Weeping fig
Ficus benjamina, tree, evergreen
Water a weeping fig when the soil is dry a few centimetres down, which indoors means every 4–12 days in summer and every 7–19 in winter. It wants plenty of light but not the hot midday sun, and starts to suffer below 10 °C (50 °F).
Updated 12 October 2026. How we write these pages
Weeping fig at a glance
Water, indoors
4–12
days in summer
7–19
days in winter
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down.
Month by month
Minimum temperature
5–10 °C
It starts to suffer between 5 and 10 °C (41–50 °F).
Cats and dogs
Toxic to dogs and cats.
Chewing the leaves can make them ill: keep it out of their reach.
Growth
Steady. It’s a tree.
Repotting
When the roots fill the pot.
Pruning
No regular pruning needed. Remove dead or damaged branches. If it gets too big, cut back the tallest branches before it starts growing again.
Where does your plant live?
Pick its place and see what changes.
What changes
- Indoors, near the window. The light is right, as long as the hot midday sun doesn’t hit the leaves through the glass.
- Indoors, away from the window. With less light it grows more slowly and new leaves come in smaller. If you can, move the pot closer to the window.
- Outdoors, in the shade. This suits it: outdoors, bright shade is the light it likes best.
- Outdoors, in the sun. Full sun scorches its leaves, so move the pot into the shade, at least for the hottest hours.
- Indoors, summer. In July it usually needs water every 4–12 days. Heat dries the soil faster, so feel it more often.
- Indoors, winter, heating on. In January it usually needs water every 7–19 days, and more often near a radiator, because warm air dries the soil.
- Indoors, winter, cool room. In January it usually needs water every 7–19 days, and less often in a cool room, where the soil stays damp for a long time.
- Outdoors, summer. Outside the soil dries faster than indoors, where in July it needs water every 4–12 days, so in the sun feel it often.
- Outdoors, winter. It starts to suffer below 10 °C (50 °F). Bring the pot indoors before the first cold nights.
How often to water a weeping fig
Indoors, month by month. Tap a column.
In October
Every 6–16 days
Usually every 10 days. Feel the soil first, and water when it is dry a few centimetres down.
Every month in a table
| Month | Usually | Usually between |
|---|---|---|
| January | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
| February | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
| March | every 11 days | 6–17 days |
| April | every 9 days | 6–15 days |
| May | every 8 days | 5–13 days |
| June | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| July | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| August | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| September | every 8 days | 5–13 days |
| October | every 10 days | 6–16 days |
| November | every 11 days | 7–18 days |
| December | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
Typical intervals indoors in the northern hemisphere: light, the pot and the season stretch or shorten them. How to tell when to water, with a finger and the weight of the pot.
Soil, propagation and problems
Soil
A free-draining soil that can dry out between waterings: all-purpose potting mix lightened with perlite or pumice. It isn’t fussy about pH.
Propagation
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots.
Common problems
The most frequent: Aphids · Scale insects · Spider mites · Thrips · Mealybugs · Dieback
When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Weeping fig: questions and answers
How often should you water a weeping fig in winter?
Indoors in January, usually every 12 days (between 7 and 19), compared with every 8 in July. The longest gaps run from December to February.
How can you tell when a weeping fig needs water?
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down, not just on the surface.
How much light does a weeping fig need?
Plenty of light, without the direct midday sun, which can scorch the leaves. Indoors it does well near a bright window, and further from the window it grows more slowly.
Is a weeping fig toxic to cats and dogs?
Toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing the leaves can make them ill: keep it out of their reach.
How much cold can a weeping fig take?
It starts to suffer from the cold somewhere between 5 and 10 °C (41–50 °F). If it spends the summer outside, bring the pot in before nights drop below 10 °C, and in winter keep it away from cold glass and draughts.
When should you repot a weeping fig?
When the roots fill the pot. If needed, the best time is spring, when it starts growing again. There are usually 2 years between repottings.
How do you prune a weeping fig?
No regular pruning needed. Cut out any diseased or damaged shoots, and any that are crowded or cross each other. You can also take out shoots that grow where you don’t want them. Shorten any overly long shoots, cutting just above a leaf. Wear gloves: the sticky white sap may irritate skin or set off allergies.
How can you tell if a weeping fig is getting too much water or too little?
Too much water often shows as leaves turning yellow, soft brown patches on the leaves and leaves drooping even though the soil is wet. Too little shows as leaves drooping, leaves and buds dropping and young shoots drying out.
What soil does a weeping fig need?
A free-draining soil that can dry out between waterings: all-purpose potting mix lightened with perlite or pumice. It isn’t fussy about pH.
How do you propagate a weeping fig?
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots.
Which pests and diseases affect a weeping fig?
The most frequent are aphids, scale insects, spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and dieback. When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Why is my weeping fig dropping leaves?
If lots fall at once, the most common cause is too much water. Feel the soil a few centimetres down, and if it’s still damp, wait. Cold draughts, winter cold, low light and too much fertiliser make it drop leaves too. It nearly always sheds a few when you move it: if the new spot is bright, leave it there, and the new leaves will grow suited to that light.
Why are my weeping fig’s leaves turning yellow?
A lower leaf yellowing now and then is normal, because older leaves yellow and fall. If lots turn yellow or get dark spots, the soil is usually staying wet for too long. Let it dry a few centimetres down before you water, and empty the saucer.
Can a weeping fig go outside in summer?
Yes, once nights stay above 10–13 °C (50–55 °F), somewhere with morning sun and afternoon shade. Each move costs it some leaves, though, going out and even more coming back in, and it has to come back in before nights drop below 10 °C (50 °F). If it’s doing well indoors, the simplest thing is to leave it where it is.
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