What Is The Ideal Temperature Requirements For Ficus Audrey?

What is the class of Ficus Benghalensis?

Ficus Benghalensis, sometimes known as the banyan, banyan fig, and Indian banyan, is a tree endemic to India. India has some of the world’s biggest trees in terms of canopy coverage.

It is also called as the “strangler fig” since it begins as an epiphyte that is, leaning on another tree and eventually suffocates.

Ficus Benghalensis belongs to the Magnoliopsida class

What type of soil do Ficus Benghalensis needs?

For cultivating these plants, almost any high-quality potting soil would suffice.

The crucial thing is to mix the soil so that it is airy and drains well.

When these little trees lie in moist soil, they struggle to flourish. Adding pumice or perlite to the mixture can help improve drainage.

These elements keep the soil bright and allow air to reach the roots. Ficus Audrey may also thrive in a bark mix that has little or no soil.

This faithfully reproduces the circumstances under which these plants thrive in nature.

You may enhance the plant’s dramatic look by removing some of the potting mix on a regular basis, exposing roots that will continue to develop in search of soil.

What are the cultural significance of Ficus Benghalensis?

Ficus Benghalensis is India’s national tree.

In India, the tree is revered, and temples are frequently constructed nearby. Because of the vast size of the canopy, the tree offers beneficial shade in hot climes.

This tree is supposed to have been utilized as the tree for achieving enlightenment, or Bodhi, by Kassapa, the twenty-fourth Buddha. In Sri Lanka, the sacred plant is known as Nuga or Maha nuga.

Lord Adhinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, gained Kewal Gyan, or spiritual illumination, under this tree.

What is the ideal temperature requirements for Ficus Audrey?

Ficus Audrey is a warm-weather plant that thrives in regular indoor temperatures all year.

It prefers temperatures ranging from 70oF (21oC) to 80oF (27oC). It’s fine to go a bit warmer, but no lower than 60oF (16oC).

The plant is obviously not frost-tolerant, but it will also not like temperatures below 55oF (13oC).

It dislikes chilly drafts and isn’t afraid to tell you so by shedding leaves.

If your Ficus Audrey is outgrowing its container and you don’t want to deal with root clipping, put it outside in USDA Zones 10 to 12.

How often do you fertilize your Ficus Benghalensis?

Your Ficus Audrey will thrive in warm temperatures and will benefit from modest fertilizer. They like a well-balanced mix with a little additional nitrogen.

In a healthy plant with warm circumstances and good light, symptoms of malnutrition include limited growth or leaves with yellow borders. Too low soil fertility is uncommon, although it can happen.

A liquid solution is simple to measure and ensures that the whole root system is nourished.

There are two types of regimens:

Dilute the fertilizer to half the recommended quantity once a month. You can feed more frequently if you modify the dilution.

Each time you water – You won’t lose sight of your feeding schedule if you apply the fertilizer in a highly diluted form every time you water. Per gallon, use a quarter teaspoon or less.

Organic fertilizers have a stronger nitrogen profile by nature and are less prone to burn the roots from an overdose. Organics also contribute to a healthy soil microbial community.

During the cooler months, stop fertilizing. Keep an eye out for periods of minimal growth – don’t keep fertilizing an inert plant.

What is Ficus Benghalensis Why is it so called?

The banyan tree is very significant in the Indian subcontinent. The banyan tree is India’s national tree because of its iconic appearance, longevity, and cultural significance in Indian villages.

The banyan tree is the focal point of village life, and the village council meets under its shade (Know India, 2020).

It was given the name banyan because merchants and travellers from India’s Bania caste valued its shade.

Along highways and in parks, the tree is planted as a shade tree and an ornamental.

Ethnomedicine makes use of all components of the tree, including the fruits, leaves, roots, and bark.

The fruits are edible, but they are only consumed during times of famine. Banyan leaves are lopped for ruminants, especially during lean times.

Who discovered Ficus Benghalensis?

Nearchus, an Alexander the Great admiral, recorded a big specimen on the banks of the Narmada River in modern Bharuch, Gujarat, India; he may have described the species now known as “Kabirvad.”

The canopy of the example described by Nearchus was so large that it could hide 7,000 persons. In his Oriental Memoirs (1813-5) James Forbes reported it as almost 610 m (2,000 ft) in circle and with over 3,000 trunks.

Its canopy now covers 17,520 square metres (188,600 square feet) and has a circumference of 641 metres (2,103 feet).

Why are the leaves of my Ficus Audrey dropping?

This is usually caused by either over or underwatering. If your tree has brown tips with yellow edges, you are most certainly overwatering it.

Underwatering is likely if you notice totally yellow leaves and some crispy brown tips with no yellow border.

Always feel the soil to determine whether the conditions match your diagnosis, and take into account any recent treatment you have provided.

If you think the problem is overwatering, stop watering but continue feeding every 2 weeks with a diluted liquid fertilizer.

How often does my Ficus Audrey need to be repotted?

Audrey Ficus does not require frequent repotting and like to be slightly root-bound.

It is quite OK to re-pot every two years or so; the best time to re-pot is early spring, when the plant has actively begun developing after its winter rest.

The presence of roots ‘circling’ the bottom of the nursery container indicates that repotting is required.

When potted, their root system grows slowly, and the plant thrives when little root bound.

Young plants may benefit from yearly repotting, while older plants should only require repotting every three years.

Repot hints:

• Only expand the container’s diameter by one size, or up to two inches.
• Repot early in the season to allow the plant to recover quickly.
• Avoid disturbing the roots. Simply fill the new, bigger container with fresh dirt beneath and around the rootball.
• Do not pile dirt on top of surface-emerging roots. 5. If you don’t like the way they appear, trim them.
• Prune the roots to keep the plant in the same container. Also, prune the leaves since there are fewer roots to sustain it.

