Question about Ficus - Rubber Tree
sharbear50
12 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agoaveo5
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Ficus Tree (rubber tree/plant) Pot Size ?
Comments (3)Ficus can be maintained in any pot size you wish. If the roots are filling the current container, and you don't want a larger container (and i wouldn't, too hard to manage in my opinion), then at the next repotting (this should be in the early summer, when it's warm and the plant is growing well), root prune about 1/3 of the roots, work out the old soil from the root ball, and repot with fresh soil into the same container. Water well, then not again until the soil is very dry or new growth resumes, at which point you can resume your normal care. Every time it gets root bound you repeat the process, but go ahead and let it get root bound, ficus don't mind until it gets ~really~ extreme. I would top prune about 1/3 of the foliage at the same time to control post transplant leaf drop, but some people would disagree. That's what works for me though....See MoreFicus Elastica/Rubber Tree in hydroculture doesn't do anything
Comments (5)I thought I'd post an update! This is how it looks now. As you can see, it has lost another leaf. (It's the ever-so-yellow one from the first picture.) Surprised it didn't fall off sooner, to be honest. It dropped off when I touched it the other night. The other three have greened up fairly well (something I wasn't sure was possible), and the new-leaf spike at the top has grown. The remaining leaves are also up instead of down now. All in all, a success thus far, I reckon. Thanks again :)...See MoreFicus/Rubber-like tree with odd fruit and seed
Comments (1)Bucida buceras? Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Black Olive (not edible)...See MoreColor of new Leaves for Ficus burgundy rubber tree?
Comments (6)I wrote this as a reply to something over on the botany forum and figured I'd be able to use it from time to time, so saved it. Let me know if you want anything explained a different way: A higher degree of expression of the pigment anthocyanin (which expresses the color red or purple) in juvenile foliage is very common throughout the plant kingdom for a couple of reasons. First, even though the pigment absorbs light w/o being a part of the photosynthetic process, it plays a photoprotective role for new leaves that emerge under high light conditions ...... when they are in an ontogenetic stage that make them more sensitive/vulnerable to light over-saturation. If you were able to quantify it at home ..... the reduction in anthocyanin's expression would be seen to correspond with a decreased need for photoprotection, this, because photosynthetic maturation allows leaves to utilize higher light intensities. A major consideration (that occurs during photosynthetic maturation) is an increase in chlorophyll, the pigment often referred to as 'nature's sunscreen for plants'. In short, the red coloration disappears as photopigment concentrations and leaf cuticle thickness increases, both of which would be occurring as mesophyll underlying the leaf cuticle differentiates into separate layers (pallisade and spongy). Second (but probably not a consideration in F benjamina), the red coloration is also very often associated with an increase in phenolic compounds that serve as defense against insect predation or herbivory by making leaves unpalatable. It's also thought in many circles that the red coloration may make leaves more difficult for some insects and herbivores to see, and may signal insects that the affected leaves are a less nutritional food source than bright green foliage elsewhere, or that it would make a poor receptacle for ovaposition (egg-laying). Al...See Moreaveo5
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agosharbear50
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agolethal63
8 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
8 years agoScotty
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoScotty
2 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)