Joy

Ficus benghalensis ‘Joy’

Chinese Banyan, Indian Laurel, Strangler fig

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• Joy likes...

  • 

    Regular Watering

    Joy likes her soil to be kept lightly moist, but not soggy. Try not to let her soil dry out more than the top two inches, even in winter.

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    Bright light

    Joy loves bright light so put her in a light room near the window. A south or west-facing room would be ideal.

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    Feeding

    Give Joy a monthly feed with plant food from spring through to autumn when she is actively growing. This will help her put on loads of new leaves.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Ficus benghalensis ‘Joy’ 

  Nickname

  Chinese Banyan, Indian Laurel, Strangler fig 

  Plant type

  Indoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  120-130cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  21cm

• About the Banyan tree

  If you’re already a fan of fig trees or new to this varied genus of houseplants, meet Joy. A cultivar of Ficus benghalensis, ‘Joy’ has been created by plant breeders who wanted to show off those large, smooth, bright green oval leaves with distinct pale, patterned veins. She’s tall, slim and elegant, making a tasteful statement plant without taking up too much space. 

  Known commonly as the Banyan tree, Ficus benghalensis is native to the Indian subcontinent where it is adapted to monsoon rains and drought. The Banyan tree can grow up to 30 metres tall, towering above other trees in the rainforest. Don’t worry about it taking over your home though, by growing it in a pot you restrict the size of its rootball and how big it can grow. This means the bigger the pot you plant it into (if and when it’s time to repot it), the bigger your tree will grow. 

  If you need to keep the size or height of Joy in check, don’t be scared to prune back her stem to just above a node (where the leaves emerge from). Only prune her between October and March when she’s not growing so fast; this way you’re likely to get less latex leakage. Her sticky white sap can irritate the skin so wear gloves when doing this please. 

  Did you know?

  The Banyan tree is considered holy in many religions and in Indian mythology is considered to be immortal.