The Best Soil Mix for Ficus Audrey Plants (Essential Tips)

Q: What are the primary considerations for soil when repotting Ficus Audrey plants?

When repotting a Ficus Audrey plant , ensure the soil is light, fast-draining, and high in peat moss for moisture retention. Use compost or worm castings to ensure there’s also a steady source of natural nutrients as well.

In this guide, we’re going to cover some soil basics and information that will help you choose the best soil mix for your Ficus Audrey plant. There are many indoor houseplants known as Ficus, but the Ficus Audrey is specifically Ficus benghalensis. Also called the Banyan Fig when grown to its full massive height in the wild, the Audrey variety is specifically a dwarf grown indoors. Like many other houseplants, Ficus Audrey requires the right blend of potting mix to thrive.

The best soil mix for Ficus Audrey Plants (Essential Tips)

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The Best Soil Mix for Ficus Audrey Plants – The Essentials

The Ficus Audrey houseplant needs soil that holds plenty of moisture without risking root rot. Peat moss must be balanced with plenty of Perlite to reach the right conditions. Worm castings are also recommended to add nutrients that the plant needs to grow steadily. Ficus Audrey soil should be slightly acidic with a pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.0.

Why Soil Choice Matters

Soil plays multiple roles in supporting the growth of a plant. Houseplants like Ficus Audrey rely on their potting mix (in addition to water and appropriate sunlight) to keep them upright and encourage a healthy root system.

The potting mix or soil must also supply all of the nutrients and water the plant needs. Yet if the soil stays wet for too long, sensitive plants like Ficus tend to develop problems like root rot.

Soil composition even affects factors like the temperature around the roots. It’s necessary to allow roots to absorb oxygen and exchange other gases, which is why you don’t want heavily compacted soil.

Most soil in the ground is based on a combination of sand, clay, silt, and loam. The dominant component determines the type of soil.

Chalky soils are thick with rocks and chalk, while peat soils are heavy and dense. Potting soil mixes should combine only the most suitable soil ingredients in specific ratios for a better balance.

What are the Primary Components Used in a Potting Soil Mix?

A good potting soil mix is made from a combination of organic material that holds water and harder materials that don’t hold water. Adjusting the balance between these two main categories of ingredients determines the final texture and use of the potting mix. Common ingredients include:

Perlite and vermiculite: These are expanded mineral materials that look like tiny white balls or flakes. These ingredients help keep mixes light. They don’t hold any moisture but prevent compaction.
Volcanic rock: Pumice and other expanded rock is an alternative to perlite that offers slightly more water-holding capacity without affecting drainage.
Sand and pebbles: Holding no water yet improving soil texture, coarse sand and small pebbles are popular in drier mixes.
Composted materials: Fully composted forest products, loam, and municipal compost all offer texture and nutrients while holding water. Using a mix that is 100% of these products will lead to dampness and excessive settling.
Pine fines and other bark: Partially composted and finely shredded, bark from pines and other trees form the bulk of many potting mixes. They’re light and fluffy yet hold some moisture.
Coco coir: Harvested as a waste product from coconuts, this shredded material replaces peat moss in many mixes. It holds some moisture but drains well.
Orchid bark: As a more size-controlled alternative to pine fines, orchid bark is made from fir bark that’s chunked and screened.
Peat moss: Not as renewable as other materials, sphagnum peat moss holds moisture better than most other potting mix ingredients.
Soil Activators and Other Additives: Natural additives like soil activators, wetting agents, and fertilizers are common in pre-made soil mixes.

Common Signs You’re Using the Wrong Soil Mix for Ficus Audrey Plants

Yellow leaves: If the soil holds too much moisture, root rot will cause leaf yellowing.
Leaf drop: Ficus Audrey can quickly lose leaves and become completely bare if the soil mix is too compact and causes the roots to die off. Temperature and humidity might also be an issue.
Fungal growth: Mushrooms sprouting up in the pot can indicate the soil is staying too moist. The fungus won’t directly hurt your plant, but it will attract gnats and indicates poor conditions.
Drooping: Before dropping off dramatically, Ficus Audrey leaves may droop to indicate soil mix issues.
Poor growth: In general, a mismatch with the potting mix will cause this houseplant to grow sluggishly or not at all.

