Question

Hi there,

We have huge sections of cinderblock wall that we are attempting to cover with Ficus pumila.(with some success!)  There are some areas where I would need to plant them in pots but the fella at the nursery told me they didn't grow well in pots.  Is this true?  If not,  do you have any pointers as to size or depth of  pots to get the most coverage from the plants?

Also, the larger/taller  plants  we've purchased are all tied up to sticks. is it best to let them out of their little ties to grow wider and lower or shall we just leave them tied and allow them to travel out and down from the sticks?   I ask because we actually had the best results with the mini 5 dollar plants that weren't tied as opposed to the tall. more expensive ones.

Lastly, do we need to worry about the plants getting into the cracks in the cinderblock and making them worse or is only wood structures we should be concerned with.

Thanks so much for your time!

Eden Barr-  Los Angeles, CA

Answer
Eden,

I have grown them in pots. They do better in pots if they are in smaller pots or pot bound. You are best off with no drain trays under the pots. Just use the pots to give them a pocket of soil to grow in. They do not need constantly moist soil so no drain tray full of water under the constantly. That's why smaller pots work better. Don't worry about the plants getting in the cracks in the cinderblocks. They won't hurt them. They are not that strong. Do not let them grow under shingles or between boards, etc. Good luck.

Darlene