ficus family disaster
 

Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it) into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree - disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks

ficus family disaster
 

Julie Clark wrote:

Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it) into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree - disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks

IME, the ficus family are quite sensitive to changes in light, moisture,
draughts, etc., and will shed at the drop of a hat but tend to recover
quite quickly.
--
Nick Wagg

ficus family disaster
 

Julie Clark wrote:

Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it) into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree - disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks

IME, the ficus family are quite sensitive to changes in light, moisture,
draughts, etc., and will shed at the drop of a hat but tend to recover
quite quickly.
--
Nick Wagg

ficus family disaster
 

"Julie Clark" wrote in message
...
Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
snip
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks


Possibly a weeping fig. Very commonly sold in garden centres, ikea and
supermarkets etc. I've got one in the living room about 5ft tall. I've also
got a smaller one about 18 inches on a windowsill and last year it lost
*all* of its leaves about this time. Possibley it got just a bit too cold
near the front door. It is now covered in leaves again although a few lower
branches died back but I quite like the effect as it looks a bit like a
bonsai now...

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

ficus family disaster
 

Julie Clark5/1/04 4:15
net

Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it) into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree - disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks


Don't be tempted to water it, unless it's bone dry. Don't leave it in a
draught. If you do water it, make sure it's drained 100%.
--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

ficus family disaster
 

Julie Clark5/1/04 4:15
net

Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it) into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree - disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks


Don't be tempted to water it, unless it's bone dry. Don't leave it in a
draught. If you do water it, make sure it's drained 100%.
--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

ficus family disaster
 

Thanks everyone :) I live in hope of a(n almost) full recovery! Sacha,
don't water it? My obvious near neglect seems to suit it then? How often
would you recommend watering it?

"Julie Clark" wrote in message
...
Hi all
I am desperate for some help here. I have a house plant that is over 6 ft
tall now that I have had for over 10 years (2 different houses) All I know
about it is that it is a member of the ficus family but I don't know which
one. 3 weeks ago I moved it away from the window (radiator beneath it)
into
the centre of a through lounge to accommodate my christmas tree -
disaster!
What was a beautiful lush green plant with hundreds of rich green leaves
is
shedding like crazy and I'm as stressed as it obviously is. Can someone
reassure me that I haven't damaged this plant beyond repair? I must admit
that it has survived despite me and not due to me, but I would be gutted
if
I've killed it off completely just for a couple of weeks festivities :s
The christmas tree is for moving tonight and the ficus gets its home back
but is there anything I can do to help its recovery?
Thanks

ficus family disaster
 

Julie Clark6/1/04 9:39

Thanks everyone :) I live in hope of a(n almost) full recovery! Sacha,
don't water it? My obvious near neglect seems to suit it then? How often
would you recommend watering it?

snip

I'm not a houseplant expert but more things are killed by over-watering than
little watering. I'd suggest that as with most things, you water it only
when it feels dry (though not parched) and that, above all, you let it drain
well before putting it back in its position. When I water any of our
houseplants, I do it in the sink and then let them stand there until the
water has all drained away. Even I haven't killed anything off recently!
However, it sounds as if you've been doing everything right until the recent
'move', so let's hope that's a temporary sulk and you can go back to your
usual routine.
One of the best problems re a houseplant came from a friend in USA who had a
baby Norfolk Island Pine indoors and couldn't understand what was wrong with
it. She had it right beside the hot air vent in their living room.......
;-)

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the 'x' to email me)

ficus family disaster
 

lol - sounds like your American friend and I were in the same gardening club
;)
Thanks for your help
Julie :)

"Sacha" wrote in message
.. .
Julie Clark6/1/04 9:39

Thanks everyone :) I live in hope of a(n almost) full recovery! Sacha,
don't water it? My obvious near neglect seems to suit it then? How
often
would you recommend watering it?

snip

I'm not a houseplant expert but more things are killed by over-watering
than
little watering. I'd suggest that as with most things, you water it only
when it feels dry (though not parched) and that, above all, you let it
drain
well before putting it back in its position. When I water any of our
houseplants, I do it in the sink and then let them stand there until the
water has all drained away. Even I haven't killed anything off recently!
However, it sounds as if you've been doing everything right until the
recent
'move', so let's hope that's a temporary sulk and you can go back to your
usual routine.
One of the best problems re a houseplant came from a friend in USA who had
a
baby Norfolk Island Pine indoors and couldn't understand what was wrong
with
it. She had it right beside the hot air vent in their living room.......
;-)

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the 'x' to email me)