House Plant Queries

[Old_Geezer]

Hi,

Unsure there is a good answer to the second question I wish to pose, but would be grateful to hear suggestions.

a) http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d36/bright_/Plant_zps6a44897a.jpg This is a picture of a house plant I bought when I first moved into my place. One of two different plants actually but unfortunately this is the only survivor. I’m sure I would know what it was when I bought it, but now I have forgotten. Is it familiar to anyone ? I have little plant knowledge.

b) It was clearly wishful thinking on my part to have a large plant. It was unhappy where I intended to put it, and in most other places I tried. But once I found a place it liked it just grew and grew ! It now basically takes over the box room upstairs where I can not really appreciate it, and makes it difficult to get in and use the wardrobes. So what should I do with it ?

I could leave it but I’ve been doing that and it just keeps growing.
I did wonder if it would survive being split but then I realise that, if successful I’d end up with multiple plants I didn’t know what to do with all growing too big.
I could be brutal and chop it down, I’m sure it’d come back up again, but I don’t like doing that to plants, particularly one I’ve nurtured and seem to have been overly successful with.
Of course I could just sling it but that’s not really on either.
Not sure I want folk calling to look and decide if they want to take it away, either.
Have I now rejected all possible options ?

[megfitz]

Try your local Hospital outpatients, they like greenery to make the place look less clinical, having said that I had an enormous Datura and a Ficus that had outgrown allotted space , I told my local Garden club and put a note up in the newsagents ....collected and gone in 2 days.

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks.

I can see what the problem has been. Light doesn't get to the plant from above so it tries to grow towards the window. I have tried turning the pot at intervals over the years but obviously not often enough, and whilst all the stalks are less than ideal, one in particular has grown quite off to the side. It maens it is taking up a lot of area instead of height.

Not made up my mind yet but steeling my heart and cutting it back in the summer is the most likely option at present.

[Old_Geezer]

Yes definitely a rubber plant. Just trimmed 3 lengths from it and it oozed white sap like silicon rubber ! Unsure if they will root but I felt bad about butchering the original and so had to try. Probably end up with multiple monsters to cope with. Or none.