Clown Fig
About Clown Fig
Did you know that all plants in the Ficus genus produce figs? In fact, the word Ficus quite literally means figs! Even cooler, all figs are pollinated by tiny wasps that use the fruits as a safe place to raise their young. 🐝 Ficus plants also contain latex which emerges as a milky sap when twigs are broken. This latex makes them toxic, so be sure to keep a close eye out if you have children or pets!
Taxonomy
Ficus aspera
Ficus
Moraceae
Rosales

How to care for Clown Fig
How often to water your Clown Fig

every 9
Clown Fig needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Clown Fig in your home

a window
Clown Fig love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Clown Fig does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Clown Fig in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Clown Fig

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Clown Fig after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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I would say she’s settling in just fine after being rehoused and repotted👸🏼🥰🪴 #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy #NewPlantMom #Ficus #FicusGang #RubberPlant #PrincessDi
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My #RubberPlant is growing too fast! Prune or re-pot? This thing has tripled in size in the year that I’ve had it. It is unstable and close to tipping over, so…time to do something. Here my dilemma: I like where the plant is (on top of that side table). I’m not sure I have a perfect spot for a super tall rubber tree. But I feel like this one is so healthy and robust I should let her do her thing— re-pot and stake? What do you guys think?? Thanks! #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #
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I have had this plant for 5 years. Potted it up 1 1/2 ago and it not growing any fuller. Please help. #Ficus
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Ficus losing leaves I've never been able to get ficuses to stay alive longer than a season. This one started losing all its leaves once it started getting cold. Some of the moss is very crusty and it's all lost it's rich green color. Can't tell if I'm overwatering or underwatering or if this is just normal for ficus's when winter comes? #Ficus
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How can I support my leaning rubber tree? What I’m doing isn’t working. #rubbertree #helpneeded #help @RJG @RJGoers @HoyaAddict @greenlikethumb @AnthuriumQueen @FitBrowallia @kscape @RealSimpleMama @sarahsalith @Sassylimey @YammieOf3 @
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What's wrong with my ficus? Hi guys! My ficus is sticky and I noticed brown spots on it. What is wrong with him? #pestcontrol
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Help my ficus hasn’t grown at all #Ficus I’ve had this ficus probably over a year now, but it’s done nothing. No new leaves at all, no increased height. Leaves may have grown larger but not significantly, and one leaf died early on so I know it is not a fake plant hah. It’s so pretty sometimes I wonder! Any suggestions on what this plant might need? I suspect I should probably repot it…
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Finally new growth!! #Ficus #RubberPlant After owning this girl since May and having ZERO growth… we finally succeeded and have 4 leaves on the go at once with another growth point starting ☺️ I pinched the tip of it last month and regret not doing it sooner 🤦🏼♀️
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Help! What’s wrong with my fiddle leaf? My fiddle leaf fig has been doing well until a few weeks ago, when I went away for a weekend came back to it drooping. It’s steadily declined since then, although I’ve been watering it on schedule and made no changes to its drooping leaves left and right (see picture of a dropped leaf) and is simultaneously crispy edges, curled edges, and droopy. Any ideas? #FiddleLeafFig
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Bottom leaves dying #Ficus My ficus altissima has had its bottom leaves yellow and die one by one - roughly once every 2-3 weeks. The top of it looks pretty healthy though so I don’t know what’s going on. I do the finger test to make sure it’s getting dry before watering and it has its own dedicated grow light.
Clown Fig prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
☀️ Sunlight Needs
Clown Fig requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity
Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.
If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.
💨 Humidity
Clown Fig prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
🪴 Soil
Clown Fig does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
💩 Fertilizer
Clown Fig should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
❄️ Dormancy
It’s common for Clown Fig to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
🌎 Native Region
Clown Fig is native to worldwide Tropics.
🧐 Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
Care Summary for Clown Fig
Clown Fig
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
