ficus salicifolia

[linlaoboo]

How is this specie different from the other ficus types such as ficus microcarpa in terms of how easy to care for it in a non tropical region like mine? Another words, will it be hard to grow in NJ? I've grown the microcarpa types, benjamina kiki and too little, etc and I'm not sure if the willow leaf fig wil give me problem in the winter here.

 

[Flabonsai]

You should have no problem growing a salicifolia as long as you protect it the same as a microcarpa when the weather gets cold. I have 6 of them here in east Tennessee and bring them indoors once the tempture drops below 40F. I have all all my tropicals under fluorescent lights during the cold months. The thing that salicifolias are known for is that they some times loose there leaves when Brought inside because of the lower lighting but they grow back soon after with a new set of leaves. There one of my favorite ficus.

 

[linlaoboo]

would love to find a starter plant around me. The bonsai nursery I visited only had an aged one in his greenhouse and it didn't look too healthy, half the leaves were missing.

 

[Poink88]

would love to find a starter plant around me. The bonsai nursery I visited only had an aged one in his greenhouse and it didn't look too healthy, half the leaves were missing.

Could be an opportunity for you to get it for much cheaper.

 

[Poink88]

BTW, I just learned that you can grow cutting from roots of nerifolia/salicaria. I saved two inch diameter roots from mine a month ago, stuck them in a pot and growing lots of buds now.