Ficus Abidjan Care

This plant likes to be kept in moist soil, but make sure it is well drained. Let the top of the soil dry out completely before watering again. Avoid overwatering, as this will make the ficus’ leaves yellow and fall off.

This plant grows quite fast, so you need to prune it constantly to keep it in shape. Once the plant starts to get over 23 inches (60 cm) start pinching its terminal buds from time to time so the branches do not get all over the place. After this part, new branches can sprout, and you can get to choose if you want to let it grow wide or tall. Remember that once the plant gets bigger and grows more leaves, you need to keep the pruning habits active for good air ventilation.

Although the plant does very well by itself and will pop leaves throughout the growing season, you can support its growth by fertilizing it with a mild liquid fertilizer once or twice a month during spring and summer time.

The burgundy leaves of the Ficus Abidjan will thrive when kept in bright light, but don’t place the plant in direct sunlight, as this can easily burn the leaves. If all your spots for bright sunlight are occupied, the plant does well in lower light conditions as well, although the color of the leaves might take a deeper shade of green.

The soil for your ficus needs to be well-draining, so don’t choose a very compact one. Use a potting mix that has both sand and perlite to it, or mix it yourself.

The easiest way to propagate Ficus Abidjan is with cuttings. Cut a healthy branch from the main plant, clean the latex from it, and put it in water or directly into sandy soil to let it form roots. Keep it away from direct sunlight, and soon you will have a brand new plant.

Ficus Abidjan is not a cold-resistant plant, so try not to place it in spots where cold air flow could get to it. It does well in normal household temperature, but the ideal temperature for it will be around 60-75 °F (16-24°C). It does enjoy some extra moisture in the air, so consider keeping it in more humid environments or misting it occasionally. Keep the leaves looking shiny by wiping them with a wet cloth from time to time. This also mists the plant, so you can consider it a win-win.

Ficus Abidjan prefers to be pot-bound, so try to use a pot that is suitable for its size, not the biggest one that you can get, although the plant can grow quite tall. Repot when you see the plant outgrowing its container and only go one size up with the container choice. Choose a container with drainage holes, so you avoid root rot.

The “rubber” part of the name is not at all random! Ficus Elastica’s leaves produce latex, and this tree is, in fact, the main source of natural rubber.