Ficus winter temp

[NOVAbonsai]

So I am thinking about when I bring my Ficus (tiger bark) in for the winter this year and wondering what temperature indoors they are able to tolerate without dropping all the leaves. The room I will be keeping it in gets pretty cool at night (not sure how cold but my guess is low 60's) and I was thinking of buying a LED light to give it an extra boost of light for the winter. I know ficus are good to temps below this but is there any other recommendations to keep my plant healthy during the winter in a cool room like this? Also when do most people bring their Ficus indoors? When temps drop to the mid 50's at night?

 

[penumbra]

Most of my ficus do well under strong lighting at about 60F. It can get mid 50s to mid 60s in most of my basement. I have about 10 types of ficus and they do not all react the same. They all survive but they do stop growing for the most part. In a small heated room I have that is maintained at 70-76F, they grow all winter but more slowly than they do outside in warmer season. The willow leaf figs sleep all winter and loose most of their leaves.

 

[NOVAbonsai]

Ok good to know. Thats the info I was looking for.

Thanks

 

[Cadillactaste]

The ficus guy Jerry Meislik mentioned 65F the sweet number. Since I don't permit my tropical to be below that temp when outside. I do the two step into my greenhouse at night when the temps drop. My ficus do not drop leaves at all with moving in or out come winter or spring. 18 hours under lights inside. I've had great success. I actually have a sensor to alert me if it hits 65F. To turn on a secondary heater when it's super arctic cold outside and harder to heat my sun room.

My tropical go inside when the day temps level at 65F. Or I get tired of the two step. I really don't have many...so it doesn't bother me. It's the early spring moving out that I delay on. I like when they can have natural sun. Like I said...I go with Jerry's golden number he once mentioned on his group wall for ficus. I've had great success with all tropical following that rule of thumb.

My trees grow through winter. So depends on development and goals. I'm sure ones can help you. But wanted to explain the benefits of adding a bit more to your set up.
One year on my bench. When it arrived...and the following spring. This is what one achieves when offering warmer temps and grow lights.

 

[sorce]

50

I make my one move a year at the 50 mark. As soon as it hits 49F everything comes in.

This year I took my dying from drying tigerbark out early, because I was cleaning, and it took a couple freezes.

It's fine.

I find the largest problem to be lighting.
Any traditional indoor lighting is very top heavy.

Anything with a good design WILL be ruined with traditional indoor lighting.

Other than that...and mites, don't bring mites indoors!...

It's pretty worry free.

Sorce

 

[penumbra]

I find the largest problem to be lighting.
Any traditional indoor lighting is very top heavy.

Very true and one of the reasons I don't encourage winter growth on any of my ficus except the very small ones from cuttings. In my grow tent, which is only big enough for 3 to 4 plants, I have side lighting as well. This helps preventing top heavy growth and dying of small side branches.