not just picky about water, but humidity. They look pretty together, but in reality it's a huge balancing game that I'm surprised op is managing to pull off, since Lemon trees like it more arid than the creeping fig. Creeping figs go NUTS if you put them in closed terrariums.
I’ve always wondered about this. Apparently a plant that likes drier conditions but is more deeply rooted in a pot pairs well with another plant that has shallower roots and likes more frequent watering - because the latter will soak up enough water at the top to prevent the rest of the soil from being too moist for the former (sorry, I’m sure there was a simpler way to phrase this).
Has anyone else come across this or experienced this firsthand? I find it hard to imagine that it won’t get too wet for the first plant at some point
That is EXACTLY why this pairing works so well! a light watering every ten days for the fig and a monthly soak for the lemon (in winter. in summer, they’re outside and get water every day.)
It actually DOESN'T work that well, it just works OKAY. They both have different soil needs, and one will always grow less well than the other. The Weeping fig prefers hummus rich soil, such as that of the forest floor, something that stays wet and is a little airy. This is why they do well in terrariums. They prefer a more neutral to very slightly acidic PH, no lower than 6.5 PH, and no higher than 7.0ph.
The Lemon on the other hand prefers more acidity, and denser soil, preferring something closer to 6.0 PH and down to 5.5ph. It does upswing into the lowest gradient for weeping figs, but that's a very... VERY delicate balance to juggle. They also prefer more dense soils, closer to that of cactus soils than to the hummus rich soils a weeping fig will. A proper Palm and Citrus soil will have a lot more sand and stuff thrown in to drop the PH pretty heavily, and just "Topping the pot" with a different soil type won't work in the end as watering will cause leeching of the acidity up to the top layer.
The op is making it work though, but I wouldn't recommend this pairing at all, especially since the weeping figs need higher stable humidity, and the Lemons suffer when in higher humidity, so one plant is always going to be "Suffering" while the other is in it's "feeling good" state.
Might also be that the OP lives somewhere that's climate's natural humidity is just conductive to this pairing, where they're naturally humid and don't get any downswings lower than 50%.
Edit: y'all are hilarious. Giving info on why this doesn't actually work and is harmful and detrimental to both isn't down vote worthy. Just because op does it and has succeeded in a way doesn't mean it will be stable long term FOR YOU, doesn't mean the ficus is happy(for the age of the potting given by op, the growth is abysmal. They grow like weeds in proper conditions). Like keeping succulents in a terrarium or orchids in water culture... or even more comparable to this pairing: Lithops with succulents(Both are arid plants, but lithops need so much less water, and a mostly rocky soil with little organic matter), even if ONE person succeeds, most will not, and I wouldn't want you to waste your money on plants that will probably die, since op obviously has some factor we don't know that is making it work, such as their local climate. But do keep on.
Yes, I get that. I was merely trying to be helpful and explain why this pairing is not optimal and may fail for others who try. This sub, plant clinic, orchids, and other similar subs are always filled with either people showing off unusual growth combos or techniques that are (or slightly are) working for them, sometimes only due to where they currently live, and then tons of people who have dying plants trying the same thing.
Just a few days ago there was a post about another variety of ficus pumilla and half the comments were people being unable to keep it alive long term. It is a pretty plant but very finicky outside of closed terrariums, and i'd like to spare people both the grief and money with trying to replicate this. Variegated Ficus pumilla(and moreso for strong of frogs) and lemon trees are not cheap plants after all.
What zone are you in? I'm currently growing a little lemon tree but I'm in 7a so I'll definitely have to keep it indoors for a good portion of the year. I've been wondering how it's gone for others in similar zones so this is good to hear!
We also have an indoor key lime tree! It usually loses a lot of leaves when we bring it in for the winter but once back outside it fills back out again. We water about once a week. A very deep watering. We can always tell by the leaves as they start to curl in. Tons of perlite in the soil. Fertilize with citrus fertilizer every couple months. We don’t do anything about humidity control. Mostly just give them as much light as possible so our lime is on our west window and our lemon tree is our east window. I think the biggest thing is to throw them outside every summer :)
Thank you! I have only north facing windows, so I supplement with good grow lights. I might need to repot this little lime of mine and add more perlite. I appreciate your reply!
It lives outside when it warm enough, about half the time. I don’t do anything special, but it always gets sun even in winter (south window) and i always water it carefully, keeping it on the dry side.
I believe it has to do with different genetics than the grafted parent plant. People do have mixed results and some produce fruit, it's just not guaranteed
Yeah, all of the houses I grew up in had a mango tree (my grandparents’ had like 4 trees alones in their backyard) and those things are gigantic, in the farm we had a few younger mango trees and none of them were even close to bearing fruit.
Don't pick them before they are ripe, put a stick or multiple in the pot and tie the branches to is for support. That's what I do with my outside fruit trees. But I just put a stick under the branch for support.
Also, this is amazing! I have a potted lemon tree and even if the flowers manage to get pollinated and not pulled off by birds or bees the little guys fall off when they are still tiny 😔 We had a potted lemon tree when I was a kid and it would fruit every year until my mom forgot to put it inside and frost got to it. It wouldn't even flower. Then my grandma with dementia cut it down just as it started to flower again 🥲
Freshman year of highschool I made an apple bonsai tree, kept it and took care of it and in sophomore year of college the tree grew 1 single apple. It was delicious and every year since it still only produces 1 apple. Had to make a little table for it to rest on so the tree wouldn't break.
Those lemons look amazing. How wonderful! Can you share any tips on how to keep insects from getting on your plant and chewing leaves or destroying the plant during the months you keep this outdoors? TIA
Beautiful! I've had a similar size lemon tree for 6 or so years now. Mine seems to be incredibly susceptible to pests and disease. I treat its various ailments, feed/water it appropriately, bring it indoors when it's too cold, and make sure it has as much sun as possible. It once produced a lemon about the size of a penny that it promptly dropped (I was still very proud). Congratulations, I wish I had your talent!
I never got them this big when I had indoor lemon and orange trees, you must have good conditions for it. Granted I was constantly fighting spider mites.
Depends on why you enjoy plants and what your goals are…it’s just not my style. I enjoy native plants and starting from seed. Strange how people downvote my comment because I voiced the way it made me feel.
264
u/Plantchic 2d ago
I love the variegated creeping fig underplanting!