On 12/30/2007 11:35 PM, JayDee wrote:
Hi All. I just put some creeping fig on my stucco balcony by gluing
the little plastic hooks to my balcony and typing the creeping fig.
The hooks are anywhere from 4 inches to 8 inches away from each other
and between then the creeping fig is not really against the stucco -
there's up to an inch to inch and a half. I'm wondering it I should do
something to press the creeping fig against the stucco so it will
begin to stick? Like use some kind of tape or something or get a slab
of board and sandwich the creeping fig between it and the wall? I'd
imagine that wouldn't be very healthy for it long term, but would it
help it begin adhering to the balcony any easier without harming it?

Thanks for your advise...

- JayDee

Be very careful! Creeping fig (Ficus pumila, also known as F. repens)
will indeed very quickly attach itself ("barnacle fashion" according to
Sunset) to stucco, brick, concrete, metal, stone, wood, and even the
glass in a window. It will also damage to whatever it attaches itself.
Sunset also says: "In time, stems will envelop a three- or four-story
building . . . "

Small leaves indicate juvenile growth. When larger leaves appear on
stubby branches (indicating mature growth), cut the entire plant almost
to the ground and let it regrow with new juvenile growth. Otherwise,
the mature growth will start sending rootlets into any crack they can
find, tearing apart your home.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/