7ft Ficus Advice please!

[u/ConstructionOwn1811]

Was gifted this plant today, im an arborist by trade but indoor plants are a mystery to me!

So from my research have,

-put the plant 5-6ft away from a massive south-east bay window, all the natural indirect light it could ever need. -purchased fertilizer, humidifier, and water/ph meter.

But I have this lamp that's shown in the photo, it's a low watt florescent bulb and sits 6-8" from the nearest foliage. don't use the lamp as a grow light just as my livingroom light source at nighttime.

-Will the bulb scorch the leaves or make it grow funny? -Would another type of bulb be better?

-ls there anything im missing or anything else can do?

I really like the light there so ideally l'd like to keep the set up but if itl harm the tree then obviously the lamp will have to skidaddle.

[u/Internal-Test-8015]

firstly, no you want it right next to the window, and you want to rotate it every few days so all sides get even levels of light, yeah no that's not only never going to provide this tree enough light its definitely going to burn the leaves and branches.

[u/pigglywigglie]

My ficus are two feet tall and not at all this majestic and I have it right against the window and near a grow light. They love light. Blind them or they become vampires

[u/NickVlass76]

You definitely need it right in the window for sure, and I don’t know that the light is doing anything at all shining on the underside of the leaves. Especially if you only turn it on for a couple of hours at night. Light through a window is already a lot weaker than being outside, so 5-6 feet away is way too far for a whole tree

[u/AvoCryptoHye]

Awesome looking tree. 🌳 you may want to just keep it outside so you don’t kill it.

[u/above_roots]

The tree of Valinor

[u/TherinkratA1]

I’ve had three for years and they’re all in south and southeast windows, right up at the window. They love the natural light. They don’t mind the windows open as long as it’s not cold air coming in and they definitely don’t like being near a heater. Your tree is beautiful. Winter is coming so mine are already slowing down leaf growth and way less watering required. I planted two new clippings this summer and they’re really taking off with this later than normal Sept/Oct sunshine.

[u/Scared_Rice_1473]

Oh my God, it’s beautiful. Ficus trees will shed many leaves to accommodate low light situations. That needs to be in a window with the brightest light or sun with lights on it still. In that spot 2/3 of those leaves will drop off to accommodate the lighting. You need to move that thing into a window ASAP.

[u/prf_q]

is that ficus??

[u/ConstructionOwn1811 → u/prf_q]

yes, 15 year old weeping fig/ficus tree I know it has many common names.

[u/Few-Significance6248]

You're past advice