If you put it in the ground, you will regret it as it grows. All Ficus have spreading surface roots. They crack foundations of houses hundreds of feet from where they're planted. They blow over in storms. Toss it in the trash and get a different plant.

What I use for an inexpensive large planting container is a feed bucket/utility tub from a farm supply store - the kind with nylon rope handles. I think the last one cost about $15.00. Drilled the appropiate number of drainage holes and I'm good to go. I've had a lemon tree in one for several years now.

But if the roots go through the container, and they will, you have a problem. Ficus is awful in the ground.

I concur w/ fawnridge - we had to remove a ficus Benjamina from a built-in planter @ our church, because it was lifting & cracking the 80 yr-old concrete foundation - what a horrible job! The roots were extremely fibrous & tough & ruined chainsaw blades - it took hours of labour by 4-5 people.

Unless you have a really big piece of property & can plant it far away from any structures, putting it in the ground can be a colossal mistake. Those things can get as big as Banyan trees.

Hi
One of the really great aspects of the ficus family is the ability to be 'dwarfed" How tall do you want it to be ?? Take it out of the pot and remove about 50 percent of the tap and other roots. replace the potting mix with packed long fibered sphagnum moss or if you want try standard "bonsai" methods. Certainly not necessary though.
Periodocly you can take it out of the pot and do more root pruning. I would certainly agree with the others DON'T put it in the ground !!! gary

Thank you all so very much. This has been very enlightening! I'm going to give repotting a go. I'll try to get some pix to post.
Jan