Dracaena marginata and Ficus - outdoor plants?

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by HootyMcBoob, Jul 1, 2008.

  1. HootyMcBoob

    HootyMcBoob Member

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    I have inherited/rescued a number of plants from friends of mine who moved and couldn't take them along. I have a decent sized ficus, about 2 ft, which has grown a lot since I got it - 3 different dracaena, 2 of which came potted together and were incredibly root bound when I received them. I repotted them and they are separate now, not sure if that was a mistake because they don't seem as happy now and have dropped their bottom leaves and continually have dried out and browning tips. The third is much smaller and seems to be a lot less sensitive.
    I also have two jades, one of which was over grown and drooping a great deal when I got it with almost no growth on one side (I think they had it in a closet with a tiny window). I've since propped it up with bamboo and pinched back the top growth to stimulate a stronger stalk which has seemed to help, but there's only so much I'm sure that will do. The smaller jade began with one plant and has sprouted into two. It is doing well and its leaves are outgrowing the larger one by miles.

    Now that I’ve said all that, I want to know which of these will do well outdoors. I don't have much extra space right now and am finding it hard to position them where they can be happy. I live in Connecticut, it's humid and hot right now and my deck gets a good deal of sun but is blocked by tree's and my roof which allow sections to get early morning sun only, and others afternoon only. After reading about light requirements for ficus' it seems that it should do well out there but the leaves are yellowing on the top of the plant and it is drooping a bit all around. The dracaenas are getting browner at the tips every day. The jades look ok but I don't want to leave them if they will turn for the worse because of their environment.
    I hope this isn't too long of a post! I'm sorry for the mouth full but I love these plants and am concerned. After reading and reading about these plants I'm still not sure what to do as I'm getting mixed information from different websites. Hopefully someone on here will be able to help me get these babies back in good health.
    Thanks!
     
  2. Bluewing

    Bluewing Well-Known Member

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    I would put the jade out, but not right out into strong sun, do it gradually or you could be in for some serious leaf drop from sudden changes. The dracaena's can go out as well, but I would put them in bright shade or dapple sun, otherwise, the leaves can yellow.

    With the Dracaena's, if the soil is staying too wet, or staying dry for too long, the pots are to large, heavy soil/bad drainage. no drain holes, possible low humidity levels, hard water, over feeding, or a combination of any of these can be the reason for brown tips.

    The Jade needs to dry between waterings, the dracaena's like to pretty much dry out as well.


    I would not recommend the ficus go out only because they hate to be moved from one light source to another, from indoors to out, then back in again and they can show you it's displeasure by dropping MANY leaves. It can be done, but it needs to be slow, but once it's brought back inside, unless you reversed the process (less and less light while outdoors for a few weeks) it could get a little bare. That's why I keep mine indoors.
    It is yellowing on the top now from the sudden change from indoors to direct sun and heat.The smaller leaves usually yellow and drop first.
    Try and find a nice bright spot indoors that gets a little little sun during the day, that's all they need to be happy as far as light. Let the soil dry down an inch to a couple inches before watering well. They like their soil a little on the moist side, a little dryer in winter.
     
  3. HootyMcBoob

    HootyMcBoob Member

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    Hey, thanks for responding!

    I'll have to monitor the dracaena's to see if maybe their pots are too big. When I repotted the plants, the soil I bought, which was recommended to me by someone at a garden center, really wasn't that great. I need to aerate the soil every time I water them, so the drainage might be the problem.

    As far as the ficus goes, I've read that they like a lot of light but to keep them away from afternoon sun, which is what I've been doing. The unfortunate part of all this is that I have no spot in my house that gets a lot of good light that I can keep it. My house is small and not suited for adopting sooo many plants, but I couldn't just leave them without a home. I'm going to have to try and be creative with this, or hope that the ficus can handle dealing with the outdoors... only time will tell I suppose.
     

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