Can this plant go outside?

Hi all -- I believe this plant is a ficus. It was a gift and came with no information tag so I'm not certain. But I'm going to re-pot it and want to put it outside for the summer. Will it be okay outside? If yes, sun? shade?

Thanks,
Cindi

It looks like a Schefflera. I think putting it outside for the summer is ok as long as it stays out of direct sun. Also, make sure you don't forget to water it because it's out-of-sight, out-of-mind. It'll want more water than if it's inside because it will dry faster. I myself would not let it get below 50, although I have no idea what it would actually tolerate.

I think this one is Scheflera arboricola, the Hawaiian Scheflera.
If so, it can be treated as an indoor/outdoor plant.
Mine is growing under cover in an enclosed, but not heated patio. No frost actually touches it, but it does get cold out there.
For a plant that will come in the house through the winter, a target of 50 deg. F is a safe cut off for when to bring it in and when to set it out in the spring.

That guy can really really benefit from a repot. If you have room in your home, I would suggest keeping it inside, once it is transplanted, it would make a very nice floor plant. I lived in California and had more then one living successfully out side, even one in full sun. But now since this one is use to the inside, I would move it out side into the shade and slowly introduce it to sun as it will burn very easily. i am assuming it is in a 6in pot, put him in a 10in container and he will really love you.

I have had the same Scheffelera Arboricola for about 23 years..

It grows big and bushy every year. I keep it inside for thew winter--not really
in good light...don't have any--and it survives.
Just--DO NOT overwater it--or it will drop a bunch of leves!!! Does not like wet feet!

This past winter--mine was in a really low light situation and it did not do well.
It kept shedding leaves--all over the floor...a sad specimen...

I knew it was miserably pot-bound, so when spring came--I decided to give it
a serious "surgical" make-over.. Get the scapula--and cut way!!!....:o)

I un-potted the plant from its 16' pot and shook most of the soil away.
The roots were incredibly long and intertwined. Crazy!
NO problema!!

I gave the root-ball a serious cut-back--like almost 1/2 of it hacked off--
and re-potted it back in the same pot in good, fresh soil.
This plant is, basically, indestructible! Believe that...

It is now re-growing from the "nubs" and looks like it will be a nice, full plant again.

Beachgirl--do not be afraid to do the same! Cut away--and pull the roots apart--
and trim off whatever is too long and then re-pot it in some nice-rich Mix.

Here are some pictures of mine...

1--The root-ball un-potted

2--Showing how long some of the roots were...Mama Mia!

3--The root-ball all cut back

4--The plant re-potted in the same pot--make sure you push the soil down so
there will not be any air-pockets!

The plant is now re-growing nicely.... Gita

I grow a number of scheffs - some at work, some as bonsai. Scheffs have a very strong will to live, and will take a LOT. When I put my plants out in the early summer, I either defoliate, or put them directly into full sun. I never mess with acclimating them to the brighter light. The leaves suffer sunburn (photo-oxidation) and fall off (if I don't defoliate) only to be quickly replaced by a fresh flush of growth that is perfectly acclimated to full sun and pristine (no blemishes) ..... so YES, the plant does well in full sun - at least it does N of Mason/Dixon.

I agree the plant should be repotted. I treat the roots much more aggressively than Gita. These were defoliated a week before Father's Day. The larger plant is a root over rock composition I started from a cutting. The last 2 pictures are plants I keep/maintain at my business

Here's a rework progression on a plant brought to me to "do something with". I had posted the pictures @ GW where a guy who was supposed to be carting for his GF's plant saw them and asked me how to revive her neglected and as we discovered, very dead scheff. I had no use for this plant, so I sent it to NY or Boston (I forget) and he gave it to her. The last is the picture of her & the plant. I wonder if it's still alive. ;-)

Al

Anyway - the point is, the plant is versatile and tough. It doesn't like wet feet, so soil choice is important. It doesn't like a high level of salts in the soil, so soil choice is important. It also appreciates a lot of aeration in the soil and little to no saturated soil at the bottom of the pot, so soil choice is important. See what I use (either would be great):

Al

Ahhh, Tapla---but you inspired me to do this.!
I followed up all your pictures of the "surgery" on another Forum.

I am not afraid to wield the knife and root-prune big plants.
I do it to my Brugs every 2nd year....and they grow so lush after
root-pruning and fresh soil.

Here is my Scheff as of right now...went out to take this pixture.
I think it will, probably, have a nicer, rounded shape after this.

And--I am with you--at least with this plant...time to put it ouside--
and "PLOP"--it goes rigth in full sun. Mine have never showed
leaf sunburn. Maybe my full sun is not as intense as yours.
There is a big tree that dapples it a bit in late afternoons.

Gita

I hope you don't think I was being critical of your work - not at all.

If I plop mine in full sun straight from indoors, even though they were under lights, mine always burn to the point the leaves are shed by the plant because of the damage - which is why I usually just defoliate. The plants just shrug off the adversity & recover in a couple of weeks. One proviso, though, you can't do that with plants that are struggling to maintain a foothold in this life. They need to be in reasonably good health so they have the energy reserves to push a new flush of foliage.

Best to all ....

Al