African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata) and Acalypha wilkesiana - Copperleaf

Yes. Now, the large tropical African Fig tree (Ficus cyathistipula) must be cut way back. It's amazing how quickly this very tropical fig grows in San Diego's subtropical climate.

Gorgeous Copperleaf and your beauitful Tulip tree that Ficus is huge glad you cleared it all Andy it looks great would be a shame for these to be strangled.

Yes, I have several varieties of Copperleaf (Acalypha). My largest is Acalypha 'Jungle Dragon', it's 15 ft tall.

My Ficus cyathistipula or African Fig was put into this spot as a tiny 5 inch cutting (from my larger tree) back in Sept of 2009...now, it's more than 20' tall. It has to be cut way back.

Sounds great you having one that tall 15ft

So the Ficus grows quite quick then it s done well 5" to 20' in 18 years.

In 8 years, not 18 years. I'm afraid to see how huge it'll be when it's 18 years old.

Lol yes 8 years sorry so would I would be interesting to see how big in another 10 years.

Lol! Yes, most Ficus species grow very fast. I think this species can grow to 50 ft (15m) tall. This cannot be allowed to grow that large. I don't give it any water and it still grows fast! :>))

I am surprised Andy it does nt kill your other plants close by from taking all their water from the. ground. 50ft is very tallwill you keep it pruned back then.

Nice house!...the plants look the better for the extra light.

Penny,

Yes, it cannot be allowed to grow to 50 ft. This area isn't large enough. This Ficus will be cut way back soon.

Stan,

Yes, and I'm not done cutting. LOL! I'm going to cut back the African Tulip tree a little more, also. It looks lop-sided because of the Ficus cyathistipula growing on top of it.

Besides it being San Diego,that hilly street of yours must be frost free as in, forever?

Yes I can understand you having to cut the focus back because of lack of space which is a shame hope the Tulip tree does nt get cut back to much does nt look lob sided to me.

Stan,

Yes, it's a steep hill! Sometimes it drives me nuts! People speed down this hill all the time! :>((

Yes, it's a really good good exposure. It's a south-facing slope. I have never seen a hint of frost here, which is good for my tropical plants. :>))

Penny,

I should have never allow this Ficus cythistipula to get to this size. It's really a bad spot for it.

When you look at the African tulip tree from the sidewalk the tree looks very lop-sided. The Ficus was growing on top of it.

Naughty man slap wrists lol letting it grow so big. I suppose it looks different in real life than on your photo the Tulip tree being lol sided.

LOL! Yes, Ficus species have a tendency to just grow like crazy all year here.

I had a gorgeous Ficus craterastoma (another tropical fig from Africa). It kept growing extremely fast and so large and I kept cutting it way back to about 6' and it would grow to 25' within two years. Finally, last year it was chainsawed down to the ground. I hated to do it! It had a lot aerial roots which looked so beautiful!

Here's what it looked like a couple years back, through my large papaya.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/292531-carica-papaya-thai-dwarf-with-ficus-craterastoma-in-background/all

I can see ghey do by yours. Shame you had to saw it down.
I shall take a look thanks.

Yes, it's a shame it had to be cut down; however, it's still trying to come back. I'm still cutting it back from the stems from the ground.

Lol you have a determined one there then.

Yes, Ficus trees are extremely difficult to completely get rid of...they have such a big root system that will grow plants everywhere the roots are located.

Wow they are vigourous then I hope you can stop it in the end Andy.

I'll have to buy some stump killer.

Yes thats the best thing I think I hope it works fully for you . Will you make a feature from the stump thats left.

No, I will try to dig out the stump when it rots. I'm not so convinced that stump killer will kill it for good, though.

You need Rock salt but you wont be able to plant where you ve put the rock salt or creosote even better mixed with old engine oil we use to paint our fences with it years ago now banned as mixing engine oil makes it flammable or Jeys fluid I ĺl let you know if the Jeys fluid works as my grandson has poured that on a Yucca root left I know it kills weeds on pathways and they dont come back.

I'm always leary of putting chemicals into the ground. I don't want the soil to be contaminated for any length of time.

Yes I understand why you would be wary putting chemicles in the ground contaminating the soil especially if you grow food.

Yes, I never know when I'm going to plant a crop of something. LOL! I like to grow fruiting trees or plants.

Sound as though you have an orvhard Andy .
So your like most men over here for prefering to grow food that explains the saying the root to a mans heart is through his stomach lol

It's almost like an orchard. I have my little papaya forest and bananas, guavas, dragon fruit, eggplant, Allspice tree, lemon verbena, peppers. Now, that I'm listing everything, it's a lot! LOL! :>))

lol it is a lot Andy I think you need a farm he he.

I know I've forgotten some plants. LOL! I can't wait until my little coffee trees are big enough to plant back into the ground. I really miss the flowering on my large coffee tree! (which was cut down).

Lol Andy you ll have to make a list so you don't forget them . I bet you cant wait for your coffee trees to go into the ground that's a shame you had to cut your large one down, lets hope the others make up for it.

Yes, I'm going to plant them in a much better spot where they get a little more shade.

Well I am glad to hear that as you love them so much wise thinking and planning.

Yes, and in really good acidic soil, also. :>))

That good having the soil it likes being acidic they would do grest in my garden then.

The soil here tends to be very alkaline because of the very long dry season.

How about adding lime and organic compost banana skins.

I have added Gypsum, coffee grounds and vinegar, these all acidify the soil. Sometimes it's just not enough, because we don't receive enough rain.

My Ixoras are getting chlorotic because the soil is too alkaline where they're growing. I need to put more vinegar in the soil with Ironite.

Tea is acific to Andy nut if your not getting enough rain I cant see what other things you can do to improve it you seem to do a lot already. Never heard of Ironite.

We need to add a lot of gypsum and coffee grounds to the soil.

I was watching on you tube cider vinegar is good to for acidic.

I've been adding vinegar to some of my more acid-loving plants.

Andy,I got excited when I saw one of the fiddle leafed Crotons at HD. Then I got closer looks. It wasn't the kind splashed with color. It had mostly green leafs with very thin veins of yellow and a dash of reddish tint. Nothing like yours or of course the Petra's. They did have a wildy yellow Petra..tempted!

Thats great hope its perked them up ☺
.

It's funny that type of croton is not available. It's really common here at Home Depot, Lowe's, and most nurseries.

I want to get another Croton Mrs. Iceton. It did so well until I over watered it. The roots rooted. I couldn't believe it because all my other crotons gets a lot of water.