Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - October 23, 2008

From: Palm Beach, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Problems with non-native Ficus Pumila
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I have successfully maintained Ficus Pumila trees indoors for many years. Over the last year my two indoor,5' (in container) ficus trees have developed large brown lesions that turn "papery" before the leaf ultimately drops. I hvae tried rotating the plants indoors/outdoors, watering some more, others less, fertilizing, not fertilizing - all to no avail. Help please PB gardener

ANSWER:

Thank you for your question. While we would like to answer all questions we receive, Mr. Smarty Plants' expertise is limited to plant species native to North America, their habitats and cultivation. Limited resources require us to decline answering questions that delve into other areas. We hope you understand. Ficus Pumila is native to Asia.

We did, however, attempt to find some information on the plant. Mostly, it appears to be grown outside, and to be very invasive. We found one forum, Dave's Garden, on Ficus Pumila, Creeping Fig in which all the participants seemed to be dealing with it outdoors. Another site, Ficus Trees Information Common Ficus Tree does have a section on problems with the plant, so you might be able to find something there. Floridata Ficus Pumila refers to it as a vine.

 

More Non-Natives Questions

Does molasses make glutinous corn palatable from The Philippines
November 06, 2011 - What would be the effect of molasses in the growth of glutinous corn?? Does molasses make the plant palatable?
view the full question and answer

Problems with azaleas
April 22, 2008 - Last summer I planted 10 evergreen Azaleas "Hino Crimson" I sprinkled a little rhody fertilizer in their holes before planting and gave them plenty of water all summer. They are all doing fine excep...
view the full question and answer

What's invading my bermuda grass?
June 11, 2013 - Our grass is being totally overrun by this weed.(I don't know what the name is identify it by the description. It is in Bermuda grass and the only way to describe the weed is to say it looks like big...
view the full question and answer

Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed
July 16, 2014 - I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring,...
view the full question and answer

Recovery of damaged fuchsia plant in hanging basket
July 23, 2007 - I had a beautiful fuchsia plant hanging on my porch. The hanger gave way and the plant fell straight down into another flower bed. The fuchsia seemed ok. I put it back in the pot put up new strong ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.