Big Ficus natalensis
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Russell Coker
Ryan
6 posters
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Big Ficus natalensis
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd share my most recent purchase, a huge Ficus natalensis. I bought it from a nursery in Maryland (Meehan's Miniatures). It stands 3 feet tall and has an 8 inch base. I'm slowly working toward a path for this tree. I think what I want to focus on is clearing out the branches from the bottom of the trunk, which would leave the branches up top. I just brought this tree indoors for the winter since it's getting cold out at night, so once it recovers and starts growing again I'll defoliate it and let you all see the branch work. Just thought I'd gather some comments from you all, whether they be styling or otherwise. I'm pretty stoked to have found this guy.
I personally was thinking something along this basic sketch, where I would focus mostly on the big, powerful trunk:
Thought I'd share my most recent purchase, a huge Ficus natalensis. I bought it from a nursery in Maryland (Meehan's Miniatures). It stands 3 feet tall and has an 8 inch base. I'm slowly working toward a path for this tree. I think what I want to focus on is clearing out the branches from the bottom of the trunk, which would leave the branches up top. I just brought this tree indoors for the winter since it's getting cold out at night, so once it recovers and starts growing again I'll defoliate it and let you all see the branch work. Just thought I'd gather some comments from you all, whether they be styling or otherwise. I'm pretty stoked to have found this guy.
I personally was thinking something along this basic sketch, where I would focus mostly on the big, powerful trunk:
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Wonderful find! You're going to have a lot of fun with this one.
Keep us posted.
Russell Coker- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
This is a "strangler fig." I defoliate at least every year and keep it tip pruned to keep leaf size down. If you let it go the leaves will get large.
Billy M. Rhodes- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Thank you both, I'm pretty excited to work on it. I've got a couple other natalensis, but none this size. I haven't had much success defoliating the others, they always seem to only get new leaves at the ends of the branches.
In your experience, have you found that they grow best when rootbound, or should I go ahead and repot this guy? It's very, very rootbound.
In your experience, have you found that they grow best when rootbound, or should I go ahead and repot this guy? It's very, very rootbound.
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
I am way south of you and I might repot this time of year, but I am not sure you should. If I repot mine is pot bound in less than six months.
Billy M. Rhodes- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I am way south of you and I might repot this time of year, but I am not sure you should. If I repot mine is pot bound in less than six months.
Nah I repot year round with no worries. My trees don't stop growing when I bring them indoors. I do still wonder whether or not these grow best when rootbound or not.
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Nice material, Ryan!
Personally, I wouldnt change too much in upper part of the tree, just defoliating, cutting back etc, for finer ramification. I'd focus on the lower part, try to encourage backbudding or thread graft lower branches and let them grow to thicken enough. There is actually some branch on the bottom of the trunk i'd use for this purpose.
This is gonna be a stunner!
Personally, I wouldnt change too much in upper part of the tree, just defoliating, cutting back etc, for finer ramification. I'd focus on the lower part, try to encourage backbudding or thread graft lower branches and let them grow to thicken enough. There is actually some branch on the bottom of the trunk i'd use for this purpose.
This is gonna be a stunner!
gope- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Ryan, I'm curious as to what you think you've accomplished by putting it in the pot you chose. Is that just to hold it over through the winter? Certainly that tall, narrow pot is nothing close to what you're working towards regarding the future bonsai pot.
Had it been mine, I would have laid it on its side and removed the bottom 2/3 of that rootball, loosened the sides and planted it in a broad, shallow pot. Don't you need width, and not depth? I would have planted it in one of those rectangular gray plastic dish tubs.
Just thinking out loud.
R
Russell Coker- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Great virt Gope, thanks for that! Definitely giving me something to think about.
Russell, yes I put it in this pot just for the winter. Come spring time I'll aggressively work the rootball, but since it is still adjusting to the indoor growing I didn't want to send it into too much shock.
Russell, yes I put it in this pot just for the winter. Come spring time I'll aggressively work the rootball, but since it is still adjusting to the indoor growing I didn't want to send it into too much shock.
Ryan- Member
big ficus natalensis
Ryan,, That is a really nice looking tree !! you find so many good ficus trees.. do you go to the nursery and pick them?? I think maybe you should share this one with me!!! post againbut i guess you are finished till spring.. take care john
moyogijohn- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
moyogijohn wrote:Ryan,, That is a really nice looking tree !! you find so many good ficus trees.. do you go to the nursery and pick them?? I think maybe you should share this one with me!!! post againbut i guess you are finished till spring.. take care john
Thank you John. Yes I do go to the nursery and pick the trees. This one came from a nursery in Maryland called Meehans Miniatures. They've got an online site that you can order from and see some of their bigger stock, but there's tons more to see in person.
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
It is OK to remove the branch, I would also clean up some of the aerial roots, remember that when a aerial root feeds an area the area below (towards the roots) stops growing. If you can keep aerial roots close to the trunk they can help make it look thicker, but if they feed branches you will get reverse taper along the branch.
Billy M. Rhodes- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Billy M. Rhodes wrote:It is OK to remove the branch, I would also clean up some of the aerial roots, remember that when a aerial root feeds an area the area below (towards the roots) stops growing. If you can keep aerial roots close to the trunk they can help make it look thicker, but if they feed branches you will get reverse taper along the branch.
Thanks Billy, I removed it. I do need to clean up some of the aerial roots, there are lots of dead ones all over.
I've not had much success when I've defoliated other natalensis, they only seem to grow new leaves at the ends of the branches, and I have no idea why. Has this been the case with you?
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Ryan wrote:I've not had much success when I've defoliated other natalensis, they only seem to grow new leaves at the ends of the branches, and I have no idea why. Has this been the case with you?
When you defoliate make sure you cut the growing tip of the branch also.
Billy M. Rhodes- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
Billy M. Rhodes wrote:
When you defoliate make sure you cut the growing tip of the branch also.
Hmm I've never done that, so that's new to me. Thanks.
Ryan- Member
Re: Big Ficus natalensis
gope wrote:If you won't do it you force the growth at the tip.
Thanks. I've never actually cut the tips to restrict growth on any of my Ficus, so that's something I've got to look into.
Ryan- Member
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