Caring for Bo Tree
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Donna Cunneen
Posted on: September 22, 2003
The Desert Zen Center received a Bo Tree for a memorial present. the
Center is located in the high desert of California, USA. Summer temps
high, 120F Winter lows 25F and the wind she blows. They have a drip
system. Several buildings, a slope, rocks, sandy soil. What do we
need to do to keep our Bo Tree alive?
Bo tree (Ficus religiosa) is hardy only in subtropical and tropical
zones (zones 10b-11). Most of southern California is in zones 7-10, so
there is a chance that your plant will survive if you happen to be in
the zone 10 area. You can check the zone map on our website at
http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=Zones/NA.html to see if the
Zen Center happens to be in the zone 10 area.
Bo tree requires well-drained, fertile soil and a full or half sun
exposure. In India where it is native it reaches 20-30 meters tall and
wide.
If you are in a zone too cold to winter bo tree outdoors, you will can
grow it as a "tub plant"; i.e., in a large container that you move
outdoors or in depending on the season. While indoors, it will need a
bright window getting direct sunshine for at least part of the day. To
keep the plant at a manageable size, it will be necessary to prune it
from time to time. Generally, the care of bo trees in pots is similar
to that of the common house plant, Ficus benjamini.
|
|
