Outdoor Potted Ficus Needs Help

Question

I have a small ficus tree in a container on my townhouse patio. It is over 30 years old and survives our southern California climate with twice weekly watering, but it does not put out much foliage. It has become rootbound in its container, but I cannot transplant it into the ground due to space limitations. In the past few summers, I have successfully kept it from being destroyed by an invasive thrip species that targets our large ficus trees in our HOA landscape area. Today, I noticed how full and green these large trees are, and how bare my small tree is. I wanted to know if there any way to improve the health of my tree so it will put out foliage and still have it in a patio container?

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Answer 1

Yes, there are a couple of things that will help. First, remove the succulent that is growing in the container. The ficus is competing with the succulent for nourishment and water.

Secondly, you can root prune the plant so you can return it to the same pot, but with fresh soil. Or, you can upsize the container a size or two. Here is how:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/prune-roots.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ficus/weeping-fig-trees-outside.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ficus/trimming-ficus-trees.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/learn-more-about-repotting-houseplants.htm