My husband gave my a small ficus benjamina about 32 years ago and she's now big and beautiful. I put her outside every summer and she grows like crazy, and needs to be cut back just to fit through the door and moved in for the winter. It now has a trunk diameter of about 5 inches and I cut it back to about 6 1\2feet tall to fit it in my house. I think Benjamin a gets a bad rap for leaf drop but if provided enough light and consistent water that can be minimized. Thanks for spotlighting this wonderful plant. I really enjoy your videos.
Oh I would love to see your benjamina, I bet she is a stunner. 😊 I can't put mine out yet, as I don't have enough shade, but perhaps in a year or two. And I agree that if you give them what they need, they generally don't drop leaves. Thank you so much for your lovely compliment. It means a lot to me to know people enjoy my videos.
I have one of these plants which I purchased from a supermarket last January. It is doing so well in our north east facing kitchen window sill that I recently had to prune it back. It is continuing to do well. I have put the cuttings in water and when they have rooted I shall give them to friends and neighbours.
Your laugh is so uplifting! I found myself smiling every time you did! Thank you for the video - there’s not many on the ficus benjamina as everyone seems to love the fiddle leaf fig.
We love you Miss Kathi .from Kentucky.I started growing Plants and working in a garden at the age of seven years old.My grandfather though us all the canning foods and how to make it if ruff times.
Thank you, Mark, you always brighten my day with your comments. I wish I had started growing plants years ago. Canning foods is such a practical thing, living off the land. My parents lived off the land when they were growing up too,
@@NerdyKathi your very welcome my friend.Yes i know how to do a lot of great thing in life.I have been very blessed .being blessed with amazing friends like yourself is the best blessing of all.god bless you always.
Enjoyed your commentary. I’m glad you disagreed with common myths about this lovely plant being very finicky and hard to grow. I believe it when you say that when your Ficus starts dropping leaves, you should investigate as there is a problem . This plant is very “vocal” and needs a bit more TLC than other plants but is not difficult to keep happy....
I have a 7ft F. Benjamina in my home for 6 years. I prune it annually and you’re correct only water when soil is dry. When I lived in So Cal I had a large ficus tree in my front yard. Have always loved this plant. Enjoy your warm weather
I have the ficus on the north window and I had one in the past only on the north window and that is the best place nnever on a southern window. For the place a ficus can stand a couple of meters from the window if the plant get enough light during the day it isn't a problem. It is a beautiful full plant and in the Netherlands you see mostly only in office building but not a lot in peoples home and I think you need one because they work purifying the air and they are really beautiful
I was hesitant to get a variegated ficus benjamina last year because of leaf drop. But I must be doing something right because it's flourishing. Completely agree with you on the moisture and humidity issues and I did not know that it's easy to propogate. Glad you showed the Seasol product because I thought you said sea salt and I was confused. 🤣Thanks for sharing your tips!
Oh I would love to see your benjamina, and well if a novice like me can propagate her, anyone can. Sea salt 😂😂😂, no don't give her sea salt. Seasol is an Australian product and my plants love it. Thanks for watching. 😊
Hi there - I just wanted to let you know I’m a (relatively) new indoor plant fanatic. I bought a bunch of plants, and am only now doing the research after (I’m trying my best to leave no plant behind). And as I try to learn more about some of the plants I have, and your videos definitely stand out. I appreciate how well-researched and detailed your videos are - so, thank you!
Thank you so much, Dean, that means a lot to me. It's why I make videos. I wish you all the very best on your plant journey, it is a hobby that is so rewarding. 😊
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Hey Kathi, I have the variegated one and when it first arrived, it was so beautiful. Over time, I slipped a few times on watering it which caused it to drop a lot of leaves. It has bounced back enough for me to realize that I am not going to give up on it. I realize that I usually lose my plants from too much or too little watering. If there is no pest on my plants and I do right by the watering and light, they do well. My consistency of being inconsistent needs to go lol. I plan on buying this plant in the future in a tree form. This plant looks so nice to me in that form.
