Triangle ficus care guide

The triangle ficus is a small indoor tree with stiff, glossy leaves shaped like triangles. Most sold today are the variegated form, with creamy edges on each leaf. It grows slower than other figs and stays a good size for a room. Like all figs, it likes bright light and hates being moved.

Light

Give it bright indirect light. An east window, or a spot near a south or west window, works well. A few hours of morning sun is fine.

The variegated form needs more light than the plain green one. The cream parts of the leaf cannot make food. In low light, new leaves come in greener and smaller.

Every leaf on a fig is built for the light it grew in. Move the plant to a dimmer spot, and it may drop leaves, then grow new ones suited to the new light. Read more in the weeping fig care guide.

Water

Water when the top 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In winter, it needs water less often.

Both soggy soil and bone-dry soil cause leaf drop. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite or bark.

It grows slow and likes a snug pot. Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it away from heat vents, cold drafts, and doors that open in winter. Sudden changes cause leaf drop.

Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F), and above 13°C (55°F).

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Pruning

Prune in spring or early summer to shape it. Cut just above a leaf. New branches grow from below the cut.

Wear gloves. The milky sap irritates skin.

Propagation

Take a stem cutting 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long with a few leaves. Let the sap stop, then root it in water or moist houseplant mix. Keep it warm and in bright light. Roots can take four to eight weeks. Triangle ficus is slower to root than most figs.

Air layering works well on a woody branch. Read the rubber plant care guide for the method.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Leaves drop after a move	Change in light. It will settle in a few weeks.
New leaves come in green, no cream	Not enough light
Brown, crispy edges on cream parts	Too much hot sun, or dry soil
Yellow leaves falling	Too much water
Fine webbing under leaves	Spider mites
Sticky leaves, brown bumps	Scale

Pests

Spider mites, scale, and mealybugs are the most common pests. Check under the leaves and along the stems. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists figs, such as the weeping fig, as toxic to cats and dogs. The triangle ficus has the same milky sap. It can irritate the mouth, stomach, and skin.

Varieties

• Green triangle ficus has plain, dark green leaves. It handles a bit less light.
• Variegated triangle ficus, Ficus triangularis ‘Variegata’, has cream and green leaves. It is the one most stores sell.

Botanists now list this plant as Ficus natalensis subsp. leprieurii. Stores still sell it as Ficus triangularis.