertilizer for your plant.
When you select a fertilizer for your Ficus, you should consider several different factors:
- The NPK ratio of the fertilizer
- Whether you want an organic or synthetic fertilizer
- How often will you feed your Ficus
Once you select a fertilizer, apply it regularly to keep your Ficus thriving indoors year-round.
More On Ficus Tree Care
- Learn about The Different Types and Varieties of Rubber Plants – The rubber plant and its many tree varieties have been grown indoors as a houseplant for decades. Ficus elastica has helped many homeowners begin their journey of growing plants indoors.
- Get Started with Fiddle Leaf Fig Care – Ficus Lyrata the thick, violin-shaped leaves inspire its name. It is easy to see why the Fiddle Leaf Ficus has risen to stardom in the houseplant world. Joanna Gaines includes one in every “reveal” on the TV show Fixer Upper.