ficus benjamina deciduous? 9B

[Patrick]

Hello all, 

 

Just curious on this, I've had this Ficus since I was a freshman in high school... 26 years ago lol. I remember the day I bought it. It was after school one day and I was in the local Payless. The little guy spoke to me and I picked him up. A few dollars later I was out of there and I had to head off to after school band pactice (marching band). Well, I took it into class with me and plunked it down in the back with me, on the precussion table. It looked very out of place in that stagnant room! After about 20 or so minutes of rehersal the director noticed it and he gave a look like "what the hell is THAT!??" 

 

It's grown up over the years. It used to be variegated but now a main stem has overpowered the variegated understory portion. It got too big for the house, so I was forced to put it out back. The intention was to keep it somewhat portable by leaving it in the pot. Haha what a joke! It rooted in long ago, so I guess this its home. 

This year it has dropped most of it's leaves which is new to me. I think its been outside maybe 10 years now? Just wondering if these guys are sort of decidious, or do the dropping leaves mean its a goner? I know the day will come eventually that it will get frozen and go to the tropical forest in the sky. Just curious of others experiences. I know they are tough or else they wouldnt be such a popular house plant. 

In the meantime, I came across another small one of these a few months back and it hangs out with me at work under my grow lights with the Cham. elegans and pepper plant. They call me "nature boy" at work.

 

Thanks again for the thougts. I hope the talk story was enjoyable.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Patrick said:

Hello all, 

 

Just curious on this, I've had this Ficus since I was a freshman in high school... 26 years ago lol. I remember the day I bought it. It was after school one day and I was in the local Payless. The little guy spoke to me and I picked him up. A few dollars later I was out of there and I had to head off to after school band pactice (marching band). Well, I took it into class with me and plunked it down in the back with me, on the precussion table. It looked very out of place in that stagnant room! After about 20 or so minutes of rehersal the director noticed it and he gave a look like "what the hell is THAT!??" 

 

It's grown up over the years. It used to be variegated but now a main stem has overpowered the variegated understory portion. It got too big for the house, so I was forced to put it out back. The intention was to keep it somewhat portable by leaving it in the pot. Haha what a joke! It rooted in long ago, so I guess this its home. 

This year it has dropped most of it's leaves which is new to me. I think its been outside maybe 10 years now? Just wondering if these guys are sort of decidious, or do the dropping leaves mean its a goner? I know the day will come eventually that it will get frozen and go to the tropical forest in the sky. Just curious of others experiences. I know they are tough or else they wouldnt be such a popular house plant. 

In the meantime, I came across another small one of these a few months back and it hangs out with me at work under my grow lights with the Cham. elegans and pepper plant. They call me "nature boy" at work.

 

Thanks again for the thougts. I hope the talk story was enjoyable.

There was a potted specimen a neighbor in San Jose had  kept outside in their front yard which would drop a good amount of leaves during cooler winters. Didn't  seem to effect it adversely though. Would flush new growth once it got warmer in spring. 

Couple neighbors here have some planted in their yards they keep small.. Have to check if they have dropped leaves this winter. Honestly don't recall noticing  them doing so during cooler winters in the past here., but certainly possible.  What I find a little odd is that the constant, 110-115+ heat we have each summer / extremely low ..or no.. humidity May - untill monsoon season moisture returns in mid / late July, doesn't really seem to do too much damage ...much less than I'd have expected anyway.