Ficus Tree in my yard?

[Psychobunny]

I have a potted ficus tree and wondering if it would live and grow in my yard.
Thinking of climate conditions, I live in Maryland east coast US, and we have cold winters here.
Would a ficus live in my climate?

If not, can anyone suggest a cham safe tree I can plant in my yard that doesnt get too big?

I know nothing about this sort of thing

 

[little leaf]

what about a rose of sharron ? they are really pretty, and don't get huge - this is for your cham to hang out in , right ? or a dwarf mulberry? or you can get a grape vine, and train it to climb ( they are very smart you know ) a trellis, and that makes a great "tree" - I use wild grape in all my outdoor cages, even a few of my viv/s - and the leaves are very wide, so they hold lots of mist for drinking, and are great shade all those make it here in Ohio, home of the frozen summer - lol and should make it threw your winters - I dont know about a ficus, they are so fussy, mine has a fit, and drops all its leaves if I even move it a few feet ~

 

[Chuck Lawson]

> I know nothing about this sort of thing

In general, you'll want to look up the USDA plant hardiness zone for your location (probably a 7 - 8 for most of Maryland) and then google for the recommended USDA zone for the species you want to plant. Ficus benjamina (the typical potted ficus) is more tropical, being hardy in zones 10 - 12 - it probably wouldn't survive the winter for you. Other Ficus species might work in your area, however.

 

[Psychobunny]

Okay, thanks, thats what I thought.

I was hoping not to spend more money, but the dwarf mulberry sounds interesting.

 

[mmminyard]

I have a dwarf mulberry that my cham loves to chill on. He likes to eat the dead mulberry leaves though.

 

[little leaf]

Okay, thanks, thats what I thought.

I was hoping not to spend more money, but the dwarf mulberry sounds interesting.

you can stick your silks on there too, he can eat Al fresco

 

[Psychobunny]

you can stick your silks on there too, he can eat Al fresco

LOL! maybe I will try that

I can get a 3' dwarf mulberry for about $40.00.
I want something big enough to give it a good head start.

My back yard is very bare, and could use a tree, but I really want someplace to put my chams when they are outside.
I know some of them dont like the small cages I put them in.
They get scared that they feel trapped or cornered.
When I try to take them out of the cages, they like, freeze with frieght.

It's like they think they are being captured or something.
They get confused, so I bring them inside, and let them get their bearings for a while.

I am afraid that if I put them on a small tree, I will have to chase them all over to get them on my hand to be taken inside.

One time I had Smeagol (my oldest veiled) on a large tree branch in my back yard. He was chilled for a few minutes, then scrurried down and bolted across the yard.
He was running really fast, and almost made it to the wire fence seperating my yard from my neigbors yard