Ficus neriifolia regularis (salicifolia) - Willow Leaf Fig

24-Jun-2005	#1
ozzerbon bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Dec-2002 Location: Amsterdam Country: Netherlands USDA Zone: 8-9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,259	Ficus neriifolia regularis (salicifolia) - Willow Leaf Fig G'day all, Has anybody had any REAL success with this species grown INDOORS, permanently? I have four, and that includes a small extremely healthy cutting, but the two largest while showing fresh foliage, seems rather sickly to me. I had two of them growing seperately in deep pots, but now have just recently repotted them together into a shallower pot, and am hoping that that will bring them back to their original grandeur, I have access to East or West facing windows, which do you think is best? Far too many of the branches are looking too sickly for words, really need some serious help with these guys, Sooo....if you know, PLEASE help. Nigel __________________ http://pictures.bonsaitalk.com/user/ozzerbon http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozzerbon/

Sponsor Message	Ficus neriifolia regularis (salicifolia) - Willow Leaf Fig
Advertisement Forum Sponsor	<a href='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adclick.php?n=ac8bc944' target='_blank'><img src='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adview.php?what=zone:4&n=ac8bc944' border='0' alt=''></a>

24-Jun-2005	#2
agraham bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Jan-2004 Location: South Texas Country: U.S.A. USDA Zone: 9-10 AHS Heat Zone: 11 Posts: 1,195	Nigel, I've never had to actually grow them indoors but even when i try to bring them in for awhile to display they are very finicky.They always drop their leaves and i think they really need to almost dry out before watering.Fortunately for me i can take them back outside before they go too far downhill. andy Last edited by agraham : 24-Jun-2005 at 01:24 AM.

24-Jun-2005	#3
ripssurf fugu...mmmm Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Florida (Brevard County) Country: USA USDA Zone: zone 10 AHS Heat Zone: 9 Posts: 520	nigel, if you PM jerry meislik, he might be able to help you. he lives up in montana where it is COLD in the winter. and i know he keeps his stuff indoors. there is an article on the Fuku Bonsai site about how to do it indoors permanently, but their site is not up right now for some reason. they also have an excellent article by someone else about how to grow tropicals indoors. ill try to post the exact link later. in the meantime, you might want to check out mr meislik's website website. i have one of these guys, but i keep it outside permanently so i cant really help you. jeff

25-Jun-2005	#4
Jerry Meislik bonsaiTALK Master Join Date: Nov-2003 Location: Whitefish Montana Country: United States USDA Zone: 4 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 465	Salicifolia can be a problem. It is sensitive to too much heat, cold, low or high temperatures. I call it the "Goldilocks Fig", as it needs conditions to be just right. The first few years that I grew it I almost threw in the towel and gave up. Now it just seems quite easy if you remember to keep its conditions even. Its main problems are usually a soil mix that is too moisture retentive and rots the roots. Use a mix that is openk, airy and dries out in 24-36 hours. Its other problem is spider mites. Leaves get a mottly, stippled yellow, webs on the branch tips and then it looses all its leaves. Hope this helps. Jerry __________________ Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

25-Jun-2005

clrosner

bonsaiTALK Master Chief

Join Date: Nov-2001

Location: Southern New Jersey, USA

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 6/7

AHS Heat Zone: ?

Posts: 1,077

Nigel:
If you are keeping them indoors, and I assume you are, I would think (my opinion) that the west window would be best, however, you do not mention the fact that you are also giving the tree extra light, which I suggest. I use Fluorescent lights as close as possible to the tree on a timer for 18 hours. I also suggest a humidifier and an oscilating fan. All of the above suggestions work well for all of my tropical and sub tropical trees.

Attached Images

F SALICFOLIA FOREST 050610 BEFORE a.jpg (57.4 KB, 32 views)

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

25-Jun-2005	#6
Dale Cochoy Old Bonsaiman-new pots Join Date: Dec-2002 Location: Hartville, Ohio Country: USA USDA Zone: 5 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 2,691	hmmmm.... I commonly tell people that IN MY OPINION the Willow Leaf Ficus is the PREMIER ficus for growing in the north. They (mine) do fairly well most of the winter under lights but start to look a bit scraggly towards spring after 6 months inside. And, as Jerry said, often get spider mites or scale even after spraying well before they come inside. I usually don't see any signs of these until late winter and often get a nice day when I can take them out spray, let site a few hours, and hose off and spray again, and take back in for another month or so. But, within 10 days of going outside in spring they begin to transform into excellent plants again.You can almost stand and watch them grow. Once revitalized I can do ANYTHING to them! I gotta ask, why don't you take them outside? Dale __________________ ________________________________ If you want to be Different.... You have to DO something Different! __________________________________________ Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time.... but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again... ____________________________________________ Dale Cochoy Wild Things Bonsai Studio Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery Hartville, Ohio

25-Jun-2005	#7
ozzerbon bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Dec-2002 Location: Amsterdam Country: Netherlands USDA Zone: 8-9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,259	Well Guys, I must thank you collectively for all of your advice, so here's the deal. Had the trees given to me and sent to me by a bonsai cilleague, all the way from Miami, Florida, USA. Arrived well and happy after a five days experience in a cardboard box, no customs hastle either. So the two, a handsome pair, were just treated like that, and were potted into a pair of deep Chinese pots, 1st mistake. They survived for about a year OK. Then one started showing signs of distress, me no understanding the WHY, the other lived in the same light and West facing window, was flourishing. No Animals of any sort, just leaf drop, slowly at first then began to increase, but still very healthy leaves exist. I repotted the two trees together, removed all dead leaves and a few dead branchlets and moved the pot, trees and all to an East facing window, artificial light is what we call DAYlight Bulbs, they are blue in colour and are made expressly for the purpose, of growing plants indoors. New leaflets are just beginning to show, I love these trees, and the sad thing is that for some ridiculous reason they are not on Hollands official tree register, along with some other beauties that I also have trouble getting my hands on. Also exists one very small pot of two cuttings, rich with leaf, and anoth slightly larger, shohin size, which is bearing up fair to middling. I'll get to do some pics, this week I hope, a tad too much involved with my new computer, but soon's there's 'nuff time I'll post the pics. Regards....Nigel __________________ http://pictures.bonsaitalk.com/user/ozzerbon http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozzerbon/

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Willow Leaf Ficus – Defoliation and Reverse Taper	Tobias	General	10	7-Jun-2005 10:40 PM
Willow leaf ficus species . . . whats the difference?	007	General	7	29-Jan-2005 08:26 PM
Ficus Natalensis - A Strangler Fig	Hank Miller	Show & Tell	2	3-Dec-2003 10:53 AM
Willow Leaf Ficus	Adam	Indoor & Greenhouse Bonsai	4	10-Nov-2003 03:52 PM
Ficus Neriifolia - Willow Leaf Fig	ozzerbon	General	1	22-Sep-2003 04:26 PM

	Thread Tools	Display Modes
bonsaiTALK Hint: Did you know you can double click any bonsai term on this page for its definition?