Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Audrey Fig (Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey')— schedule & NPK
Also called Audrey fig, Indian banyan.
More about audrey fig
About Audrey Fig
Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey' · also called Audrey fig, Indian banyan · tropical
Audrey is the Indian banyan, a softer, more forgiving alternative to the fiddle-leaf fig with velvety, pale-veined oval leaves on pale bark. It tolerates a wider range of light and is less prone to dramatic leaf drop, making it an easy upright tree houseplant that wants bright indirect light, even moisture, warmth and protection from cold drafts.
Growth habit: Upright, tree-like grower with a single or branching trunk, pale grey bark and soft, matte oval leaves with prominent light-green to white veining. Vigorous and can become a large indoor tree; responds well to pruning to keep it bushy.
Watch for — Browning leaf edges: Often caused by low humidity, underwatering or a buildup of fertiliser salts. Raise humidity, water more evenly, and flush the soil occasionally.
What fertiliser audrey fig actually wants — and why
Audrey Fig is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for audrey fig: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed audrey fig, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For audrey fig:
Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half to full strength; reduce or stop in autumn and winter when growth slows. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when audrey fig is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for audrey fig
Half strength is the safe default for audrey fig — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water audrey fig first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the audrey fig watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding audrey fig
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for audrey fig:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding audrey fig
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full audrey fig care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of audrey fig with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for audrey fig
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising audrey fig — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does audrey fig need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Audrey Fig is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed audrey fig?
Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half to full strength; reduce or stop in autumn and winter when growth slows. Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half to full strength; reduce or stop in autumn and winter when growth slows. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for audrey fig?
Half strength is the safe default for audrey fig — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding audrey fig look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding audrey fig year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of audrey fig?
Flush the pot of audrey fig with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Audrey Fig care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water audrey fig — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise monstera
- How to fertilise pothos
- How to fertilise fiddle leaf fig
- All 2464 fertilising guides in the Growli library