Just got an Alii Ficus

[luckykarma]

I started a post about the Amstel King ficus as a better replacement for the frustrating Benjamina ficus that drops leaves and is very fragile.

After a long search I found an Alii Ficus which is close. Here's a photo of it and leaf comparison between it and a Benjamina for scale.

Its suppose to be much hardier than a Benjamina. A true house plant. Good thick branches. Large leaves that will hold a lot of water. I'll keep everyone posted as the months go by. No matter how hardy the benjaminas only lasted 6 months before that had to go outside to be regrown.

 

[luckykarma]

Here's a leaf comparison.

 

[jannb]

Hi Gary! We have a BIG one like that growing in our backyard. I just didn't know what it was called. Jann

 

[Drone]

1) where did you get it?

2) were there smaller sizes available?

 

[luckykarma]

I got it from a nursery in Hollywood. The had a smaller one but I think these are generally large - too large for a cage if that's what you're thinking.

 

[Drone]

... I think these are generally large - too large for a cage if that's what you're thinking.

Yes, that's exactly what i was thinking.

 

[luckykarma]

You might check out a schefflera instead. Broad leaves. Many keepers love them.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/Hort/Hort332/images/plantlist/dwarf schefflera.jpg

Also here's an update. After getting used to it the panther that lives in it is having a blast. He's even eating more. When I spray the leaves I can increase the humidity up to 20% more and it stays for quite a while.

 

[BMXICAN]

You might check out a schefflera instead. Broad leaves. Many keepers love them.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/Hort/Hort332/images/plantlist/dwarf schefflera.jpg

Also here's an update. After getting used to it the panther that lives in it is having a blast. He's even eating more. When I spray the leaves I can increase the humidity up to 20% more and it stays for quite a while.

Scheffleras are great too!

 

[luckykarma]

...........

 

[Drone]

So are you freeranging that Panther?

 

[luckykarma]

All my animals have always been free range for the last 7 years. Its great and sometimes a nightmare if one - and its always one - decides the entire place is his cage.

Otherwise they just stay in their trees. I started a thread about free ranging and many members posted about their setups. I see you're new. Just do a search.

 

[jannb]

Hi Gary! We have a BIG one like that growing in our backyard. I just didn't know what it was called. Jann

Is this tree like the one you got? I'd have my husband dig it up and bring it in if it were not so big. It's out of the fenced backyard.......way over in the side yard and I never go over there.....what a waste! It use to be bigger and my husband cut it back.

 

[luckykarma]

Its either that or an Amstel King. Really what a waste. Lucky Boy loves that tree.

 

[KendoEndo]

You might check out a schefflera instead. Broad leaves. Many keepers love them.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/Hort/Hort332/images/plantlist/dwarf schefflera.jpg

Also here's an update. After getting used to it the panther that lives in it is having a blast. He's even eating more. When I spray the leaves I can increase the humidity up to 20% more and it stays for quite a while.

Also known as an "Umbrella Plant." I use these in my cage because they have lots of stems to use to climb between and (like its name) the water from my misting pools up in where the leaves join together at the stem. My cham loves drinking the pooled water.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Just do some cuttings off of it. I tried last year with some giant ficus I got in a deal - all were lost. Then I tried something else. I took the cuttings (simply a piece that was sticking up too high to fit in the basement, scraped allt he bark off of the bottom 2-3 inches of the branch (where it was cut), added root tone, or whatever it's called (rooting hormone). What I did last tiem was set them in moist soil. Didn't work.

This time, I set them in a big bucket of water crystals outside for a few months. They've got 3" roots already.

Just order bulk water crystals online (I think I got mine at watercrystals.com), and you'll have enough for ever. Seriously, for like $5 you get enough of the things to fill your room up a foot deep with the stuff...

 

[Jerm]

I've used ficus alii for years. They are the only ones that don't drop leaves when you move them and they do very well in my cages. I have found them in tree form and in shrub form. I have one that i have owned for atleast 8 years now. The poor thing has been in I don't know how many different cages that were all shaped different so I would trim it. It is still growing. It eventually had a square shape to it.