The Importance of Well-Draining Potting Soil for Ficus Audrey Plants

Ficus Audrey requires more water than other Ficus varieties. It relies on a steady moisture level in the soil to keep it from losing leaves or drying up, especially in the home’s dry air.

Yet if the potting mix stays too wet, it’ll cause the plant’s roots to rot. Well-draining soil allows for regular watering without risking damage to the roots of the Ficus Audrey.

What pH Levels in the Soil are Best Suited to Ficus Audrey Plants?

Less picky than other plants about soil pH, Ficus Audrey prefers a soil mix with a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0. It prefers the acidic side of the spectrum, but only mildly. This makes it easy to use various composted bark products for its potting mix.

The Ultimate Ficus Audrey Plant Potting Mix Home Recipe

To create your own well-draining, nutrient-rich, loose, and supportive potting mix for Ficus Audrey plants, mix:

50% peat moss or fine coco coir
25% perlite or vermiculite
15% coarse sand
10% worm castings or screened compost.

Ficus Audrey is a heavy feeder, so ensure there’s a source of natural nutrients in the mix. Wet the first two ingredients with warm water first, mixing them with gloved hands. Then proceed to add coarse sand and compost.

The Best Pre-mixed Soils for Ficus Audrey Plants

Almost any basic peat moss potting mix can be enriched with another 25% perlite by volume. This creates a loose enough mix that will still hold plenty of moisture. Ficus Audrey plants fare well in most general-purpose potting soils formulated for houseplants, such as:

(Editors Note: Petal Republic participates in partnership programs with Amazon and other merchants to help connect readers with relevant products and services we may recommend).

Soil Mix for Ficus Audrey Plants FAQs:

How often should I switch soil for my Ficus Audrey?

Ficus Audrey benefits from a new round of potting mix every year. This ensures it gets plenty of nutrients and doesn’t experience compaction around its root ball.

Can I use cactus soil for Ficus Audrey?

Cactus soil can be a little too fast draining for this Ficus. It prefers more moisture to stay around its roots, so try a standard potting soil with 25% perlite or coarse sand added.

Do Ficus Audrey plants like wet or dry soil?

They prefer moist soil, but the roots will rot if the potting mix stays too wet. That makes drainage essential to ensure moisture doesn’t puddle at any point and lead to root rot.

What are the primary considerations for soil when repotting Ficus Audrey plants?

When repotting a Ficus Audrey plant, ensure the soil is light, fast-draining, and high in peat moss for moisture retention. Use compost or worm castings to ensure there’s also a steady source of natural nutrients as well.

Does the size of the plant affect the soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?

Large and well-developed Ficus Audrey plants still need the same essential mix. Small plants may grow better in cacti mix since they can be more sensitive than bigger plants to root rot.

Does the potting container influence the type of soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?

Poor draining pots are hard to compensate for with soil mix alone. Stick to adequately sized and well-draining pots to ensure that the soil mix can do its job.

Do Ficus Audrey need deep potting containers?

The height of these plants calls for balancing them out with deeper pots. The roots generally grow best when the pot is about 1.5 to 2 times as tall as it is wide.

Wrap Up

Ficus Audrey has become one of the trendiest house plants lately due to its relative ease of care. This plant can thrive in almost any home near a south-facing window and the right fast-draining soil mix. Misting can help improve the humidity around the plant to prevent leaf drop.

For more, see our in-depth guide on where to position Ficus Audrey plants in the home for optimal care and Feng Shui benefits.

Andrew Gaumond

Editorial Director | Full Bio | + posts

Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.