Beginner Gardening: Ficus - the rubber tree and the rock fig, 0 by Diana66

Diana66 wrote:
Thank you both. I read the ficus link, Al, and it was interesting, though too advanced for me. I can't do soil amendments right now. I haven't mastered the correct way to water plants yet.

I learned from that article that the water meter isn't so accurate. I suspected that the last time I tried to keep houseplants, about five years ago. Maybe more. The only one that survived is that rock fig I wrote about about. I had so many houseplants back then. And some beauts. Big ones. Killed them all. I'm trying again. Now I got about 13, who were probably crying as I drag them out of the nursery to their certain doom.

No, really, this time, I'm keeping them alive. I have a new house with so many windows and skylights. And a huge yard thriving with all kinds of plants I don't know. I'll get to those in the Spring. I joined Dave's Garden, so I am dedicated this time.

One reason I'm doing houseplants again is I'm filling up all the indoor pots I used to have living plants in, years ago. (I have managed to keep ferns and succulents alive, outside, and am continuing/expanding on that with the clay pot graveyard I have.)

ANYWAY, Gita, the ficus is an Elastica one, not a Benjamin thing, ( of which I have bought a new little one, though I killed two bigger ones in the old days... But I love those). I did re-pot the ficus in question. When I bought it, it was listed for $70. I debated between it and a more low-lying one. I chose it because of its height and the location I had planned for it. So, I took it upfront and the proprietor told me it was over-watered by a new employee and charged me only $35. She didn't have to do that. I was ignorant. I was impressed by the customer service.

The other, the rock fig one, the one I've had awhile, is all wet too. It didn't act that way before. But I would hardly water it. Just as I walked by it with bottled water my son left out overnight, I'd douse it. Barely break my step. It managed to survive. Now that I'm trying to be a good plant owner, it seems to be over-watered, but I haven't watered either of these guys in weeks. It doesn't seem right.

My pots do have holes. I may have a black thumb, but I know that much!

Here's a pic of the rubber tree one. I took it now, at night, so it might not be the best picture. It doesn't look like it's dying, but I find it hard to believe it's okay for it to go that long without being watered.