Ficus trees

Our ficus trees keep dying Anyone else have this problem in an indoor enclosure? I know a lot of you use them...how do you keep them alive??

PRobably need to alternate em and get em outside.

I had this problem too so I moved the cage next to the window. The tree gets all the light it needs. Mango likes being by the window too, so I got 2 birds stoned at once. If thats not an option maybe you can get some fluorescent bulbs for the tree.

We do have a four foot 5.0 uvb bulb and a full spectrum fluorescent plant bulb on them. Being by a window is not possible. Also outside can only happen for about four months of the year if that. Michigan is crappy sometimes

a 35-40w full spectrum fluorescent might work. They don't get too hot so you can get them close to your plant.

Day Man said:

I had this problem too so I moved the cage next to the window. The tree gets all the light it needs. Mango likes being by the window too, so I got 2 birds stoned at once. If thats not an option maybe you can get some fluorescent bulbs for the tree.

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im calling pita!!!! lol

pain in the ass? Unless you mean peta, people for the ethical treatment of animals ... who actually treat animals pretty terribly.

Hahahaha funny josh.

I had the same prob with my ficus. I got a huge one from a friend and after the summer I brought it inside. It started to loose all its leaves so I made sure that I kept the 2 blinds on the windows open. My chams like it better and the ficus is too.

We do use a 40w flourescent plant bulb. Hmmm....we may have to move all our cages into another room so they can be near a window. That'll be a pain in the butt!

Ficus tend to drop there leaves after a change in location or climate... But it does not mean they are dead... It will come back... The light in your enclosure should be enough light to keep it alive. I found the most common cause of Ficus Fatality is over watering. They don't need much water... And I find that the runnoff from the mistings is ussually enough to keep it at the appropriate level (or if your ficus is getting to much runnoff from the mistings that may kill it)... Maybe stick your finger an inch or so in every week to make sure it is slightly damp... but not saturated... I have one that is outside and is growing nicely ... It is not subjected to regular misting at the moment sense it is not in an enclosure... But I water the soil maybe once a week, and it is doing awesome. Also make sure it is not directly under a basking bulb.. I have had issues with plants dying at basking spot temps before.


LOL... Getting 2 birds stoned at once... I love it

Thanks for the feedback!