Hi, I planted 2 pots of bodhi plant (ficus religious) from seed. The first plant is about 12-15 inches in height, single stem with no branches, only large leaves coming out from side of stems. However, the plant is now bending downwards from top due to gravity of the weight of the large leaves. Should i stake the stem up? What to do? The second plant is about 20 inches in height single stem with no branches, the first 12inches or so of the plant is quite sturdy but the top part of the plant is starting to likewise bend downwards due to the weight of the large leaves. Should I prune off the top of the stem? Cut the stem down a few inches? Will this make the plant grow branches? Or should I stake it up to let it continue growing taller? I am curious too if I just let the plants bend down what will happen? Thanks for any help. Best rgds LEO

Albert, you had me a bit perplexed . . . I couldn't quite understand if you thought my comment was amiss or what. It didn't LOOK like you were complimenting me for my effort. My first reaction was to start hammering on this keyboard demanding some clarity. But, I thought I'd just cool my digits and check back in a few days. I'm pleased to see that you weren't directing your remarks to me. And, thank you for bothering to come back and clarifying. I remember reading your comments in the past and they were thought out and certainly not thoughtless - you have lived up to my expectations and more. Thanks, Steve

Hey Mike, I have the same problem with my "ressurected" Oro Blanco. It has been acting funny ever since it started turning around. I think that stuff I bought from Autozone that is the turface messed up my mix. Instead of trying to fix it, I am just going to go buy a citrus mix that a nursery uses. They make it themselves and they sell it. I trust them and I am hoping that it will solve my problem. I will let you know how well it works. Strange how I had my new growth react the same but the leaves look chlorotic so I am going to change the soil and hope for the best. I made my mix with orchid bark, which is smaller than evaldas bark, and I also added perlite. It was too hard for me to find all the stuff locally. I will report any changes. Andrew

Good on you. I sorta got wondering if it looked a bit like fertilizer burn. Roots burn easily if fed when too dry. I tend to water twice if I have left the potting soil get real dry. The first time with plain water, and then later going back over with fertilizer no stronger than half strength once the plant roots have been refreshed. BTW I draw my water into a 2.5 gallon watering can with the rose removed, and fill my smaller watering cans out of that; so I get my water at room temperature and have a handy size to move around the containers. That is where I add my fertilizer, too, in the bottom of the big can; so the water fill mixes it pretty thoroughly. I just shove the can under the bench after filling and only pull it out to fill the smaller containers that do the actual watering. I also have a 2.5 gallon empty taping mud plastic pail beside the fertilizer one for plain water, also shoved under the table and out of the way when not needed. Which ever I need is at room temperature and should not shock anything by being too cold which tap water might well be here in Minneapolis in the winter.