Ficus Lyrata Bush

1. Planting:  This plant thrives in bright indirect light to full sun and can benefit from a few hours of direct sunlight, especially if placed in an east-facing window. If kept in too dark of an environment, the plant will not grow rapidly. Use a good, fast-draining potting soil for optimal growth. It's a good idea to repot the plant annually, increasing the pot size by 2 to 4 inches until it reaches your desired size or until the container becomes too large to manage. Once the plant is in a large container, remove the top few inches of soil each year and replace it with fresh potting soil.

2. Watering: Water your plant every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. You may need to water more frequently in brighter light conditions and less often in lower light. Keep the soil moist, but avoid letting it sit in water, as this can lead to leaf drop and root rot. Only the surface of the soil should dry out between waterings; when the top inch of soil feels dry, it's time to water the plant again. Additionally, consider misting the plant regularly to increase humidity around it.

3. Fertilizing:  Apply Maxsea All-Purpose fertilizer seasonally, or up to once a month for plants that are not in optimal condition or are recovering from stress. These stressed plants are more sensitive to high salt levels, so it's essential to flush your potting soil thoroughly, ideally on a monthly basis, to prevent the buildup of fertilizer salts.

4. Pruning:  Due to their large leaves, these plants are not typically suited for heavy trimming to maintain a manageable size. However, they can tolerate light pruning for shaping. To help prevent leaf spotting and fungal diseases while keeping your plant healthy, be sure to trim it regularly by removing any dead leaves and twigs as you notice them.