The birch fig shows its most beautiful side when it can enjoy the natural lighting conditions outdoors. Here, mild sun rays in the morning or evening caress the pretty leaves, which promotes harmonious growth without curling. Since the exotic plant cannot tolerate frost, its outdoor stay follows certain premises. You can find out what these are here.
When can the Ficus Benjamina be outside?
The Ficus Benjamina can be left outside from May to September as long as temperatures do not fall below 16°C. Choose a sunny to semi-shady location to avoid sunburn on the leaves and protect the plant from cold drafts and wind.
Temperature signals the start signal for outside
Due to its tropical origins, the birch fig is not familiar with winter conditions. Even at temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius, the evergreen rainforest plants shiver. This applies equally to green and variegated Benjamini species. A Ficus benjamina should therefore only be outdoors under the following conditions:
- The temperatures do not fall below 16 degrees Celsius even at night
- The location is sunny to partially shaded
- Protected from cold drafts and wind throw
In our latitudes, the time window for spending time outdoors is open from mid-May to mid-September. The final starting signal for the move outside is not the calendar, but the thermometer. Since no one wants to get up at night to check the nighttime temperatures, a minimum-maximum thermometer (€11.00 on Amazon) acts as a practical tool. If adjusted correctly, the device shows the next morning how cold it was the night before.
Yellow leaves signal sunburn
A birch fig's desire for bright lighting conditions is a balancing act when choosing a location outdoors. If your Benjamini is exposed to direct sunlight at midday, the evergreen leaves will suffer sunburn.
The damage appears in the form of light brown to yellow spots with a brown edge. Please move the birch fig immediately to a semi-shady place or provide shading during the critical midday hours. Unless you are bothered by the spotty leaves, please do not cut them off. The green tissue parts are still involved in vital photosynthesis.
Tip
As a bonsai, your Ficus benjamina feels particularly comfortable outdoors as long as the temperatures do not fall below the minimum of 16 degrees Celsius. Since your mini-sized birch fig will be under water even in the slightest downpour, please choose a specific spot under the canopy or an awning.
