Ficus (Alii) & (Dwarf) Schefflera

[Leilaskeeper]

Hi all!

I decided to check out my local Home and Garden Center to see what goodies I could buy for my cham. I found a Ficus Alli on sale for $20 and a Dwarf Schefflera for $15. Assuming they're decent prices ... I'm new to the tropical plant department.

So, I wanted some input. I checked out some previous threads on here and some ppl have said they have a Ficus Alli but I don't see it on some recommended lists. I see the Benjamina. Is the Alli okay for her? I believe my schefflera is good though.

I plan on planting in pots with organic soil and putting the Alli in the Southern faced window of my house. I also want to take two of the three schefflera and place them on my window sill along with the Alli for her to play on. I'm planning on taking the third schefflera and planting it in her enclosure since she only has fake plants at the moment. (She likes to nibble on the fake plants so I thought a real one might be her taste )

Just wanted some feedback or suggestions ... I know many ppl out there have these plants and I wanted reassurance before I go downstairs to pot my plants. I also read before that I should clean the leaves with soap and water before she roams on the plants.. and as for the enclosure, I'm planning on placing rocks on the bottom of the enclosure and covering with a mix of coco husk substrate and organic soil. The rocks are more for the plants protection and to deal with the water drainage so the soil/sub mix will dry properly between mistings.

Let me know what you guys think! (sorry for the rambling .. I'm just excited)

 

[DGray]

Sounds like your scored some good plants. I don't know how big your plants are but the prices sound good for anything in a 6 in. pot (15 cm.) or larger. Those would be great prices for 8 in (20 cm.). Ficus alii, and 'Amstel King' are fine.

I hope they're tall, full, and vigorous. It also sounds like you're going to give them a good spot in front of the best window. Good idea. They need all the light they can get in the Canadian winter

Washing them well is very important; houseplant growers use very nasty insecticides and fungicides, and you'll want to wash and wipe off as much as you can, especially if you have a grazer like a veiled.

I use big rocks and some window screen to keep the animals and insects out of the dirt. I don't know why you would want any bits of coco husk. Seems like these could be a risk for accidental ingestion. I would skip that stuff.

Ficus and dwarf Scheffs like to dry a bit between waterings. And don't forget to feed your plants regularly. Hope they grow well for you.

Warm Regards

 

[Leilaskeeper]

Sounds like your scored some good plants. I don't know how big your plants are but the prices sound good for anything in a 6 in. pot (15 cm.) or larger. Those would be great prices for 8 in (20 cm.). Ficus alii, and 'Amstel King' are fine.

I hope they're tall, full, and vigorous. It also sounds like you're going to give them a good spot in front of the best window. Good idea. They need all the ight they can get in the Canadian winter

Washing them well is very important; houseplant growers use very nasty insecticides and fungicides, and you'll want to wash and wipe off as much as you can, especially if you have a grazer like a veiled.

I use big rocks and some window screen to keep the animals and insects out of the dirt. I don't know why you would want any bits of coco husk. Seems like these could be a risk for accidental ingestion. I would skip that stuff.

Ficus and dwarf Scheffs like to dry a bit between waterings. And don't forget to feed your plants regularly. Hope they grow well for you.

Warm Regards

Thanks for your response

What kind of food would you suggest for the plants?

I'll go with your suggestion on the rocks/soil and scrap the substrate.

As for the plants, the scheff is beautiful but the alii needs a little care and pruning. I will do my very best to make sure she grows .. I'm just going to keep reading on it and be as attentive as possible. I've already washed down my alii and put my cham in before bedtime and she turned bright green. I can't wait until she feels the sun on her back .. she loves to hang off my curtains and bask so she's going to love being on the plants now. Hopefully I can post some pics tomorrow!!

 

[james L]

Wow! Plants arent cheap in other places. Scheffs. go for something list $5-10 in a 3gal pot around my parts. I guess Ive never thought about how you guys get your plants up north. Its has to be a pain for homedepots and other stores to get plants in the middle of the winter. I should start selling plants, might make a buck.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

I don't know how big it is gallon wise but the plant goes past my knee in height (I'm 5'3) .. very lush and beautiful. Don't think it's worth selling though .. Home Depot might be tough to compete with

 

[atsutane]

Im sure you have been told/ warned this, but if your cham starts to go eatting any of those plants too much its recomended you take them out. especially the scheffelara because that is toxic to people and most other animals as well.

hibiscus seems to be the safest ive found with little to no worry about over consumption of the plant and they are hearty... but they like to be watered more often than the other plants so they ca be a pain to take care of... but it shouldnt be a problem if you are misting your cham too, just spray the plant down every so often too!


on a side note... how do chams fair with orchids? i have quite a few and they seem to be doing splendidly, and was considering ploping them into my cage when i got my cham and buy me some time to grab other plants when they finally go in season

 

[pssh]

I don't know about the ficus one, but dwarf umbrella plants are perfectly safe. Only the aboricola (sp?) though.

Hibiscus require more care than extra water, they need their own plant light to thrive in a cage!

 

[atsutane]

i have a "full spectrum" house light that works for growing plants as well as heat. would it be too far to say i could use it as a basking bulb as well?

 

[pssh]

I'm not much of a plant gal, so all I know is that they thrive under 6500k plant bulbs.

 

[DGray]

Thanks for your response

What kind of food would you suggest for the plants?
...

'Welcome.

Any kind of houseplant food is fine, just apply regularly.

 

[pssh]

A few people on here recommend organic plant foods so your Cham won't be eating unnatural stuff in the plants. (something about fish? Or am I thinking fertilizers?) again, I'm not too plant savy.

 

[CammieBaby]

I'm currently am having an issue with coco/tropical soil. It's like they're living in splinters and can get in the eye causing irratations so bad they have severe eye problems. Even loss of the eye and worse. Get rid of it! I wouldn't be surprised if it has other things in it that aren't safe for anything to be in.