banyan

The banyan, or Ficus benghalensis, typically needs to be watered about once a week with about a gallon of water per week. You may need to adjust this amount if the weather is particularly dry or if your banyan is in a pot. In the spring and summer, banyans should be watered deeply, thoroughly saturating the soil. During the cooler, dryer autumn and winter months, you should reduce the amount of water given and only water when the soil is slightly dry.

Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) plants enjoy bright sunlight but can also tolerate some partial shade. In regions with strong sunlight, banyan plants should ideally receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. In regions with subtropical climates, banyan trees should receive bright, indirect sunlight throughout most of the day. Banyan plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest points of the day. In regions with moderate climates, morning sunlight is best for banyan plants, as the afternoon hours may be too hot. Banyan trees can also tolerate growing indoors, if provided with adequate light.

Banyan trees (Ficus benghalensis) should be pruned in early spring, when the weather is dry and warm. Prune to maintain size and shape, but be careful not to remove too much of the top growth. To reduce the size of a tree, make sure to reduce the number of stems. If you want to thicken and straighten the trunk, cut back the aerial roots at the base of the trunk and keep the top portion of the tree clean and open. To keep the tree healthy, remove any dead, diseased, or crossed branches. Avoid pruning more than 1-fourth of the tree at 1 time.