about a ficus

angryadam27 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: about a ficus

hello,
i was under the impression that a ficus was an indoor tree, but i happened to see a book today that said it was an outdoor--which is it?
thanks for all the help,
adam

keithmart · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:44 am Post subject: Re: about a ficus

Hi

Ficus trees will survive indoors ok, and take a lot of abuse. Hence the tag 'indoor tree'. All trees are designed by mother nature to grow outside, and most will benefit from being outside. Tropical trees such as ficus, only when the weather is warm enough.

Does that help?

jimothy · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:47 am Post subject: Re: about a ficus

It all depends on where you live and what species you are talking about.

All of the small-leaved Ficus spp. are subtropical to tropical, evergreen and tender in temperate climes (will be killed by temps below 0). I can confirm this from personal experiments with my unheated greenhouse this year (minimum temp -1C) that left me with 3 dead trees, and 3 severely damaged (whole branches and thin trunks died back).

The edible fig, Ficus carrica, however, is a much hardier species, can cope with some fairly hard frosts and will thrive in a slightly sheltered spot in most temperate regions. However it's completely unsuitable for bonsai due to its large leaves and vigourous habit.

Be aware that whoever wrote that ficus are outdoor trees may have been talking about this latter species, OR may live in an area that never experiences freezing temperatures. Here in the UK, and in most of the states, the small-leaved ones MUST have heated winter quarters.

angryadam27 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: about a ficus

thanks for the help!

the tree i have is a small leaved ficus (variegated leaves)--sorry i don't know the scientific name--currently its about 50-70 degrees f. where i live, will it benefit being outside?
thanks for the help
adam

jimothy · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: about a ficus

sounds like Ficus benjamina f. variegata to me. Moving it outside is probably best done gradually in case of shock. Try putting it outside just during the day time for a couple of weeks, then leave it out full time once it's used to the outdoor environment. A spot that's shaded from the worst of the midday sun, but receives some direct light is best.

What would be helpful is if you'd fill out your profile page properly (click on the brown tab at the top of this page), then we would all be able to see where you are and give you advice that would be better tailored to your actual conditions.

Stymie · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: about a ficus

I would answer yes but if temperatures drop drastically at night they should be brought in until they rise again.

TB420 · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:35 am Post subject: Re: about a ficus

Be careful with the variegated ficus ben. outside. As Jim says expose it to sun gradually, I would start on a weekend when you can monitor it or put in a shady area that only gets a couple of hours of morning or evening sun and you will probably want to give it mid day shade in the hot summer months July and August. The variegated leaves lack the amount of chlorophyll as regular green figs can and do sunburn much easier.

Tom

angryadam27 · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:49 am Post subject: Re: about a ficus

thanks a bunch!