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Variegation disappearing
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cuatro-gatos
Just Arrived
Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject: Variegation disappearing |
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I've had a variegated Ficus Benjamina (sp) in a large pot
on my front porch for at least 10 years. Aside from it being a bit root bound, it has been fairly happy and healthy. About 6 months ago I noticed the new growth on top is plain green, no variegated leaves at all. If I remember right, variegation comes from a virus. Could it be that this has died off and the plant is going forward in a "healthier" state? Has anyone else had this happen and is there a way for the average home gardener to put it back?
Thanks in advance for any advise.
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 4040
PlantStew: 5385 |
| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Can it be that the top no longer receives the amount of direct sunlight it needs to stay variegated? I know some variegated hostas may return to the plant they sported from if one's negligent in dividing them but I've no idea what can cause this in a ficus.
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Papa2mykids
Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Location: Kentwood, Michigan
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 1:58 am Post subject: |
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Sun (or lack of) can play a factor when plants lose variegation.
It is true that some plants also return to their old parentage form. This happens when certain genes all of a sudden become dominant again. I've seen "Dwarf Alberta Spruce" begin to revert back to its old form. If that growth isn't cut off, the spruce, it will take over and eventually become a larger, different tree.
How is the growth at lower level and side branches?
Ron
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cuatro-gatos
Just Arrived
Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Droopy and Papa, I will simply try moving it where it will get more sunlight. It makes sense that only the top foot or so is green - were it gets
much less sun.
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EJ
Allotmenteer Extraordinaire
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 1338
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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I find this problem a lot in the gardens I work in. A lot of Euonymus reverts back to green from it's golden variagation and the only thing you can do is cut is all the way back into the variagated wood.
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