Repotting guide

When & how to repot Audrey Fig (Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey')

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.

Mature size: Commonly 1.5-3 m indoors over time; readily pruned to maintain a smaller, fuller shape.

How to tell audrey fig needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For audrey fig, watch for these signs:

Thick roots out of the drainage holes, or circling the surface and lifting the plant.
The pot dries out unusually fast and audrey fig wilts between waterings it used to shrug off.
The plant is visibly top-heavy and tips over easily.
Stalled growth and small new leaves over a full season — though with a big specimen, top-dressing is often the better first response before a full repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot audrey fig

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years. Audrey Fig's 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. — sets the pace. 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.

What size pot to step audrey fig up to

Move up exactly one pot size. A heavy audrey fig dropped into a vastly bigger pot sits in a reservoir of wet soil its roots cannot reach, which rots them and destabilises the plant. In the years between repots, lift off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil (top-dressing) instead — it refreshes nutrients without the shock of a full repot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot audrey fig

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for audrey fig. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting audrey fig

Consider top-dressing first. If audrey fig is not badly root-bound, scrape off and replace the top 3–5 cm of soil instead — far less shock for a big plant that hates moving.
Get help and one size up. For a full repot, choose a pot just one size larger. A heavy plant needs two people and a stable, free-draining pot.
Ease it out on its side. Lay the plant down, slide the pot off, and gently loosen the outer roots. Do not bare-root a mature specimen.
Repot at the same depth. Add fresh well-draining, fertile houseplant mix beneath and around the rootball, keeping the original soil line. Firm it so the trunk is stable and upright.
Water and leave it put. Water thoroughly, then leave audrey fig in the same spot and light — moving and repotting at once is what makes it drop leaves.

Aftercare

Leave audrey fig in exactly the same spot and light it was in before — moving and repotting at the same time is what makes a big specimen drop leaves. Water it in well, then let the top of the soil dry before watering again so the larger volume of fresh soil does not stay sodden. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for audrey fig

Audrey Fig wants well-draining, fertile houseplant mix. A free-draining blend of potting compost with perlite and bark suits it; the mix should hold some moisture but never stay waterlogged. Slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting audrey fig — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot audrey fig?

Every 2–3 years; top-dress in the in-between years for audrey fig. Fully repot audrey fig only every 2–3 years; in the in-between years just top-dress the top 3–5 cm of soil. Step up one pot size in spring with well-draining, fertile houseplant mix. It is heavy and hates being moved, and a vastly oversized pot holds water against the roots and rots them.

What size pot does audrey fig need?

When is the best time of year to repot audrey fig?

Should you top-dress or fully repot audrey fig?

For a big, heavy audrey fig, top-dressing — replacing the top 3–5 cm of soil — is the gentler option most years, with a full repot only every 2–3 years. A mature specimen sulks and drops leaves when fully repotted, so do it as rarely as the roots allow.

Should you fertilise audrey fig after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting audrey fig. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.