Ficus Question

mushashi

Hi,

I have recently acquired a pretty nice Ficus Wiandi it has a 2" trunk is 15 years old and about 13" tall.

Since it is Summer here I decided to put it outside for now unlike my other Ficus. My question is, how long can this guy be safely kept outside in my area? Obviously, it will be too cold in the Winter, but what is the best time to start thinking about bringing it in?

Thanks for the help.......

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RonMartin(deceased)

FWIW I have been doing ficus for quite a while in many different climates. I always leave them outside as long as the temperature is above 40 F.

Never had a problem yet.

grampz

I engage in the 'ole bonsai two step' each winter...Here in San Antonio we have very few nights in the freezing range...I do not have a greenhouse so when the night temps drop below 40 degrees F. I carry my tropicals, including ficus, into the garage for the night, leaving the florescent lights on all night...When the temp rises above 40 the next day I carry them back outside...Occasionally when we have a cold front move in and the night temps stay below 40 for several nights I leave the trees in the garage for more than one night...

Regards
Behr

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

mushashi

Thanks for the tips. Well, I think carrying it back and forth to the garage is too labor intensive for me!


Since it is pretty mild here I will follow the rule at 40 degrees bring it in. Of course in late summer we can get warm days and kinda cool nights but probably will be above 40.

I will have to experiment, I guess.....

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Just remember that the growers in Florida don't do anything unless a freeze is expected.

My suspicion is that, somewhere under 40 degrees, something may slow down growth, but, as long as we use that as a forecast low guideline, our ficus will be okay.

mushashi

Sounds like a plan to me!

Will_Heath

I use this same guideline without problems also.


Will

007

It sounds like I have been a little too cautious using the 50F mark!

__________________

Bart Thomas(deceased)

It's perfectly valid, and may actually be better for them. If it has worked well for you, continue to use it. You can be more comfortable if you find that the temp has dropped below 50F.

Ron: How about your other tropicals? Do you use the same rule, or are you a little gentler to your buttonwoods and bucida spinosas?