Hi! Would love any input if possible.

I'd read this thread first if you haven't already...it's a good primer on Ficus: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1485206/ficus-benjamina-and-most-other-commonly-grown-tropical-ficus?n=58

A couple of questions:

- You mention that a south facing window wasn't enough light...did you mean it was north-facing? Because a south-facing window would get more light than any other direction.

- How did you come to the "every two weeks" watering schedule? Generally you should water houseplants when they're dry, not on a schedule. Before watering, have you checked the soil moisture at the bottom of the pot?

Thank you Andy! I will check out that thread. It is in between south and west facing windows. We live on the top floor but we face the courtyard and another building.

I suppose we came around the watering schedule based on anecdotes around the Internet. I was worried that the brown spots were overwatering symptoms...

Do you think we should prune off the bottom growth? Two top leaves have already fallen off during the lifespan of this thread, haha

Hi Chihsin,

I live in NYC and care for more than a dozen Ficus lyratas and have for over 30 years. Humidity is not the problem, so you ca dispense with the pebble trays, humidifier and showers. When properly irrigated, Lyratas do just fine in low humidity. Likewise, stop fertilizing. Fertilizer is intended for healthy, vigorously growing plants that are using up nutrients in the soil. It is not medicine.

Light may be a problem because your windows are overlooking a courtyard and not receiving as much as a south or west window would in locations outside the city. Your Lyrata would benefit from a few hours of direct sun. Move your plant directly in front of a completely uncovered (no sheers) window.

Watering Lyratas is tricky. They do not tolerate dryness very well, but they also do not like constantly wet soil either. I suggest that you allow no more then the top inch of soil to dry in between thorough waterings. Develop a consistent watering routine.

In FL nurseries, Lyratas are grown in two basic forms - tree and bush. You have the latter but apparently prefer the former. The multiple stems is the tip-off to that. It will be very hard for you to achieve the tree form vision that you have. You can remove the lower leaves if you prefer, but having multiple bare stems at the bottom may look a little odd. But that is personal choice. Howeve you prune, it will not affect the health of growth of the plant. It will only alter its appearance

The important thing is to get the light and watering under control so that all future growth will come in healthy and blemish-free. Existing brown spots will never disappear, so it is important to prevent more in the future.

~Will

Your goal is easily reachable if you have the patience required to put yourself on tree time and work WITH the plant, and you really don't have to go through a period where the plant looks unsightly.

Planned plant compositions with 3 or even more trunks that mimic a tree shape can be as attractive as a specimen with a single trunk. In fact, how skillfully the composition is planned and arranged would determine whether the single or multi-trunk specimen has more eye appeal.

This is a Japanese maple group arrangement with 5 trunks, but you get the idea how multiple plants can work together to provide roughly the same image as tree with a single trunk.

Another maple composition in a mother/daughter style:

I think your first project, though, is to get a handle on your plant's cultural requirements. The leaves indicate some over-watering has been going on and perhaps a high level of dissolved solids (salts) in the soil solution. Getting your plant into a soil you can water correctly will make everything easier. It allows you to take and keep control over the plant's nutritional needs, and relieves you of the need to fight the soil for the plant's vitality and appearance.

I can answer all the questions you asked, but in all honesty, they're going to be moot if you can't ensure the plant's viability and good health from year to year. Let me know if you want to chase that thought a bit, with the idea of formulating a long-term plan that will allow you to reach your goals.

Al