Outdoor light (Ficus, Schefflera)?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I'm doing the bonsai shuffle. Since I have morning sun on my covered front porch... my plants went out for a week, then it got too cold and they came back in for a week, then back out to the front porch this past week, and I just moved most of them to my back porch where they get full afternoon sun. I'm hoping a week on the front porch will be a smooth enough transition - I brought my ficus caricas, ficus benjamina, crassula ovatas, and adenium obesums to the back porch. I still have my ficus retusa and schefflera on my front porch because I was worried they might get scalded in the full sun.

What are your thoughts?

PS, I'm planning on giving this retusa a hard prune closer to May.

I'll probably cut all the secondaries about .5-inches long.

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Comments (5)

tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
9 years ago
Morning Sun is OK till about 9-10am. Otherwise open shade for a week or so and then increase the amount of light over the next week or so. Most of mine had been out for more than a week now and I am just about to move them to get more of the morning Sun.
Jon
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks PK! They had the morning sun under a covered patio for more than a week and I moved them to the back porch with afternoon sun yesterday. My other plants were already on the back porch for a couple days (including the 3 benjamina cuttings I got from you that are hopefully fusing). So I think the back porch should be ok, but I guess I'll see when I get home!

Ps, how are the schefflera cuttings doing? The two I kept didn't make it.
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tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
9 years ago
I think you will be fine. If you are worried you stretch a two layer of 4mil or 6mil clear plastic between 4 temporary posts. That will cut down the light by 30-40%.

The scheff cuttings (3) are all doing fine. Thanks. They all have one new leaf each at different stages of size and maturity. I leave them inside under lights for a another week or two before bringing them out. I also realize that the other scheff I have is a variegated PVN3 type. If you want cuttings let me know.
Jon
Original Author
9 years ago
I bought a black woven plastic sheet that allows 40% sun, but I never used it because my front porch probably has approximately the same effect. In fact, I decided my front porch was safe enough for the plants based upon the way you use the alley next to your house: the plants aren't blocked from the sun, but they only get a short period of sun each day. The plants seem fine on the back porch, fortunately! And today / tomorrow will be rainy, so I'm sure they will adjust smoothly.

Glad to hear the schefflera are going well! Are the PVN III equally as small/compact, such as the leaf size as compared to the PVN I? If you have extra cuttings at any point, I would definitely be interested.
tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
9 years ago
PVN III is pretty compact. The leaves are very curly. Here is a pic:
There are 3 plants in there. I will be repotting and try to fuse them together. Most likely I will have good cuttings out of this. I will save some for you if you are interested.

I also a similar shade cloth. I use that for plants that did not get much light during winter. Also use it for hardening smaller plants grown from cutting.