somehow i missed this one! it depends on the ficus and how far south you are. i have a ficus benjamina that has been outside all summer and will continue to be outside till we start getting chilly nights in the mid-low 50's. on the other hand, fig trees (also a ficus) around here are fine even when it freezes because it doesn't freeze hard enough, long enough to kill them. so it is really species/cultivar specific.