Small, glossy leaves on drooping branches: the weeping fig is a classic among indoor trees. Once it has found its spot, you'd best leave it exactly there.

What it does for you

The weeping fig is an evergreen tree with drooping branches and glossy, pointed leaves up to 12 cm long¹. Indoors it reaches about 0.6 to 3 metres; its flexible little trunks are often grown braided².

Origin & history

In the wild, the weeping fig grows in tropical and subtropical Asia, from India and southern China via South-East Asia to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia⁵. There it grows 12 to 15 metres tall².

Carl Linnaeus described it in 1767⁵. Other names are Java fig or waringin¹.

Caution

For cats and dogs, the ASPCA lists irritation of the stomach, gut and skin⁶; for people, too, it is considered harmful if swallowed¹. The sticky white milky sap can irritate the skin and aggravate allergies – wear gloves when cutting⁷. The weeping fig is a fairly common indoor allergen and can cause a constantly runny nose, conjunctivitis and asthma. If you have allergies or a latex allergy, you shouldn't keep one⁸.

Care

Light. Bright without direct sun; it tolerates a few hours of morning or evening sun⁷, and survives shade if it must². Above all: leave it in its spot. Weeping figs are particularly quick to drop leaves when moved⁷ – they react sensitively to changes in light and then grow new, adapted leaves².

Water. Water regularly with room-temperature water and let the soil dry slightly in between, in winter keep it just slightly moist⁷. Water just often enough that the soil never dries out completely². As a rule of thumb about once a week in summer.

Temperature & humidity. Evenly warm without fluctuations⁷, ideally 18–27 °C; below 15 °C it risks cold damage⁹. Keep it away from draughts². It likes medium to high humidity: mist the leaves and stand the pot on a tray of damp gravel⁷.

Soil, pot & repotting. Peat-free, loam-based compost with fine bark or peat-free multipurpose compost⁷. Every couple of years in spring into a slightly bigger pot (as a rule of thumb every 2–3 years); for large plants just renew the top 2.5 cm of soil⁷.

Feeding. From spring to late summer with a high-nitrogen fertiliser⁷ – as a rule of thumb about monthly.

Extras

It comes with green or variegated leaves⁷ and in many varieties such as 'Starlight' or 'Natasja'⁹. Don't prune braided trunks⁷. Its small figs ripen from green via orange-red to purple-black². Watch out for spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects⁷.