Ficus benghalensis ‘Audrey’

Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey' is an ornamental tropical plant, increasingly popular as an indoor plant, appreciated for its matte, velvety leaves and slightly sage-green color.

Main features:

• Leaves: large, oval, with a velvety texture and very visible white central veins. The leaf surface is matte, with a pleasant soft green shade.

• Stem: woody, with a light appearance, often decorative as the plant matures.

• Growth: It has a moderate to fast growth rate and can become a shrub or small tree indoors, reaching 1.5–2 m tall in pots. In the wild (India), it becomes a giant tree, considered the national tree of India.

• Light: prefers bright indirect light; tolerates medium light, but in the absence of sufficient light it may lose its leaves.

• Watering: Allow the substrate to dry 40–50% between waterings. It is sensitive to excess water, which can lead to yellowing and leaf drop.

• Temperature: average; does not tolerate temperatures below 12°C .

• Humidity: Prefers moderate humidity, but tolerates indoor air. Adapts more easily than Ficus lyrata.

• Soil: aerated and well-drained mixture based on peat, universal soil and perlite or bark.

Additional care:

• Rotate the pot periodically to maintain a symmetrical shape.

• Wipe the leaves regularly with a damp cloth to remove dust and allow for efficient photosynthesis.

• It is more tolerant than other ficuses to environmental changes, but can still react by losing a few leaves if moved suddenly or overstressed.