Weeping fig care: watering and light
The weeping fig is a small tree with fine leaves and a famous habit: it drops leaves whenever something changes.
Weeping fig needs water roughly every 6 days in summer and every 12 in winter (east-facing window, in a 16 cm plastic pot with a drainage hole). Before watering, always check with a finger in the soil: if it’s still damp, wait.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Ficus benjamina
- Also known as
- Ficus benjamina
- Preferred light
- Bright indirect light
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Tolerates drought
- No
- Tolerates shade
- No
- Where it lives
- Indoors
Where to put it
It wants bright indirect light, near a bright window with some gentle morning sun. Pick a spot and don’t move it: changes of place, light or temperature make it shed leaves. Keep it away from radiators and doors to the outside.
How to water
Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, thoroughly, and let it drain. Consistency is everything: no days sitting soaked, no drying out completely.
Common mistakes
Leaves dropping after a move are normal, and grow back if you leave it in peace. Yellow leaves falling with damp soil mean overwatering; dry, crispy leaves mean underwatering. It can be pruned in spring to keep its shape.
How many days between waterings, spot by spot
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 5 days | 11 days |
| East-facing window | 6 days | 12 days |
| North-facing window | 9 days | 19 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 13 days | 27 days |