Weeping figs: if you long for an indoor forest, these are the houseplants for you - includes list of sources

Flower & Garden Magazine, August-Sept, 1993 by Doug Hall

After a Recent Morning of dividing the irises, I relaxed in the dappled green shade of a weeping willow beyond the garage. I spend so much time in this old tree's leafy shelter, I impulsively thought, why not bring out my favorite upholstered chair? Plus a table, and a shelf for books? And if only the refrigerator were closer...

Practicality has a way of interfering with my most creative ideas, so the living room furniture was spared. Instead, I followed the lead of many indoor gardeners and sought some treelike houseplants that would recreate indoors the peaceful mood of my favorite outdoor resting spot. A full-grown willow was obviously beyond the structural capacity of my modest house, but weeping figs had just the look I wanted.

Their tolerance of dim light and neglect has made weeping figs a staple of the indoor decor of banks, hotels, shopping malls and homes. The best-known species of wee in fig Ficus benjamina, features glossy, oval pointed leaves and branches that arch out from the trunk, then droop downward gracefully to create the "weeping" effect. Even indoors, it's easy to imagine that the wavy-edged leaves are shimmering in a light breeze. When grown with sufficient light, the plants are densely leafy.

More commonly seen today are the many variations on the species. The arching branches of Ficus benjamina nuda spread broadly outward, terminating in graceful, pendulous branch tips. The open habit accentuates the plant's smooth, gray-barked trunk. Another popular form is the Java fig (Ficus benjamina |Exotica'), whose leaves are narrower and flatter and have a duller luster than the species.

The Ficus most closely approximating my backyard willow is a relatively new introduction: Ficus maclellandii |Alli.' Its pendant leaves are a dark lustrous green and elongated to 6 inches or more, giving the plant a willowy gracefulness. As it matures, it develops an interesting dark trunk with raised white dots in linear patterns. In the short amount of time |Alli' has been available in the United States, it has won praise as a first-rate, attractive indoor tree. In addition to its tolerance of low light situations, |Alli' is less prone to dropping its leaves than Ficits benjamina.

Several variegated weeping figs offer leaves edged in cream or pale green. Other new cultivars are still quite hard to find, such as |Florida Spire,' a narrow. columnar variety. Another unusual newcomer is |Citation,' whose narrow leaves curl back on themselves for a "ram's horn" effect. There's even a miniature weeping fig, |Natasha,' that's ideal as a bonsai specimen.

In their native tropical Asia, weeping figs grow to become large trees. Indoors, their ultimate height is limited by container size (and the height of the ceiling). Weeping figs are somewhat tolerant of dry air, but they prefer warm indoor temperatures and high humidity. In winter, don't allow the temperature to drop below 55 degrees, and mist frequently to raise humidity.

Give weeping figs bright light, but not direct sunlight. Plants whose trunks are formed from several stems braided or twisted together must be rotated regularly so the intertwined stems will grow at equal rates.

Weeping figs of all types need a potting soil that is coarse and well drained. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, then water sufficiently to moisten the entire soil mass. Fertilize lightly with a water-soluble houseplant food once a month during spring and summer. Weeping figs need to be repotted only when they outgrow their containers.

Weeping figs are not prone to severe problems, but when they are placed in less-than-ideal locations they signal their distress by dropping leaves. Leaves that yellow before dropping are a sure sign of overwatering. If the leaves drop while still green, the plant's location may be too dark or too cool. Abrupt changes of location can also precipitate a sudden loss of leaves, so it's best to acclimate plants to new temperatures or light levels gradually.

Keep a lookout for mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. If they appear, control them with a pyrethrum spray or spot-treat with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

Weeping figs are America's favorite indoor trees. They will never take the place of my willow, but they evoke its stately tranquillity year-round in my living room.