Hi Charlene. 😊 It truly is a beautiful plant, but does like consistency. Dropping leaves is to be expected when she has so many. I can't remember seeing yours, I must go back and have another look.
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@@NerdyKathi You don't have to do that, you are so sweet. forgot to mention that pest are a pest and can make all the hard work we put into them all in vain.
Good morning! I love your soothing background colors. The ficus benjamina is a great "corner" plant, well lit of course. I have two fiddle leaf fig, elastica burgundy and ruby but the benjamina and elastica i struggle with. Leaf drop biggest problem and i keep then in one place. My benghalensis dropped all but 2 leaves out of 20+ last winter and blackspots and i was so annoyed i sat it outside to throw out. I forgot about it and at the end of last summer it had grown 3 leaves. Now it has 12! I realize they don't like to be moved! Elastica still struggling...
Good morning. 😊 Perhaps Ficus elastica and benjamina like our Australian climate better, because I know many people in the States struggle with them. I do think leaf drop is their sign they're unhappy, but sometimes no matter what we do we can't make them happy. Do you let your elastica dry out?
I came across you channel because I just bought a benjamina. When hearing the calm in your voice I immediately liked and subscribed. May I say that your english is excellent, and the knowledge should be vast cause you did not have notes. I guessing you are a teacher, probably english. Well done for your secend plant video and keep it up. Mark from Malta Europe
I don't have a ficus benjamina yet. I do love the foliage. They look very pretty. I don't think I have anywhere with good enough light for another big tree. They are very tempting though! Thanks for the video Kathi. You might be able to escape home soon!
You can prune them if they get too big. They're quite often used in bonsais. Thank you very much for watching, and yes, let's hope we wont be entombed in our homes for much longer.
I have an 11.5 ft benjamin ficus tree in my house. I have it potted in a 45 gal fabric pot with a wood frame. This is over a washing machining spill pan. Do you have recommendations for fertilizer?
If you are concerned it may die, you can take some stem cuttings and propagate them. They do grow fast. I would also suggest that you check it for pests or problems. Good luck. 😊
@@NerdyKathi I took it out of the pot to look at the roots and they look alright. I think the plant may need repotting. Plus, I think I overwatered it. Do you have Fiddle Leaf Fig plant.
The same thing started to happen to mine. So I pruned it back to no leaves, moved it to a bright spot, shone some LED lamps on it 24/7, fed it with fertiliser once a week and now, 12 months on, it looks like new. I thought about re-potting, but it wasn't necessary. Don't give up, these plants are very hardy!
My husband gave my a small ficus benjamina about 32 years ago and she's now big and beautiful. I put her outside every summer and she grows like crazy, and needs to be cut back just to fit through the door and moved in for the winter. It now has a trunk diameter of about 5 inches and I cut it back to about 6 1\2feet tall to fit it in my house. I think Benjamin a gets a bad rap for leaf drop but if provided enough light and consistent water that can be minimized. Thanks for spotlighting this wonderful plant. I really enjoy your videos.
Oh I would love to see your benjamina, I bet she is a stunner. 😊 I can't put mine out yet, as I don't have enough shade, but perhaps in a year or two.
And I agree that if you give them what they need, they generally don't drop leaves.
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment. It means a lot to me to know people enjoy my videos.
@@NerdyKathi not sure if it's possible to post a pick on youtube comments but I do have a picture of it on my Instagram page @dk_plants
@@dianamccarthy5586 I think we can only do it through Instagram. I just found you and she is gorgeous! My Instagram is @nerdykathi
@Dianamccarthy, your photo of ficus Benjamina is beautiful. You can follow me @susanknittertoo.
I love my Ficus Benjamina, in fact I have had one of mine since 1979 and it is still going strong.
Wow. I bet it's a stunner. Mine is still small, but hopefully it will continue to grow.
I have one of these plants which I purchased from a supermarket last January. It is doing so well in our north east facing kitchen window sill that I recently had to prune it back. It is continuing to do well. I have put the cuttings in water and when they have rooted I shall give them to friends and neighbours.
They propagate very easily, and are a favourite of mine. Thank you for sharing.
