I'm not being snotty or chastising you for asking for information that would take a considerable length of time to put into a form that would convince you it's a plan you should follow. The reasons you should do this or that are far more important to you as a grower than a bunch of instructions from a group of hobbyists (and I'm in that group) who only occasionally join minds in consensus.

A) This thread covers growing basics to the degree that, if followed, should help you avoid all the most common problems you'll potentially encounter.

B) This thread goes into considerable detail about how to tend ficus trees in pots.

C) Since root health is a prerequisite to a healthy plant, and how to maintain a healthy root system is generally not widely understood, this thread, about how water:air relationships in soil affect your plant probably represents the largest step forward you can take at any one time as a grower of plants in pots.

Your own efforts to gain a working knowledge about what your plant wants/needs will allow you to ask direct questions and relieve us from the chore of providing information that might or might of not be of use to you.

Too, if you do a search, you'll find several threads that specifically discuss FLF care.

Al

Looks in good health. Id say the next size pot up should do. Hard to tell how big the pot is but its size should be stamped underneath. As for compost, sorry soil, the usual well drained compost would do. I use miracle gro compost, good all rounder. I also put a layer of gravel at the bottom to help with drainage. A soggy bottom isnt a good thing

Thanks greenlarry66! That's very helpful.

FWIW - potting up is a practice that ensures limitations (due to root congestion in the original root mass), Miracle-Gro soil products are all very water retentive and not a good choice for potted figs (or other plants grown indoors), and drainage layers don't help with drainage, in fact, they are counterproductive. See middle picture.

Al

Al, I know you say you're "not be snotty or chastising" me but it reads that way. Kind of like when people say, "I don't mean to offend you…" but what comes out of their mouth is actually offensive. I'm perplexed because I had actually read both of your links in their entirety before posting. Before I posted my question I had gained a better understanding of the importance of the "cultural" needs of the plant. I haven't even watered this plant yet so I haven't done anything wrong and hoped to keep it that way. Perhaps I wrongly assumed that there is a right size pot, a right growing mix, and a right fertilizer for a currently healthy plant just brought home from a nursery. I was hoping someone could tell me to do X,Y,Z and by doing so I'd be off to a good start. I'm just trying to not kill what is currently a healthy living organism and I'm not sure why my question sparked such a response from you when you seem to go out of your way to write lengthy responses to other's questions. I believe I will find another gardening website to direct my questions in the future.

Al, Ive been potting plants this way since I was a kid. And Ive never come across this term 'perched water' before!

Larry - now you have, and it's worth investigating.

M - I'm sorry you couldn't see that I was trying to be as helpful as I possibly could w/o writing a tome. Someone could suggest a pot size or a fertilizer or tell you to pot up instead of repotting or offer suggestions re a long list of topics, but w/o explaining why those suggestions are offered you have no idea if the person knows what he's talking about or is just repeating what he read/heard somewhere. Your questions lead me to believe you hadn't seen any of those links yet, because if you had, your questions would have been answered there, along with many not yet asked. It doesn't take any time to simply answer the questions you asked, but qualifying the answer so it means something to you does. I almost never suggest something w/o telling people why I suggest it, and all the whys are contained in the links I posted.

Answers. After root pruning, the plant can go back into the same pot with plenty of room for roots to run. The best way to repot is bare-root and root prune in June if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. Use a structurally stable soil that can be watered to beyond saturation w/o you having to worry about the soil remaining soggy for long periods so root function/health is impaired. How much soil volume you can safely prefill the pot with depends on soil choice. The more water-retentive the soil, the more likely it is that over-potting will come into play. You need to take full responsibility for your plant's nutrition. 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers are very good for ficus. I suggest Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 for a variety of reasons. How often you fertilize depends on soil choice, fertilizer type, temperature, and growth rate. These are the answers to the questions you asked with very little qualification. Think how much more they would mean if I explained all the whys. All the whys are in the links I left, in considerable detail.

Al

Al- I assure you, I read the links. I am offended by the suggestion that I am lying about reading them. Perhaps I am just stupid, although I don't believe that to be the case. What I am is a busy mom of three young kids who would LOVE to read everything I can about gardening and plant care (my degree is in Botany and I taught middle school and high school science) but can only find five minutes here and there to read up on what I consider to be an enjoyable hobby. I have two plants sitting in my dining room that deserve proper care. I came to this forum searching for answers. I did as much background reading as I could but still wasn't sure exactly what my plant needed. I would suggest that you go back and read your posts but this time read them with a beginner's background with limited time to learn a new hobby. It's not easy to sort through so much information in the limited amount of time one has allotted for "free time", trying to glean what applies to one's own particular plant. In one of your posts you claim that it brings you joy to help others, but, as a former teacher, I have to say, I think you're missing the boat as an "educator". Clearly you are very knowledgeable and have a passion, which I appreciate. It would have been nice to get some quick answers to my questions (leaving for three days tomorrow with my daughter's soccer team and it's my son's birthday party tonight and didn't want to kill the plant in the next few days). Thank you for the answers you have provided.

