Ficus Benjamina Bonsai Care

The Ficus Benjamina also know as the Weeping Fig, is a tropical evergreen tree that can grow up to 30m in the wild, but it is very popular around the world as an indoor house plant.

You can read more about their suitability in Is Ficus Benjamina A Good Tree For Bonsai?

I bought a few of these bunched together in one pot a few years ago and have been growing it as a fusion bonsai ever since. You can see its development in my Ficus Benjamina Progression.

What Is The Natural Habitat of A Ficus Benjamina?

Ficus Benjamina is native to the South East Asia area and is the official tree of Bangkok. This means it prefers warm climates, which is why it is commonly seen as an indoor plant in places like Europe.

What Soil Do Ficus Benjamina Bonsai Need?

Ficus Benjamina bonsai prefer a moist, well draining soil. I use my standard mix of equal parts Perlite/Molar Clay/Compost and I have had some excellent growth using this.

(For more info on soil read – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)

How Do you Water A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus Benjamina bonsai can drink a lot water while it is growing, so you can water often, but it should not be left to sit in water as this can cause root rot.

You should water your tree just before it dries out. If you are using good draining soil your tree can be watered often and it will stay damp, rather than waterlogged.

(For more info you can read –How To Water A Bonsai)

How Much Sun Light Does A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai Need?

Ficus trees can take full sun. They will also tolerate shade, which is why they can make good house plants.

Obviously for better growth, they should be given as much light as possible. I have found mine was quite slow growing over the winter months due to lower levels. I now keep it under a grow light and its very fast growing.

The more light you can give these, the better your growth rates will be.

How Hardy Are Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus are not hardy. Being a tropical tree they can not handle cool temperatures and will need to be inside during the winter.

You can grow it outside during the summer, but I would bring it inside once it start to go below 10°C /50°F.

If the tree is exposed to temperatures of 5°C/41°F or below it could very easily die.

(For more info you can read – Working Out How To Over Winter Bonsai Trees)

How Often Do You Feed A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

I feed my Ficus bonsai once a month during the growing season with a general all purpose fertiliser and this is more than enough to keep it healthy.

(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)

How Do Ficus Benjamina Bonsai Respond to Pruning?

Ficus bonsai respond well to pruning.

Most species of ficus can be pruned back hard and also defoliated. Ficus Benjamina is a little different. It does not respond as well to this.

Some people say the Benjamina can be defoliated and some say you can not. I believe that if you have the correct environment, you can defoliate. However I am still testing this theory so I can not definitively say, although there are plenty of videos of people doing exactly this on YouTube, so my belief is that so long as the conditions are right, you can do it.

It must also be noted that the sap of the ficus will leak out when pruned. It looks like a white liquid. This sap can be toxic, especially to those who are allergic to latex. If you are worried you can wear gloves while pruning.

(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)

Repotting A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai

Ficus bonsai should be repotted during the warmer months. Such as the summer.

I have done this in late spring and had no issues. Ficus roots can get thick and look like parsnips, so regular root pruning is needed to keep this in check.

The roots grow fast and will probably fill your pot very quickly. I often find them growing out of the bottom of the pot, and even out of the top!

(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)

Wiring A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai

Ficus bonsai can be wired but you must be careful the wire does not cut in. Ficus can put on growth quickly and the wire will bite in and cause damage.

You can get a lot of shape from clip and grow techniques, but wire will always help you get a branch into the position you need.

(For more info you can read – When Do You Remove Wire )

What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus have alternate leaf pattern. They are also evergreen, so they will stay on the tree all year round.

What Pests Does A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai Suffer From?

Scale and aphids are the most common pests on Ficus Benjamina bonsai.

If you tree is healthy it should not really suffer. You should check it often and deal with any problems swiftly to make sure your trees health does not suffer.

Can You Propagate A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus will propagate very easily from cuttings. You can take a branch and place it in water and it will very quickly start to root.

I have not seen anyone air layer a ficus, but it should be possible. I do wonder if the sap that comes out from wounds could affect it. I’m guessing this is why I have not seen any air layers being done.

What Is The Growth Rate Of A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus bonsai are quite fast growing. Especially if given the right conditions. I prune mine a number of times throughout the year as it can very easily get out of control and need pruned back.

Should You Get A Ficus Benjamina Bonsai?

Ficus are great bonsai trees for beginners. They are one of the few trees that can live inside all year. They are also easy to care for.

They are fast growing and easily styled. They are also often beginners first bonsai as they are commonly sold as beginner trees.

I would suggest that once you get one, try and keep it in the one spot and keep its conditions as regular as possible. Ficus Benjamina can be fussy and will sulk if it is moved around. It can take it a while to readjust to a new environment,but once it settles in, it will grow well.