Your laugh is so uplifting! I found myself smiling every time you did! Thank you for the video - there’s not many on the ficus benjamina as everyone seems to love the fiddle leaf fig.
Thank you, Raj. 😊 And I'm glad you found the video useful.
I love mine, I have a variegated version. It was only about 8 in tall when I got it last year, now it's nearly 2 feet. I named it Young Ben Kenobi.
Oh another Star Wars fan! I love it. 😊 They do grow fast.
I just picked up a bonsai sized benjamina and I agree, they’re beauties! So glad to see you highlight them.
I forgot to mention that in the video, thank you for reminding me. And it was my pleasure to highlight a plant I really love. 😊
We love you Miss Kathi .from Kentucky.I started growing Plants and working in a garden at the age of seven years old.My grandfather though us all the canning foods and how to make it if ruff times.
Thank you, Mark, you always brighten my day with your comments. I wish I had started growing plants years ago. Canning foods is such a practical thing, living off the land. My parents lived off the land when they were growing up too,
@@NerdyKathi your very welcome my friend.Yes i know how to do a lot of great thing in life.I have been very blessed .being blessed with amazing friends like yourself is the best blessing of all.god bless you always.
Enjoyed your commentary. I’m glad you disagreed with common myths about this lovely plant being very finicky and hard to grow. I believe it when you say that when your Ficus starts dropping leaves, you should investigate as there is a problem . This plant is very “vocal” and needs a bit more TLC than other plants but is not difficult to keep happy....
That is a great way of putting it, 'vocal', she definitely let's us know. Thank you for watching. 😊
I have a 7ft F. Benjamina in my home for 6 years. I prune it annually and you’re correct only water when soil is dry. When I lived in So Cal I had a large ficus tree in my front yard. Have always loved this plant. Enjoy your warm weather
Oh I bet yours is a beauty. I'd love to see it. And thank you for watching. 😊
I've had a weeping woven one for 30 years this year I got fruits
That is amazing. How wonderful yours must be. 😊
Thanks for this. Really gave a lot of useful information.
You're very welcome. 😊
I have the ficus on the north window and I had one in the past only on the north window and that is the best place nnever on a southern window. For the place a ficus can stand a couple of meters from the window if the plant get enough light during the day it isn't a problem. It is a beautiful full plant and in the Netherlands you see mostly only in office building but not a lot in peoples home and I think you need one because they work purifying the air and they are really beautiful
They are a beautiful yet underrated plant. Thank you for sharing.
I was hesitant to get a variegated ficus benjamina last year because of leaf drop. But I must be doing something right because it's flourishing. Completely agree with you on the moisture and humidity issues and I did not know that it's easy to propogate. Glad you showed the Seasol product because I thought you said sea salt and I was confused. 🤣Thanks for sharing your tips!
Oh I would love to see your benjamina, and well if a novice like me can propagate her, anyone can.
Sea salt 😂😂😂, no don't give her sea salt. Seasol is an Australian product and my plants love it.
Thanks for watching. 😊
Thank you ⭐️ This was very informative and helpful.
I'm very glad it was helpful. 😊
Hi there - I just wanted to let you know I’m a (relatively) new indoor plant fanatic. I bought a bunch of plants, and am only now doing the research after (I’m trying my best to leave no plant behind). And as I try to learn more about some of the plants I have, and your videos definitely stand out. I appreciate how well-researched and detailed your videos are - so, thank you!
Thank you so much, Dean, that means a lot to me. It's why I make videos. I wish you all the very best on your plant journey, it is a hobby that is so rewarding. 😊
Hey Kathi, I have the variegated one and when it first arrived, it was so beautiful. Over time, I slipped a few times on watering it which caused it to drop a lot of leaves. It has bounced back enough for me to realize that I am not going to give up on it. I realize that I usually lose my plants from too much or too little watering. If there is no pest on my plants and I do right by the watering and light, they do well. My consistency of being inconsistent needs to go lol. I plan on buying this plant in the future in a tree form. This plant looks so nice to me in that form.
Hi Charlene. 😊 It truly is a beautiful plant, but does like consistency. Dropping leaves is to be expected when she has so many.
