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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis)— schedule & NPK

Also called banyan tree, Indian banyan, Audrey fig.

About Ficus Audrey

Ficus benghalensis · also called banyan tree, Indian banyan · houseplant

Ficus Audrey is the sacred banyan tree of India, sold as a sturdy indoor tree alternative to the fiddle-leaf fig. Velvety oval leaves on a pale trunk and less drama than its cousin. Mildly toxic to pets through ficin in the milky sap.

Ficus benghalensis, the Bengal fig or sacred banyan of the Indian subcontinent, where mature trees drop aerial roots that thicken into accessory trunks; indoors in the UK it must stay under glass year-round (RHS hardiness H1a, minimum 15C).

Feed with a balanced houseplant fertiliser through spring and summer only; growth slows sharply in low winter light and over-feeding then causes salt build-up.

Growth habit: Upright indoor tree

Sources: rhs.org.uk, hgtv.com

What fertiliser ficus audrey actually wants — and why

Ficus Audrey is a genuinely hungry tropical — in bright warmth it pushes growth fast and rewards a regular half-strength balanced feed all season.

A balanced liquid feed (even N-P-K) or a slightly nitrogen-leaning foliage feed — this is a big-leaved foliage plant putting on real size, so it wants steady nitrogen for lush leaves, not a bloom 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 ficus audrey: 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 ficus audrey, 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 ficus audrey:

Balanced liquid feed at half strength every 4 weeks in growing season. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 4 weeks — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when ficus audrey 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 ficus audrey

Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for ficus audrey: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water ficus audrey first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the ficus audrey watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding ficus audrey

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for ficus audrey:

Signs you are under-feeding ficus audrey

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full ficus audrey care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of ficus audrey with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for ficus audrey

Organic options

A diluted seaweed or fish-and-seaweed feed plus a yearly top-dress of worm castings supports fast growth without burn risk. UK: Westland seaweed or Baby Bio Organic; US: Neptune's Harvest or Espoma Indoor!.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A balanced houseplant liquid at half strength applied frequently — UK: Baby Bio, Phostrogen or Westland Houseplant Feed; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro for steady leafy growth.

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 ficus audrey — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does ficus audrey need?

A balanced liquid feed (even N-P-K) or a slightly nitrogen-leaning foliage feed — this is a big-leaved foliage plant putting on real size, so it wants steady nitrogen for lush leaves, not a bloom formula. Ficus Audrey is a genuinely hungry tropical — in bright warmth it pushes growth fast and rewards a regular half-strength balanced feed all season.

How often should I feed ficus audrey?

Balanced liquid feed at half strength every 4 weeks in growing season. Balanced liquid feed at half strength every 4 weeks in growing season. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 4 weeks — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.

What strength of feed for ficus audrey?

Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for ficus audrey: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.

What does over-feeding ficus audrey look like?

Brown, scorched leaf tips and margins despite correct watering. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot edge. Sudden leaf yellowing and drop shortly after a strong feed. Soft, weak, over-stretched growth that cannot support itself. The mistake here is the opposite of most houseplants: under-feeding a fast tropical in peak season starves it, leaving small, pale new leaves and slow growth — but full-strength doses still burn it, so feed often and weak, not occasionally and strong.

Should I flush the soil of ficus audrey?

Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of ficus audrey with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.

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