I just had to wait until I came across one at a local grower, Timing is key, because they are not always available. I too have only seen the big braided plants at Lowes, etc.

It sucks!!! Cause I really prefer a baby!!! I wonder why smaller ones aren't more available?

I bought my Ficus Alii from Wal-Mart a couple of years ago. It, too, was one with the braided trunks. They had just gotten them in and I think it was the only one they had, if I remember correctly. I don't recall how much it cost. I haven't seen any more since then. Mine's a thirsty ficus. I pretty much have to water it at least every other day now, and it's not even close to being summer yet. It's also getting quite top-heavy. Mostly because it sucks up every last drop of water from its pot, leaving its soil with not as much weight to hold it down. Causing the top leafy canopy to be heavy enough to topple over whenever it gets windy outside. One reason being that I currently have it out in full sunlight all day long. So far, it's enjoying it, just as long as I keep it well watered. But if the sunlight begins to get too intense, I'll just move it back into my partially shaded porch where I had it last season. I may just have to repot it into a heavier ceramic pot this year anyways.

I just googled the Ficus Alii and couldn't believe the prices that are being charged for them. What's worse is that the fake artificial ones cost even more than the real ones. I did see a small one for sale on Amazon at a reasonable price...

Ficus 'Alii' - Alii Fig Tree

Thanks for the link! That isn't a bad price at all!!! I may have to order it. I've never bought a plant from online!

Yes you may have to put it in a heavier pot!!! Do you have a picture??? I'm thinking of putting my Lyrata outside. I'll probably have to set an alarm to remind myself to water it LOL. Ivebgot a couple of succulents outside and a Polka dot plant on my porch. Im new to putting plants outside so I'm starting slow!!!

My alarm is coming home and seeing my 'Alii' toppled over, haha. I have it in a self-watering pot, and I even place that into a slightly larger plastic container to let it soak for a good long while, before draining it. Then, over the next couple of days, it's wanting some more. I even placed some white marble rocks on top of the soil, hoping that would give it some much needed weight, but I got tired of picking them all back up when I go to stand it back up again. Lately, I haven't had to do this, but that's because I've increased my watering schedule for it. But this is Arkansas, sooner or later, it's bound to get windy again.

I've ordered from Amazon before. I like it because you can check out the reviews from other customers before ordering something. :)

It gets windy here too!!!! My succulents have surprisingly survived a very windy thunderstorm last week!!! And they're in 6 inch pots!!! Go figure!!!

I'll guess I'll read some reviews before I head to Wally world!!!

My 6 foot benjamina was $22 at lowes. I bought it over a year ago when it was tiny and under 4 feet tall. Putting it outside for the summer made it really fill out.

The rest that I have were all grown from clippings.

What size are the ones your seeing for $30?

typically, garden centers seem to way overcharge. A tree that's the current size of my benjamina would sell for over $150.00.

I think it's fun to start them from free clippings and turn them into the tree you want. They grow like weeds if placed in full sun for the summer.

I got a nice size benjamina in december 2014 from home depot for $12.99. I was in a big pot. And about 3-4 feet tall.

Dave the ones for thirty bucks are probably 3-4 ft but they're sold at a local nursery so of course they're more expensive. Tbh they're beautiful and very well cared for but I don't wanna pay 30 bucks for one plant, ya know.

I just came from Walmart and saw two on the clearance rack, one that had just a few leaves hanging on. They were the braided bonsai but I don't want a braided one. The other bonsai's have a mass of rocks "glued" to the top or something.

Tlbean, I haven't seen any. Our Home Depots have been having a bunch of near death brown and yellow plants that I don't want to bother with. But since its been consistently warm I'll check with them sometime this week.

$30 definitely isn't too bad for a 4' ficus at a nursery, especially if it's really healthy.

Around here they'd probably be about $70 for one that size at a nursery.

Do you have any Lowes there? They'd probably be about $10 cheaper for around the same size.

Lowes doesn't have any yet. I can't wait til they do!!!

I guess thirty bucks isn't too bad. I'm really looking forward to a small one though. I love to watch them grow. Buying big plants sucks unless its something that grows really slow!

One thing I've noticed, with some nurseries at least, is that they try to pot plants up and sell them at a larger size. Price differences here between plants in small pots and the same species/varieties in larger pots are big. The differences in the plant sizes themselves is not always all that great. Of course, on the other side of the argument, would you like to be making a living from potting up plants and selling them for the prices you see? I do sometimes ask myself that question when in nurseries.

On the matter of getting small Ficus plants, the discussion above made me smile. I have no problems getting small plants, they keep sprouting in my pots, on other trees and even on rocks.

Well lucky you Tropic!!! I just ordered the Ficus from the link Dave gave me. Its not rooted though so I'm gonna need you guys help!!!

Always check the markdown rack at Lowes and Home Depot. They are constantly marking down plants to make room for new shipments. Go to a few stores so you can get an idea of what each one marks down. I live in a big city and the Lowes at the East side of town marks down the trees more than the hanging pots. The stores on my side of town mark down succulents and hanging pots so it's a gamble. I got my braided allii for about $5 on markdown by just driving around to different stores.

It also really varies from store to store. I have two lowes close by. One rarely gets any ficus. The other usually has about 20 in all different sizes including an 8' tall huge one.

heres a big one they had last summer that was marked down to $49 by mid August.

The Lowes I go to seems to only get big Ficuses. And no Alii's which i now desperately want just because its hard to find!!! When I have the gas I'll forage over to the other one that's across town. Lowe's is great about marking down plants!!! I love love love their clearence rack. They had a black Friday sale on their outdoor plants a few weeks back.

I canceled my order because I thought it was just a cutting.LOL. Silly me!!!

Mentha I'm notorious for looking for the best deal!!! I've been known to hide a plant so I can go check and see if so and so has it cheaper. Sighhh...

Dave, that Ficus is gorgeous and a great deal!!!

Jamilalshaw, pity you're not closer, I'd be able to send you some small Ficus. Not allii though, for some reason those don't seem to have fruited/seeded.

Tropicbreezent where are you? Probably a very very long way from Texas!!!