I can't remember seeing yours, I must go back and have another look.
@@NerdyKathi You don't have to do that, you are so sweet. forgot to mention that pest are a pest and can make all the hard work we put into them all in vain.
Good morning! I love your soothing background colors. The ficus benjamina is a great "corner" plant, well lit of course. I have two fiddle leaf fig, elastica burgundy and ruby but the benjamina and elastica i struggle with. Leaf drop biggest problem and i keep then in one place. My benghalensis dropped all but 2 leaves out of 20+ last winter and blackspots and i was so annoyed i sat it outside to throw out. I forgot about it and at the end of last summer it had grown 3 leaves. Now it has 12! I realize they don't like to be moved! Elastica still struggling...
Good morning. 😊 Perhaps Ficus elastica and benjamina like our Australian climate better, because I know many people in the States struggle with them. I do think leaf drop is their sign they're unhappy, but sometimes no matter what we do we can't make them happy. Do you let your elastica dry out?
@@NerdyKathi i do now. As u know it's trial and error with these houseplants. I've been collecting over 30 years and if not for TH-cam I'd give up!
I came across you channel because I just bought a benjamina. When hearing the calm in your voice I immediately liked and subscribed. May I say that your english is excellent, and the knowledge should be vast cause you did not have notes. I guessing you are a teacher, probably english. Well done for your secend plant video and keep it up. Mark from Malta Europe
Thank you very much, Mark, for the lovely comment. I wasn't a teacher; I was a lawyer, retired now, and I have a good memory. 😊
I completely agree. A lovely plant indeed! 😊🌿
I think so too! 😊
I don't have a ficus benjamina yet. I do love the foliage. They look very pretty. I don't think I have anywhere with good enough light for another big tree. They are very tempting though! Thanks for the video Kathi. You might be able to escape home soon!
You can prune them if they get too big. They're quite often used in bonsais.
Thank you very much for watching, and yes, let's hope we wont be entombed in our homes for much longer.
Now I want a midnight beauty Kathi!! I said I wasn’t going to buy any more plants because this is my first winter with them but this is gorgeous 🤩
They are beautiful, and it is very hard to resist buying plants over winter. I always fail. 😂
Hi Kathie, great job propagating the ficus.
Thank you very much, Susan. Mostly luck, I think, but I love learning new things.
I have the variegated one and it’s lovely
I agree, they are lovely.
So pretty! 🌿🌿
Yes, I think so too. 😊
Wow that was very informative; I am definitely a new subscriber!
Thank you very much. I really appreciate that. 😊
Same here!
Thank you! 😊
thanks for sharing this not so known plant Ficus Benjamina I love it its a nice plant sorry that you lost the mother plant.
Thank you very much. I'm not so sad now that I have a part of her growing.😊
@@NerdyKathi nice
I have an 11.5 ft benjamin ficus tree in my house. I have it potted in a 45 gal fabric pot with a wood frame. This is over a washing machining spill pan. Do you have recommendations for fertilizer?
What a beauty your benjamina must be. I use a 6 month slow release fertiliser twice a year, and sometimes add a liquid fertiliser.
I have brought back my mom's ficus and now have 3 figs coming
I think you can never have enough of this plant. 😊
My ficus benjamina was so beautiful. All of sudden now all of leaves are dropping off. What should I do. It is almost naked.
If you are concerned it may die, you can take some stem cuttings and propagate them. They do grow fast. I would also suggest that you check it for pests or problems. Good luck. 😊
@@NerdyKathi I took it out of the pot to look at the roots and they look alright. I think the plant may need repotting. Plus, I think I overwatered it. Do you have Fiddle Leaf Fig plant.
@@louisabyr6826 No I don't have a Fiddle Leaf Fig.
The same thing started to happen to mine. So I pruned it back to no leaves, moved it to a bright spot, shone some LED lamps on it 24/7, fed it with fertiliser once a week and now, 12 months on, it looks like new. I thought about re-potting, but it wasn't necessary. Don't give up, these plants are very hardy!
I luv mine~~
Me too. 😄