Are Ficus Audrey difficult to care for?

Ficus Audrey plants are very easy to care for. They require a little more care than the average houseplant, but they’re pretty much as low-maintenance as you can get.

Potting and repotting are two areas that present some challenges, since Audrey Ficus plants do not like to be repotted or disturbed in general.

The Ficus Audrey is easier than its sister, the Ficus Lyrata (fiddle leaf fig tree).

It adapts well to different environments, is less picky about water requirements, and does not require as much light. We assess the degree of care as modest.

How to choose a suitable container for Ficus Benghalensis?

While Ficus Benghalensis requires less water than its relative the fiddle leaf fig, it will grow in uniformly damp (but not waterlogged) soil.

This means that soil and pot drainage are critical.

Plant your Ficus Benghalensis in a container with drainage holes that is 2-3 inches bigger than the root ball of your plant.

This provides it some wiggle space to develop, but not so much that it hangs on to a lot of additional water that your plant can’t use.

Why do the leaves on my Ficus Audrey have brown spots?

Brown spots can suggest a variety of problems, but in general, dark-brown or black patches indicate that your plant has been overwatered or, more likely, that your pot or soil isn’t draining effectively.

Check the soil moisture level to see whether this is the cause of the problem.

If you notice a terrible odour emanating from the soil, repot into fresh soil and a clean container, and clip away any rotting roots.

For the following few waterings, use our Root Supplement to assist the roots repair and prevent future infection.

Why my Ficus Audrey has yellow leaves?

Overwatering is the most common cause of yellowing leaves on a Ficus Audrey.

If your plant has a lot of water, it will have very yellow leaves, or the yellowness you see is most likely a result of over watering.

You can determine if this is the case by carefully observing the soil’s moisture level and how much the pot is sitting in water.

If you notice that there are more than 1-2 inches of water in your container, stop watering and allow it to dry out for a few weeks.

Symptoms of insufficient light include yellowing leaves and leaf drop. Be sure to place your plant in a bright location with indirect sunlight, but not in full, direct sun that will scorch its leaves.

Yellowing leaves may also be due to underfeeding or poor drainage.

Nutrient deficiency is also likely if your Ficus Audrey is turning yellow while its other leaves are green.

How big does Ficus Audrey grow?

Ficus Benghalensis, sometimes known as the banyan, banyan fig, and Indian banyan, is a tree endemic to India. India has some of the world’s biggest trees in terms of canopy coverage.

It is also called as the “strangler fig” since it begins as an epiphyte that is, leaning on another tree and eventually suffocates.

Ficus Benghalensis is an evergreen, fast-growing tree that grows to a height of 20 meters in monsoon and rainforest areas. It is drought and frost tolerant.

It develops propagating roots that grow downwards as aerial roots on the liana-like branches.

When these roots reach the ground, they take root and grow into woody trunks that provide support.

Birds such as the Indian myna devour the figs produced by the tree. Fig seeds that travel through the digestive tract of birds germinate and sprout faster.

How much humidity do Ficus Audrey needs?

These plants are less susceptible to changes in humidity than many other varieties of houseplants.

They flourish in average humidity levels ranging from 30 to 60%. During the winter and summer, keep an eye on your Ficus Audrey to ensure it is not in front of any AC or heating vents.

These air sources are dry and might result in inadequate humidity levels.

The Ficus Audrey leaves will alert you when the humidity is too high by rapidly losing leaves.

If your plant suddenly begins to lose leaves, check the humidity levels.

To boost the humidity, you may need to supply an evaporative tray of stones filled with water.

To avoid overwatering, keep the pot above the waterline at all times.

Is Ficus Audrey a fast grower?

Ficus Benghalensis, also known as banyan fig, Indian Banyan and Indian Fig, is a fast-growing tree.

It has a robust root system that develops aerial roots that grows upwards like a vine. It can grow up to 20 meters feet high if allowed to fully expand.

The aerial roots can spread up to five meters in diameter and this allows it to attach to other trees and structures with its canopy.

These aerial roots, or ‘strangler fig’ roots, grow fast, and the plant can grow to a large size in record time.

Does Ficus Audrey need trimming?

Even if you don’t have a specific aim in mind, trimming is a crucial part of Ficus Audrey care to keep your plant looking its best.

They may be trimmed at any time of year, although they recover faster in the spring and early summer.

• Use sharp shears that have been sanitized using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or another efficient method.
• Because the latex-like sap can irritate skin and discolour the environment, take measures. Wear gloves and protect any exposed areas. You may rapidly halt the flow of sap by spraying or covering the wound with paper.
• As required, prune dead or dying branches. Cut out aerial roots as desired; it will not harm the plant.

How do you control Ficus Audrey pests?

Ficus Audrey maintenance might be complicated by the presence of typical houseplant pests.

Check on a frequent basis, especially under the leaves. It’s best to catch an infestation early on.

Individual bugs may be removed with rubbing alcohol, but if the invaders become entrenched, you’ll need to do more. Here are some viable options.

Insecticidal Soap

This treatment is mild on the plant and is suitable for indoor usage. It is only effective if it comes into contact with the pests while wet, so thoroughly cover the plant.

Light Horticultural Oil

This oil works by suffocating the pests, making it another safe and gentle treatment. It must be applied thoroughly.

Neem

This pesticide comes in two varieties: a natural oil containing azadirachtin, an organic insecticide, and a refined product that removes this active ingredient and functions essentially like horticultural oil.

Chemical Pesticides

Pyrethrums and other harsh therapies are more dangerous. Investigate the product and take appropriate measures.

If you use strong pesticides indoors, keep in mind that they linger and are toxic to more than just insects.