Ficus Alii Plant
Ficus maclellandii
Ficus Amstel
The Ficus Alii tree, or Amstel King as it is sometimes called, is a large plant that originally came from Asia, Malaysia, and India. The Ficus Alii was first grown commercially in Hawaii where it got the Hawaiian name “alii” which means “king.” Although a Ficus alii is closely related to the Ficus benjamina, the Alii variety is much more tolerant and forgiving; it rarely sheds leaves, tolerates lower light, and allows you to move it around without going into shock. A Ficus alii does grows about 25% slower than a Ficus benjamina.
The leaves of a Ficus alii are quite different than those of the usual ficus trees we are familiar with. The leaves are medium green, long (3″-10”), narrow, willow-like, and thick. The newer King Alii ficus plants have wider leaves than the original Ficus alii trees. New growth is a pretty reddish bronze color until the leaves mature to a natural green color. If you want a ficus tree in your home or office, a Ficus alii is a great alternative to the finicky Ficus benjamina.
These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
Ficus alii
Light
Ficus Alii plants do well in bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.; however, they can survive in medium light. The lower the light levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222******
Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant.
Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties.
Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur.
Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening.
Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets.
See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in
Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
, the longer a Ficus Alii takes to produce new leaves. Rotate weekly to maintain the plant's beautiful shape.
Water
Water a Ficus Alii when the top 1" of the soil has dried out. If the plant is in a container larger than 12," wait until the top 2" of soil has dried out. Water well so that excess water drains out the drip holes in the bottom of the pot. Immediately empty excess water and do not allow a Ficus Alii to sit in water. New growth turns black and green leaves fall off from over -watering. Leaves become brown and crunchy, drop off, and may turn yellow when the plant needs water.
Fertilizer
Feed monthly with a well-balanced liquid fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.
when the plant is actively growing. It is not necessary to feed a Ficus Alii during the winter and fall. Avoid using any plant foods that contain the chemical boron.
Temperature
Unlike the Ficus Benjamina, Ficus Alii plants are much more tolerant of temperature changes. Although a Ficus Alii prefers temperatures between 60°-85° F (19°-25° C), these plants can survive in temperatures as low as 45° for a short time.
Humidity
A Ficus Alii prefers medium humidity, but still grows well in basic household humidity.
Flowering
These plants produce Insignificant flowers & berries that should be removed as soon as they appear.
Pests
whiteflyWhiteflies are small gnat-like insects, covered in a powdery white wax; they feed on the sap of plants. This causes leaf-drop and weakens the plant in general. Whiteflies secrete a sticky substance called honeydew while they feed. The flying adults lay eggs on the tops of leaves, but it is the immature nymph stage, feeding unnoticed on the underside of the leaves, that does the real damage. Yellow sticky cards are a good way to trap the flying adults and prevent new eggs. Spray the Green Solution to get rid of the feeding nymphs on the underside of the leaves., Mealy BugsLearn how to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants., scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew. and thripThrip are tiny winged brown insects that feed on the surfaces of plant leaves, flowers, and buds. They leave silver spots around their feeding areas and dark dots of excrement. Thrip not only weaken plant growth and distort buds and flowers, they transmit viruses from plant to plant as they fly around. The Green Solution, Neem Oil, and Yellow Sticky Cards all are effective in eliminating thrip.s are plant pests that can attack a Ficus Alii.
Diseases
botrytisBotrytis, or Gray Mold as it is commonly called, is a fungus that attacks the leaves, flowers, stems, and rhizomes of house plants. It first appears as a round brown or gray spot that gradually turns into a mass of fuzzy gray spores. This is where the nickname, Gray Mold, comes from. Prevent Botrytis by quickly removing all dead or dying leaves and flowers that can serve as a breeding grounds. Keep water off of the leaves and provide good air circulation around plants. If a plant becomes infected with Gray Mold, trim off the diseased areas, remove any soil that has mold on it, and spray with a commercial fungicide. If you are adverse to chemicals you can try this homemade remedy. Put a tablespoon or two of baking soda in a spray bottle, add a teaspoon or two of mineral oil, and fill with water. Shake well and spray all parts of the plant. Botrytis often attacks the flower buds of Cyclamen, Begonias, African Violets, Lilies, and Geraniums. or Gray Mold are plant diseases that occur when the leaves of a Ficus Alii are kept too wet. Anthracnose is another plant disease that can be a problem.
Soil
Use a good, all purpose, well- aerated potting soil.
Pot Size
The roots of Ficus Alii plants grow very slowly, so don't be in a rush to move the plant to a larger pot. Be sure the roots of your Ficus tree have filled the entire bottom of its pot before moving the plant to a larger container. Ficus Alii houseplants like to be root- bound.
Pruning
Prune a ficus during the winter to maintain the shape of the plant.
Propagation
Propagate a Ficus Alli using branch cuttingsLearn how to propagate plants using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, cane cuttings, and branch cuttings..
Poisonous Plant Info
Ficus Alii plants are Poisonous HouseplantsIn her new book, Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat!, plant care professional Judy Feldstein shares information about twenty-five common houseplants, each with various levels of toxicity, and the possible consequences if your pet or child snacks on them. with a levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222******
Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant.
Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties.
Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur.
Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening.
Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets.
See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in
Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
#2 toxicity. The sap contains latex that can cause skin irritations. Always wear gloves when pruning.
Can I put my Ficus Alii outside on the porch for the summer?
You can put your Ficus Alii outside for the summer if it is never in the direct sun and evening temperatures do not go below 55 degrees.
I've got my Ficus Alii in the corner of my living room. One side is doing really well but one side is dropping leaves. There is no draft on it.
The side facing the wall is not getting enough light. You need to turn your Ficus Alii each week so that all sides are getting sufficient light.
My Ficus Alii is around 5ft and is in a pot that's around 11.". Should I put it into a bigger pot?
The roots of a Ficus Alii grow very slowly and the plant likes to be root bound. It only needs to be repotted every three years or so when the plant has become totally root bound.
Why does my ficus tree get yellow leaves.
Ficuse trees get yellow leaves when they need more water. Green leaves fall off or get brown and crunchy and baby leaves turn black when a ficus is over- watered.
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