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Avatar for RoomateLeftMeAPlant
May 29, 2016 7:59 AM CST
Thread OP

Hello,

as my name suggests, my room mate moved out and left me a plant.
This is it:
Thumb of 2016-05-29/RoomateLeftMeAPlant/a5848f


Thumb of 2016-05-29/RoomateLeftMeAPlant/fac6c4

It's not in a very good shape, sadly. If anyone could identify the plant so I can give it the care it needs I'd appreciated it very much.
Please help me give this plant a fighting chance for the life it deserves!
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May 29, 2016 8:23 AM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
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Welcome!

The dead twigs in the middle suggests a Ficus benjamina with way too little light. Clean out all the dead stuff, cut all the green stems back to just a couple leaf nodes, re-pot and find a sunny window. Otherwise, drop it into the garbage can. Smiling

Good luck!

Daisy
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

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Avatar for RoomateLeftMeAPlant
May 29, 2016 8:35 AM CST
Thread OP

Hello,

thanks a lot for you answer, garbage can definitely isn't an answer! I'll follow your advice and do my best to save this guy.

Since I have 0 experience with plants, I'll need the luck!

Thanks once again.
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May 29, 2016 8:38 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
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Hi & welcome! I don't have an opinion on its' ID, but it could be a Ficus. If so, it will have white sap inside, which is latex. It's best to avoid getting that on your skin. Sensitivity to latex sap is fairly uncommon, but for the unfortunate few who are sensitive, it causes a rash like poison ivy. Avoiding contact is prudent, &/or washing with cool (not warm) water ASAP after exposure.
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Last edited by purpleinopp May 29, 2016 8:39 AM Icon for preview
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May 29, 2016 8:52 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
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I agree with Daisy on removing all the dead twigs. Wire cutters work fine if you don't have some pruning shears. Personally, I wouldn't cut off any green stems, let them grow for a while. The foliage you have looks pretty healthy, actually, and will help the plant to recover. Once it's growing and looks better, you can trim and shape it to whatever you want.

Looks to me as if your room mate let this plant dry out and thought it was dead. Amazing how resilient plants can be, huh? I think you've already saved it. Anyway, put it near a window, water it for a few weeks and see how it comes along. If it keeps growing, post another picture and maybe we'll be able to ID it for sure.

You'll need a little bit of fertilizer to give it, since we're heading into summer. Get a little box of soluble fert, (you dissolve it in water) and give it half strength (i.e. use half of what they say on the box) about every 2 weeks until you're sure it's going strong. Then go with full strength.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." โ€“Winston Churchill
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