Weeping Fig ...in ground.

They're indoor plants here Stan and very temperamental. Drop their leaves for the slightest thing.

We had a deep freeze in 1990,and a lesser freeze- but pretty bad- in 1998. Since then,the semi tropicals have started to "sprout" around town,and some of those like the rubber tree are bigger then ever. The weeping figs Thorney are juuuuuust getting to be small tree's. It will be nice one day to see them as large tree's ,climate trending the way it is now.

You know Thorney,most of those houseplants that are fussy are what I post after the owners tire of them indoors and plant in the ground. Sink or swim!

My attitude entirely Stan. "It's got one of two chances".

Oh,its a near sure thing that Ficus wasn't bought to be planted outdoors. Ask Andy, These are orphans!

Ficus benjamina seems to do a lot better outside in the ground, though. They love very high light levels in the hottest spot. I've seen pretty large Ficus benjamina trees in the SF Bay Area for years. Every 7 to 10 years they get a little damaged; however, they come back very quickly. Luckily, the 1990 Freeze was so extremely rare. Hopefully, there will be no freezes like the December 1990 freeze in more than a 200 years. I will never forget that 1990 Freeze! It did so much damage to my plants and trees when I lived up there.

Interesting that they (f.benjamina) become common street tree's in the warm parts of the world. Here in the bay area,its Ficus nitida and its various names that are planted as street tree's. F. Benjamina needs watering and much more time to become a small tree...Ficus nitida needs less water and can get by on none at all- but winter rains- when its established. It's also a full fledged tree of 40'.
Still,I read that somebody spotted a F. benjamina in San Francisco that was at least 25' tall and wide. I wish he said where...

Yes, Ficus benjamina is such a common tree here. It's because it's very drought tolerant. Although, some in Balboa Park showing major die-back from the severe drought. Most around San Diego looks very good, though.

I really like Ficus nitida (or retusa) it's an easy tree to grow in the SF Bay Area (many areas, anyway). There's a very large one close to where I work. I've posted a pic in the past. It gigantic! I calculated 60' or so high and almost a 100' spread. I originally thought it was much smaller, it's also grown a lot since its been cut back two years ago.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/314569-ficus-retusa-cuban-laurel-tree

What a beauty my mum tried growing one .

Penny,

It needs a lot of light and heat. They grow best indoors by a very big, bright window.

Yes every time I have had one its died indoors must be my house being cold and dark. thank you Stan.

Penny,

Cold and dark is definitely not good conditions for this Ficus.

Yes I read a lot later it needs a lot of light and warmth thank you Andy.?

There's other Ficus species which will tolerate cooler, darker conditions, though. Ficus deltoidea (Mistletoe Fig) is one which tolerate these conditions well. It doesn't grow very big, either.

Thank you Andy I shall look out for one.