A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Could someone please ID this house tree?

I got this tree about a year and a half ago and never knew what it was. The tree just about died except for 4 leaves left on it. So i replanted it, put in miracle grow, and took it out of the direct sun..... and it grew like crazy! except for the top... apparently there is no hope for the top. so i pruned it back and waited a month and it still hasn't grown any on top, just the bottom. So now i ask for your help... what kind of tree is this? How do i take care of it?

not sure but it could be a type of ficus. there is one with elongated leaves like that.

that's what I thought too Jiffy But I couldn't find it, or maybe in the family of schefflera

Possibly Delavay schefflera


or the ficus alii

i was thinking ficus alii. i've seen them do that when they aren't pruned right. or when the light isn't what they want.

could it be a ficus amstel?

I looked that up Stephieb186, it actually does look closer to your leaf length.
I believe the alii leaves are longer than the ones on your's.
I even noticed that when I posted the sample picture.
I believe the amstel is even closer to the one you have Good Job finding the name, Did you also find the care for it as well?
I know any ficus I've ever had after a hard prune it did start leaving out again and became bushier as it grew taller.

i didn't find to much on how to take care of it besides the basics.... i'm more interested in how to make it look normal again... do i cut the top off? or wait longer and hope it sprouts?

I do think I would cut it down just above the tallest set of living leaves.

oh I wish I could tell the all the correct things to do,, I can only tell you what I would do and still it may not be correct.
I know that if you prune a ficus more than 1/3 down it may go into shock I don't know how tall yours was before you pruned it, so I'll just say that I would prune right above the each leave node with a clean diagonal cut, make sure it gets bright light and wait I know you've waited a month and there should have been signs of leaving out,, maybe because you have a larger space between the leave nodes and the tips of the Cut?? I really hope someone will come along and advice you better than I , I just know that is what I would do.

I have no idea what you have. I'll say this, the little guy looks strong. I'd leave him be. maybe even let it dry out just a bit more in between waterings. if it is a tree, in general, they like a little neglect.

are you sure it's a tree, steph?
looks a bit bush like. reminds me somewhat of an oleander?

If it is some type of ficus, I'll share this... my ficus (6 ft tall) got chewed up by our pup,and after I cleaned up the chew marks, we had maybe 1/3 of it's original height. that was 2-3 weeks ago. what was left of the ficus had never missed a beat!
SO, I'd have to agree sever pruning shouldn't do it any harm if it's a ficus.

it does look ficus-like, now that I look at the pic's again.