I usually wont comment on post with differing opinions but this post bothered me so I will. Mbntn74, Al was being very kind taking his time to show you links that will help you in keeping you ficus in tip top shape. It's not Al's fault you bought a plant you know nothing about and don't have the time to learn how to take care of it. As a teacher would you give your students a test without them studying for it? There is so much to learn from this web site and all the people on it if you just take the time. jack

Thanks Elisabeth. I'll try that.

mbntn74, there is a Chinese? adage that runs, "Give a man a fish; and you give him a meal. Teach a man to catch fish and he will not starve".

"as a former teacher, I have to say," that 'Children do not come to us as little bottles to be filled with knowledge. They come to us as little bottles that already contain product; and what we add must blend - not curdle or explode...."

As a scientist, I have to say that an organism presents the sum total of its heredity and environment, from conception to date.

As an agriculturist, by both training and experience, I know that plant diagnosis and prognosis begin with the plant's history. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to say, "Tell me the truth, has this plant been watered every week; or just last week?"

"I have two plants sitting in my dining room that deserve proper care." And my first question is, "What can you tell me about the past care and feeding of those two plants?"

I will be presumptuous enough to answer for you, "Nothing!"

You "purchased two of these beautiful fiddle leaf figs from my local nursery yesterday." And there was your first opportunity to learn something about how to care for them. But I expect that you were too busy to avail yourself of probably 50 years total knowledge and experience that is there for the asking at your local nursery and/or garden center. I understand that. I started writing this at 3.15 am because I might not get the time to do so before mid-afternoon tomorrow - and by that time my passion for this topic might cool.

"It's not easy to sort through so much information in the limited amount of time".

So welcome to the 21st. Century and the world of people who care to share what they know. It is just too bad that you cannot stretch your mind enough to stay with the forum. You remind me of the scientist who delivered a scintillating lecture to a graduating class. During the discussion afterwards, one student remarked that the lecture went a bit "above our heads..." "That is regrettable; because I beamed my lecture to where I thought your heads should be."

And after all these years, I bump up against the "Peter Principle" one more time.

Sorry Al but the idea of perched water sounds bogus to me, something you made up! Come on!

greenlarry, I cannot allow your statement to stand.

The "perched water table" is a well established and thoroughly studied feature in "Field Drainage and Land Reclamation" texts.

Indeed, when you see on TV dramatic footage of a $Million mansion sliding into the ocean, it might well be the effect of "PWT".

PWT

L - with about the same amount of effort as it took to disagree with the laws of physics, a clear plastic cup, and the MG medium you suggested as a good "go to" medium, you can visually confirm the validity of a PWT. Poke (melt) a small hole in the cup. Seal the hole with tape. Fully saturate the soil. Remove tape. Allow soil to drain. After the cup stops draining, tilt the cup at a 45* angle or push a toothpick through the drain hole so it hangs below the cup bottom. The additional water that exits the cup is perched water. Or, confirm both the existence and the ht of the PWT by looking at it through the clear cup.

There is a thread on the container gardening forum about PWTs that has seen an active life since originally being posted in '05 (close to 3,500 posts). I can't remember anyone suggesting that PWTs do not exist. Learning how to recognize and avoid or deal with PWTs in containers represents a significant step forward for container gardeners because of how limiting to root health and root function PWTs are.

If you click me, we'll go to the thread and the explanation.

Al

Hello Everyone!!!

Just wanted to come over and say hi to to all and make a few comments..

I did as you said mbntn74 and came back to read as if I was a " newbie"... Here is my take on the matter...

We welcome all type of new people and we love the enthusiasm that they bring to the forums as well. Most of us come here to relax and post when we can and offer help when it's possible ( I work a lot of long crazy hours) so when I do read or post it's a way to relax.

You initial post was a kind post with a lot of questions that asked things like " exactly". Sometimes it takes time to figure out what, when , where and how a new plant will react to your house . It depends on where its located, is it near heat? Ac vents? A southern Window? So many things to think about before you start to ask about how do I take this beautiful tree and give it a major overhaul before I know why I need too!

Al was just trying to help you with links to guide you in a direction so it would be more helpful so that you can make the decisions for your own tree. He is very knowledgeable in most house plants issues and can point you to the information that you are inquiring about. Sometimes it might seem like others want one person to make up their own minds for them on soil, water, container, and mix before they really understand what's available and why you should pick the right one for you.. He really is a very patient person who helps so many people. Al has taught me so many different ways on growing, repotting and the overall care that I have learned to make my trees healthier. It took time to learn and it doesn't come on the tree ( tag instructions) for us...

