Plant Care Ficus Petiolaris

Ficus Petiolaris

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 12/10/2024

5.0 out of 5 (1 experiences)

Ficus Petiolaris has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower
Ficus Petiolaris has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About Ficus Petiolaris

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 petiolaris
Ficus
Moraceae
Rosales

Also known as

Petiolate Fig, Petiolate Fig, Petiolate fig, Rock fig and Ficus palmeri

How to care for Ficus Petiolaris

💦 Water

How often to water your Ficus Petiolaris

Water needs for Ficus Petiolaris
0.5 cups
every 9

Ficus Petiolaris 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.

Calculate water needs of Ficus Petiolaris

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Petiolate Fig in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Ficus Petiolaris: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Ficus Petiolaris love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Ficus Petiolaris does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ficus Petiolaris in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Ficus Petiolaris

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ficus Petiolaris: repot after 2X growth

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 Ficus Petiolaris after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Ficus
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Ficus Petiolaris is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Petiolate Fig →

Common Petiolate Fig Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Ficus Petiolaris 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.

Petiolate Fig Water Frequency →

Petiolate Fig Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Ficus Petiolaris 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 🏡.

Petiolate Fig Light Requirements →

Petiolate Fig Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Ficus Petiolaris is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.


💨 Humidity

Ficus Petiolaris 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.

Petiolate Fig Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Ficus Petiolaris 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!

Best Soil Mix for Petiolate Fig →

When and How to Successfully Repot Petiolate Fig →


💩 Fertilizer

Ficus Petiolaris 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Petiolate Fig →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Ficus Petiolaris 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

Ficus Petiolaris is native to worldwide Tropics.


🌸 Flowers

Ficus Petiolaris produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

Petiolate Fig Flowers →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Ficus Petiolaris will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

How and When to Prune Petiolate Fig →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Ficus Petiolaris can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Petiolate Fig Temperature Tolerance →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ficus Petiolaris, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 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 Ficus Petiolaris

Ficus Petiolaris

Ficus Petiolaris


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

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

What other plant parents say

Ficus Petiolaris has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 1
Ficus Petiolaris has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 1
@RJG avatar
@@RJG
leaf-1 124 Plants
xp 251,023 XP
globe Austin, TX
11/23/2021

Part of the #FicusGang love little Claud as they are different kind of ficus!

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor

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