A friend who is moving has given me one of her houseplants, which she says =
is a weeping fig. It's been living beside a north window, and looks =
pretty shabby--not many leaves and somewhat dessicated-looking.
I know nothing about this plant's requirements, and I'm wondering if I =
can give it the conditions it needs. In my place it can have either a =
north or a west window. Come winter it will have to put up with 55 =
degrees at night and 65 during the day, plus low humidity. Summers it can =
go outside.
Will it make it or should I just leave it outside tonight to see if the =
prdicted 33 degree temperatures will put it out of its misery?
Gerry Strey
Madison, Wisconsin
-.- Gardens Banner and Tip -.-
Mail overload? Try digesting. Send email to: listserv@lsv.uky.edu
message: set Gardens digest
> A friend who is moving has given me one of her houseplants, which she
says is a weeping fig. It's been living beside a north window, and looks
pretty shabby--not many leaves and somewhat dessicated-looking.<<<
My Weeping fig was a rescue as well. My sister was moving and was about to
throw it out cause it looked so bad. I took it home and checked the
rootball....sure enough it was infested with scale. I just potted it up ,
knocked the scale off, gave the whole plant a good misting with cooled
chamomile tea and watered with liquid fish emulsion , placed in a north
facing window....and its doing very well. Its completely recovered from its
horrible experience with my black thumb sister
alittle misting of the chamomile tea...expecially at the end of winter when
it seems to go through a shedding period. My houseplant book says they can
handle a minimum winter temp of 55F and like an occassional misting in
summer and it likes bright light. It says to use tepid water and to water
sparingly in the winter months.
One thing about Weeping Figs is that they DO NOT like to be moved
all. They will sulk for a few days afterwards and loose a bunch of leaves.
Therefore I would not put it outside at all in the summer...unless you don't
mind it shedding its leaves spring and fall. Its very stressful for it. I
have mine in a North facing window cause that's the only spot I have for it,
but it does like bright like and I think your west facing window would be my
choice.
-.- Gardens Banner and Tip -.-
Mail overload? Try digesting. Send email to: listserv@lsv.uky.edu
message: set Gardens digest
> A friend who is moving has given me one of her houseplants, which she says
is a weeping fig. It's been living beside a north window, and looks pretty
shabby--not many leaves and somewhat dessicated-looking.
I'd go with the west window, as they like bright light. Don't overreact if
it decides to drop all its leaves after you've given it a resuscitation -
they are very contrary that way. The leaves will grow back. They just
don't like changes. Very ungrateful. :)
SusanD
-.- Gardens Banner and Tip -.-
Mail overload? Try digesting. Send email to: listserv@lsv.uky.edu
message: set Gardens digest
On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 08:38:05 -0500 Gerry Strey
Hi Gerry,
I think Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig, is one of my favoite
indoor plants. If you would like to grow a tree in your house this is
probably the best plant to go with. Many years ago, when I was a
horticulturist for an interior plant company, we had hundreds of
weeping figs in our various accounts, some more than 20 feet tall. As
Susan mentioned they will drop leaves when their environment changes
and at one job site, the Xerox Training Center in Virginia, we would
take rakes and bushel baskets each fall to clean the carpets of fallen
weeping fig leaves in the training center lobby.
Despite the fact that the weeping fig can tolerate rather low
light levels it will do much better under high light, even full sun
conditions, provided it's properly acclimated. I have a six footer at
home now and move it outdoors in June where it receives four or five
hours of direct sun every day. I bring it back inside in late
September and it drops about one third of its leaves before it settles
down to the lower light conditions of the house.
Along with strong, bright light the weeping fig wants a well
drained potting soil. The roots will rot quickly when water-logged. I
think one of the greatest problems gardeners new to indoor plants
experience is understanding and obtaining good container soils. There
are few in any commercial potting soils that are really satisfactory.
Most utilize very decomposed peats which hold far too much water. I
suspect these peats are used because they are very dark in color and
the novice gardener usually connects dark color with good soil. Others
utilize a mixture of peat and vermiculite. While the vermiculite
improves drainage, it's only a short term improvement, with the
vermiculite loosing its structure in about six months or so.
My current potting soil for most of my larger container house
plants is made up of one third sphagnum peat, one third perlite, and
one third fine pine bark. There are a lot of variations on such a mix
and any mix will work as long as it drains well. When there is a
change in environment for the weeping fig it's best to keep the plant
on the dry side for a couple of weeks.
All in all the weeping fig is a great indoor plant and providing it
gets good light and has a well drained soil it should present few
problems.
----------------------
Bob (beginning to bring the cacti back in) Stewart
Southern Maryland (USDA Zone 7)
rs72@umail.umd.edu
Hi Bob
I lost mine a few years back and have cuttings in water out on the deck =
now. In the last few years I have noticed that many of the ones you see =
for sale have been braided and I thought I might try the same. Any =
thoughts on this practice?
Penny
> Bob Stewart
On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 08:38:05 -0500 Gerry Strey
Hi Gerry,
I think Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig, is one of my favoite
indoor plants. If you would like to grow a tree in your house this is
probably the best plant to go with. Many years ago, when I was a
horticulturist for an interior plant company, we had hundreds of
weeping figs in our various accounts, some more than 20 feet tall. As
Susan mentioned they will drop leaves when their environment changes
and at one job site, the Xerox Training Center in Virginia, we would
take rakes and bushel baskets each fall to clean the carpets of fallen
weeping fig leaves in the training center lobby.
Despite the fact that the weeping fig can tolerate rather low
light levels it will do much better under high light, even full sun
conditions, provided it's properly acclimated. I have a six footer at
home now and move it outdoors in June where it receives four or five
hours of direct sun every day. I bring it back inside in late
September and it drops about one third of its leaves before it settles
down to the lower light conditions of the house.
Along with strong, bright light the weeping fig wants a well
drained potting soil. The roots will rot quickly when water-logged. I
think one of the greatest problems gardeners new to indoor plants
experience is understanding and obtaining good container soils. There
are few in any commercial potting soils that are really satisfactory.
Most utilize very decomposed peats which hold far too much water. I
suspect these peats are used because they are very dark in color and
the novice gardener usually connects dark color with good soil. Others
utilize a mixture of peat and vermiculite. While the vermiculite
improves drainage, it's only a short term improvement, with the
vermiculite loosing its structure in about six months or so.
My current potting soil for most of my larger container house
plants is made up of one third sphagnum peat, one third perlite, and
one third fine pine bark. There are a lot of variations on such a mix
and any mix will work as long as it drains well. When there is a
change in environment for the weeping fig it's best to keep the plant
on the dry side for a couple of weeks.
All in all the weeping fig is a great indoor plant and providing it
gets good light and has a well drained soil it should present few
problems.
----------------------
Bob (beginning to bring the cacti back in) Stewart
Southern Maryland (USDA Zone 7)
rs72@umail.umd.edu
.