I hope you will go back and you reread this thread and see where Al was trying to send you so you could sit back and understand things before you take your beautiful tree that you have and start in on it without knowing why or what you are trying to gain. We really enjoy having all of our friends make offerings to help us when we have questions.. So I hope that you understand what I'm trying to explain to you.

Good luck to you and your new trees! They are beautiful and I'm sure you will find what you are looking for once you spend a few minutes reading some great informative post that will help you and most importantly, help the overall health of your new trees!!!

Perched water does exist and I have seen it in containers from long ago up until now with my mixes. Using a good fast draining mix makes it much less, but you will always have a little.. Just tilt your pot!!!

Great points ronalawn!!!

Great thread.. Hope I helped in some small way!!

Thank you Al for all you do!!! I have learned so much from you and I will say that I'll always be learning ... It just doesn't end!!!

Happy Gardening to you all...

Laura

Thank you, Laura. It's always a pleasure to collaborate with you and help where I can. It's been a joy to watch the Plumeria community make a special place for you. What an asset you are to these forums.

Jack/Ron - I'm glad you offered your comments. I was left trying to figure out what I said that was so offensive, when my sole intent was to put this person on the shortest path to the most good. I think the misunderstanding illustrates how easy it is to misinterpret the written word and how a/any person's frame of mind can affect perceptions.

Al

Thank you Al I hope the OP can come back and see what we are all about.. I think she would like us if she gives us a chance.. I know she would really enjoy you and your knowledge..

You are so nice.. Thanks for the kind comments... Made my day...

;-)

Laura

Al, I think you're right--this misunderstanding came from misinterpretation and the difference that a person's frame of mind or experience can make. Clearly the members of this group know you well and appreciate the patience, generosity and knowledge that you contribute to the community. Speaking as someone who doesn't frequent gardenweb, I will say that to me your initial post did read kind of "snotty," as you term it. But that's because I'm not familiar with you, and so it read as a condescending lecture as opposed to what I now believe it was--that is, a kind attempt to explain why it wasn't likely to be much help if you gave short black-and-white answers that may or may not apply to an individual plant.

I don't have a degree in botany like the OP, but I think most choices in life are a cost/benefit analysis. I've been able to keep most houseplants alive just fine without giving two seconds worth of thought to the kind of potting medium or pot I use. I'm sure they would be better than just "alive" with the right materials, but honestly, it's not a priority to me most of the time so I don't really need that info because I'm not motivated enough to take advantage of it. And there is nothing wrong with that per se.

I will say, I inherited 20 (!) plants of varying sizes from a neighbor and have put them in my new office, which I just moved to. It takes so long to care for these plants. Like 30 - 45 minutes every Thursday. I've decided to get into it instead of looking at it as a chore, and it does make a nice mindfulness exercise! The one I'm most attached to is my fiddle leaf fig which I'm enjoying learning about. So I WILL use those links you provide. :-)

Be well.

I appreciate your allowing me the benefit of the doubt. The OP's reaction actually hurt my feelings because in my heart I knew my intentions were inculpable. I always focus on trying to shed light, rather than produce heat, but will admit to sometimes intentionally abrading those purposefully firing shots over my bow. In the same vein of honesty, I can say I try always to keep the best interest of those I'm attempting to help at the forefront, as I did in this thread. I want to provide hope and encouragement via the information I impart, rather than friction or a sense of frustration; and, I realized that reviewing what I provided while in a critical frame of mind could leave the OP thinking I was being sniffy, which was why I asked that she not view my offering as a lecture or as snotty - not the first time that request worked at odds with how it was intended, btw. I always always hope my offerings help others sway the reward:effort ratio to greater favor rewards, and that's the only thing that keeps me posting on the forums - the feeling that I might have played some part in helping others get more from the growing experience.

I try to help anyone who needs help or asks for it, but I'm less interested in those who simply want only those answers that embody the superlatives of 'simple' and 'easy'. It's frustrating when the time is taken to provide and qualify a detailed response that will improve the lot of the plant and increase the grower's sense of accomplishment, only to have the grower seize on a suggestion that can't help and might even prove counterproductive ........ but "Life is like a box of chocolates .......".

Thanks again!

Al

"It's frustrating when the time is taken to provide and qualify a detailed response that will improve the lot of the plant and increase the grower's sense of accomplishment, only to have the grower seize on a suggestion that can't help and might even prove counterproductive ........ but "Life is like a box of chocolates ......."."

Al, believe me, I know what you mean 100%. I'm a psychotherapist and what you describe is basically my professional life in a nutshell. ;-) I've had to learn to accept that I have to meet people where they are, and that's all there is to it.

On that note, I'm going to stop responding in this thread so I can start a new one, entitled "Al's Gritty Mix--how to transplant." :-D