Subject: Re: Ficus benjamina
From: "Bill Robinson" <roseguy@flash.net>
Organization: Pegasus Software & Imaging
Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 07:31:35 -0700
Message-ID: <MOD$980522.8555@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Jean-Charles wrote:
>Why am I supposed to let the soil dry before watering
>again? Ficus benjamina, as far as I know, comes from
>tropical (or seasonal) rainforests = the soil doesn't dry
> out there.
According to Sunset, Ficus benjamina is native to India.
Plant roots need air. I understand that this is particularly
true of the various ficus trees. Ficus benjamina is closely
related to the the banyan trees. They like regular water
until they become established and then prefer to have conditions
on the dry side.
Here in Southern California, we grow a lot of drought tolerant
plants because we can go 8 or 9 months without any significant
rain. (The good old days!) The term is really deceptive, the
action is that the roots of these plants develop a healthy appetite
for air as they become settled into dry conditions.
My hunch is that the various ficus trees do well in sharp draining
soils or pots for the same reason. Too much water causes the
roots to rot and drowning.
Bill