Fell in love with a FLF and ignored every single cautionary tale I came across on the internet, so here we are.
TLDR; what’s your recommended watering routine for this beauty?
She’s very tall, and was in a west facing window at the plant store. Now she’s right up against our south facing window.
The girl at the store told me that FLFs and other ficus trees don’t like the traditional plant watering method (stick your finger in the dirt, see if the top 2-3 inches are dry, if so deeply water and let the water all drain out, repeat). She said it will prefer 2-3 cups every four or five days to keep the soil moist, but not to completely saturate the plant and flush out the minerals until a month or two has gone by.
First day at home (two days ago) her soil was dry AF. I put a tray under her to catch the excess and gave her 8 cups because 4 seemed to barely do anything. It almost immediately drained out of the bottom, and already 2 days later the top two inches are dry again.
It’s wavering between 50 and 70 degrees right now in Western NY, some days gorgeous and sunny and some rainy. Our house is kept at 68 degrees/~ 30 humidity. I have a humidifier on order to keep near her to hopefully counteract the fact that she’s near a heat vent (which is off most of the time right now and will definitely be permanently off for the summer).
I can’t find any info on the interwebs to validate that lady’s advice so I’m asking the experts here on Reddit.
What do you guys think?
by Odd-Ad-4051
4 Comments
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I water once a week enough to cover the top. I add fertilizer to the water as well. I do this the entire spring and summer. In fall and winter I water less and fertilize once a month.
I water mine once every 10-14days(must be thoroughly every time)..l don’t keep excess water in saucer/tray(beneath the pot)after watering..because this water can cause root rot..so that’s better to take the pot out from brown decorative pot when watering and don’t keep excess water in decorative pot
Flf is tropical plant,its growing temperature is between 68-100°F(20-38°C)..It needs sunlight so much and suitable for indoor and outdoor
In the future, if you want to keep its height..you just always pinch terminal buds(at tip)off on each branch..that can encourage the plant growing more branches..its trunk also grow thicker
Water it when it’s mostly dry not in a schedule and remove the stake.