Temperature
60–85°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Banyan fig
Ficus benghalensis
Banyan fig wants bright indirect light and water every 7 to 14 days, once the top two inches are dry. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Light
Bright indirect
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
An east window, or within three feet of a south one. More tolerant of a move than a weeping fig, which is why it is sold as the easier alternative.
Water
Every 7–14 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the top two inches are dry, not on a schedule.
Humidity
40% and up
Wants 55%. Struggles in dry winter air.
Difficulty
Easy
Scores 2 of 5: Scores 2 of 5: genuinely easier than either the fiddle-leaf or the weeping fig — it drops fewer leaves when moved and tolerates a wider light range. The velvety leaves mark if wiped hard.
Habit
Upright
Grows to 36–120 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — poison severity low
Contains proteolytic enzyme, psoralen. Reported signs include oral irritation, salivation, vomiting.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says 2 sources concur
- ASPCA — entry for a different species in this genus: Ficus benjamina
- Toxic to cats and dogs · proteolytic enzyme, psoralen
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Proteolytic enzyme and psoralen · If ingested by pets or humans, it can cause decreased appetite, drooling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The sap can irritate the skin.
Light
Bright indirect light. An east window, or within three feet of a south one. More tolerant of a move than a weeping fig, which is why it is sold as the easier alternative.
Water
Every 7 to 14 days in a 6-inch pot, when the top two inches are dry.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the top two inches are dry |
Soil and potting
Three parts potting soil, one part perlite, one part orchid bark.
Repot roughly every 2 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Leaf drop this week
- Yellow leaves this week
- Brown crispy edges monitor
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Scale insects this week
- Spider mites act today
- Mealybugs this week
Propagation
Stem cutting in water or soil. Roots in 21 to 49 days.
A cutting without a node will not root. It may stay green in water for months and never produce a single root, because it has no growth point.
| Preferred method | stem cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | water, soil |
| Time to root | 21–49 days |
| Node required | Yes |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Ficus benjamina Checked 2026-09-12.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Ficus benghalensis Checked 2026-09-12.
- Wikidata entity Q1405636 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Ficus benghalensis Accepted name; family Moraceae. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Photograph: PJeganathan, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02