Ficus Defoliation Day

Hi,

this recent posting by amazonida: https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsai-f1/ficus-sp-where-to-go-from-here-t3213.htm#32073 tempted me to try this with my Ficus retusa too. I got it last winter and it's growing quite well, even in the rather low light conditions indoors in winter. Here's how it originally looked in February 2009 after purchase:


After repotting and wiring in Summer 2009:




and here's a picture from one month ago (we had a very chilly spring, so I only put it outside a few weeks ago):


Now the weather forecast is sunny with 28 to 32°C (that's 82 - 90°F) for the next week, and I had fertilized it a few weeks ago, so now seemed a good time to defoliate. I also cut back the long shoots to the points where I wanted the ramification to develop ... now let's see how it will react.





Best regards,
Stefan

Howzit Sultich,

Nice job. It's looking really good. I like your choice of pot.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

Keep us posted on the progress of the defoliation.
Jerry
www.bonsaihunk.us

Hi,

will do

Best regards,
Stefan

super ficus

i like your ficus! thanks for being you "inspiration" where are you located? US? for how long you have been growing that Ficus? is it a Ficus Microcarpa "tiger bark" right?

Hi,

amazonida wrote:i like your ficus! thanks for being you "inspiration"

Ah, if only I had access to that kind of material that you've shown here ... you could have one or two of my fine Peter Krebs pots in exchange

where are you located? US? for how long you have been growing that Ficus? is it a Ficus Microcarpa "tiger bark" right?

I guess so - however I didn't really "grow" it - that would take a heated greenhouse and many years in my climate (southern Germany) ;-) It's an imported tree (allegedly from Indonesia) that I just bought about 1 1/2 years ago, in the state shown in the first picture above.

Best regards,
Stefan

Hi:

New to the forum. I defoliated my Ficus Benjamina last Sunday, 5/30. It is already filling in nicely with smaller foliage. Comments appreciated.


Before defoliation 5/30/2010


After Defoliation 5/30/2010


One week later 6/30/2010

Hi,

This is how my Ficus currently looks like - due to a cold snap in June, it took a bit longer for it to leaf out:





Best regards,
Stefan

Hi Sulrich
Is there more ramification and are leafs smaller?
Jaco.

Hi Jaco,

can't tell about the leaf size for sure since the leaves are still growing, but the ramification has definitely improved; here's a closeup from a few weeks ago that shows better that there are several new shoots on most of the branches:

Howzit Stefan,

It's coming along nicely..... just wish you had more sun light and warmer weather.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

After defoliation regular pruning is required to keep leaves smaller. The first leaf is always smaller, so when your tree has produced two new leaves from each bud, cut just before the first leaf. As an alternative you can break out the growing bud. Either way those new leaves will not get any larger in size and new growth will form. This is how you get smaler leaves and ramification on Ficus.

Hi,

Billy, thanks a lot for your advice! I was planning to let it grow unhindered for a while, as recommended in Jerry Meislik's Ficus book for non-tropical growing conditions, but since it's very vigorous now and I also had tried this more aggressive pruning approach on a smaller Ficus microcarpa before, I think I'll cut it back now - it's just at this stage where most shoots have more than 2 leaves already.

Tim - well actually we're having quite a heatwave, it's been around 30°C/86.00°F for 2 weeks now, with 20°C/68°F at night, I think I couldn't stand much more of it ;-)

sulrich wrote:
Tim - well actually we're having quite a heatwave, it's been around 30°C/86.00°F for 2 weeks now, with 20°C/68°F at night, I think I couldn't stand much more of it ;-)

Howzit Sulrich,

I "LOVE" that kind of weather!! It's like that almost all year round here on Maui. In the summer it gets up to the 90's but the humidity is high. Anything below 74 degrees is to cold for me.

Hi,

update after one year - I defoliated again, and thanks to Billy's pruning tips, the ramification is developing nicely!

Also changed to a glazed, oval Tokoname pot which seems to fit the style better ...