posted
A friend and I just repotted all of her plants. She has a few good-sized rubber trees that have been living in doors, and they are doing so well that she has to split them regularly so they don't get too big. Well, one was so big, and so rootbound that we just decided to plant it in the ground in her back yard. We live in Central Texas (zone 8); do you think her rubber plant will survive outdoors? Is there anything special we should do for it now or in the winter?
Plants: 15 | From: Waco, Texas | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 216.188.238.95
Jiffymouse
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posted
welcome to the gardenhelper mshpring
not really sure of your answer, but what i would do is put lots of mulch and cover the plant during the coldest times of the year. should be ok if you do that!
Seeded: 12.77.200.50
posted
Hi Mshpring, Rubber tree - Ficus elastica is only hardy from zones 10 to 12. Your friend will have to bring it in for the winter or take cuttings and start a new plant. Here's a couple of sites that should be helpful.
* * * * When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Plants: 271 | From: Maryland zone 7 | Registered: Sep 2002
| Seeded: 68.55.145.196
posted
If it is an issue of getting too cold -- something that is working here for lemons - and might work for you on the rubber tree (or anything else that is cold sensitive).
String outdoor "christmas" lights through it and keep them plugged in. The issue does become one of lights burning out - - but we keep our lemons that way.
I had given some thought to how to protect from the cold - and had someone else tell me that is what they do. All the nurseries and such - will tell you "it gets too cold for lemons and other citrus" here.
When the woman told how she strings the lights through - it reminded me of a field problem in Turkey - - where literally (no joking - no stretching the truth) it was cold enough at night that water would freeze faster than it could sink into the ground (I literally saw this). Anyway, an old sargeant told me - "light a candle and put it under your chair and you will stay warm. I tried it - - everyone else was freeziung and I was taking off the overgarments I was so warm.
posted
Jon: Thanks! That is a great idea. It is my friends tree, and she had christmas lights strung through it when she had the tree indoors.
I was also worried about how the tree would handle being outside for the Texas summer, as it was planted in a rather sunny area. However, now that the other trees are filling in some, the sunlight is not so overpowering.
Thanks for your ideas!
Plants: 15 | From: Waco, Texas | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 216.188.238.95
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welcome to the gardenhelper mshpring 
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