Fiddle-leaf fig plant Ficus lyrata with natural-coloured wicker basket

You have several options upon receipt of your Ficus benjamina:

• Layer the bottom of an attractive planter on a saucer– one with holes in the base – with potsherds or gravel. Stand your weeping fig in the planter, nursery pot and all. Water immediately.
• Pot your weeping fig up into an attractive planter on a saucer - one with holes in the base. Layer the bottom of the planter with potsherds or gravel. Add some fresh potting compost and stand the weeping fig root ball at the correct depth. Fill up with potting compost, press firmly down and water generously immediately after planting.
• Just stand the pot as it is on a saucer. Water immediately – do not allow the plant to stand in water longer than a day.

Give the plant a light position in your living room. Do protect it from midday sun, but morning and evening sun will be appreciated. Keep the weeping fig’s potting compost moist. The best spot for your houseplant The most perfect spot for your plant is:

1. Somewhere with plenty of light but also protected from the full strength of the mid-day sun. Mornings and evenings are not a problem and will even be appreciated! The ideal place is about 3 metres from the window. This plant tolerates quite a bit of shade and even 6 metres from a window should not cause problems.
2. Somewhere warm, (between 18 and 23 degrees centigrade). If you have underfloor heating, so much the better. Standing your Weeping Fig above or next to a radiator is not a good idea as the warm air flow from the heating will dry the plant out much quicker which could result in the loss of leaves or them turning brown.

Keep your weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) growing well with regular watering – twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter (but only when the potting compost feels dry). Keep the roots moist but do not allow the plant to stand in water for too long at a time. Add plant food for leafy plants to the water fortnightly.

The weeping fig is fairly resistant to the dry indoor air of our homes.

You can easily prune this plant, removing bare branches when necessary. When you find the right spot for this plant it will feel very much at home and will have no difficulty of growing new branches and producing new leaves. Extra tips Although a house plant, your weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) will appreciate being stood outdoors on a warm and rainy day. It will really perk up after a shower. But do take care of the full mid-day sun!

As in its natural habitat, it will regularly lose its lower leaves - do not worry if they turn yellow and drop off, as long as it continues to make new ones.

Remember all of the above and you can keep your weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) healthy and looking fresh for a long time.

Weeping fig (Latin name: Ficus benjamina) is a strong houseplant that is easy to grow.The ficus benjamina is native to South East Asia and Australia where the trees (many metres tall) can be found in parks and lining streets.

In temperate climes, the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) makes a very popular houseplant, reaching up to 3 metres - pruning will help and can be done any time.

Ficus belongs to the mulberry family (Moraceae).