A Guide To Ficus Tineke Care

This beautiful Ficus Tineke plant has large, variegated leaves that mix blocks of light and dark greens with olive and green patches. The tree-like growth of this indoor houseplant slowly becomes a great space-filling feature in your home. If given the right growing conditions the ficus tineke can grow between 5 and 6 feet tall. To get this kind of growth you will need to give your Ficus the best care and in this guide will take you through everything you need to get the most out of your Ficus Tineke. 

What kind of soil does my Ficus Tineke need? 

This variegated rubber tree will thrive in most soils as long as they are well-draining and have enough aeration. The best soil for a Ficus Tineke is a good quality potting soil that has been mixed with some sand and vermiculite. Avoid using any acidic or alkaline soil since the roots of this ficus will not be able to survive in them. 

How much light does my Ficus Tineke need?

The Ficus Tineke needs bright, but indirect light to thrive and produce the best colour  in its leaves. You should never put your ficus directly opposite a bright window unless it is covered with a diffusing screen. You can tell if your Ficus is getting enough light by looking at the leaves: too much light will cause the leaves to blister and yellow whilst too little light will cause the leaves to fade and droop. To get even growth and colour you will need to rotate your Ficus Tineke by ninety degrees every week to make sure all of the plant gets even exposure.  

How often should I water my Ficus Tineke ?

The Ficus is a tropical houseplant that will thrive from a regular and consistent watering schedule. In the wild, the Ficus Tineke will drop its leaves during the dry season so you need to make sure you are consistent or you may trigger this. Water your Ficus to keep the top one to two inches of soil moist, but not wet. Water whenever the top of the soil is dry to the touch.  

Do I need to fertilize my Ficus Tineke ?

In the spring and summer your Ficus Tineke will enter its active growing phase. During this time it will use more food and nutrients to support its growth which will quickly deplete the soil if they are not replaced. Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer once a month during this time to keep consistent and quick growth. 

Pruning Ficus Tineke 

The Ficus Tineke doesn’t require much pruning to maintain growth and it only needs it done for aesthetic reasons or to remove old growth. Pruning will create bushier growth. When pruning your ficus make sure you wear gloves as the sap of the ficus tineke is mildly toxic. Be careful when pruning lower down the plant as the ficus tree can develop aerial roots. Removing these will put the plants into shock and slow their growth. You can identify these aerial roots easily as they are smaller and paler in color than standard growth. 

How much humidity and heat does my Ficus Tineke need? 

The Ficus Tineke should be kept at an ideal temperature between 18 and 21 degrees celsius. They can survive slightly higher temperatures, but will decline quickly in colder temperatures. You should do your best to maintain a constant temperature in your room so avoid placing it near radiators or cold draughts. 

The Ficus is a tropical houseplant that is native to the more humid areas on the planet. It has adapted to thrive in high humidity environments so would make an ideal houseplant for the kitchen or bathroom. Low humidity can cause the leaves to shrivel up and drop off. If your plant is not in a naturally humid room you should mist the leaves regularly with water or place your plant on a pebble tray. 

What diseases or pests affect Ficus Tineke ?

Root rot - root rot is caused when the soil is too wet for a long period of time. The first sign of root rot in your Ficus is that it drops its leaves without any warning. This may be caused by other reasons, so if you suspect root rot you can check by gently listing the plant from the soil to check the roots. Healthy roots are white and stiff, but infected roots will be black, discolored and smell rotten. To fix this issue you will need to prune away any affected roots and repot the plant into new soil. If you catch the problem in time it is easy to fix, but may cause some stress to your plant. 

Fungal disease - The Ficus is prone to fungal infections and diseases when being pruned. You will first notice this as white, sometimes hairy, spots on the stems. To solve this issue you should immediately remove any part of the plant that has been affected with sterilized shears. If the disease continues to spread you may have to spray your plant with a houseplant friendly fungicide.   

White fly - Whiteflies are sap-drinking flies that infest the leaves of plants. They are easily identified as they will climb over and lay their eggs on the leaves. If not dealt with, these plants can quickly slow down the growth of your plant and cause damage to the leaves. To remove a whitefly infestation, spray the plant with water or a houseplant friendly insecticide until they disappear. 

How often should I repot my Ficus Tineke ?

If given good growing conditions, the ficus is a fast-growing houseplant that will outgrow its pot quicker than some other plants. On average you will need to repot your Ficus every two to three years when your pot grows too small for your plant. You can tell that your plant has outgrown its pot when its growth slows. Choose a pot that is one to two inches wider than your current one. 

Fill the bottom of the new pot with soil with a small mound in the middle. Remove the Ficus from the old pot and loosen the soil around the roots. Place the plant in the new pot with the roots down the side of the mound. Pack new soil around the roots and water the plant well. In the first few weeks after repotting, the plant may droop slightly as it gets used to its new environment.