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Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!!

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JimLewis
OscarIndigo
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Post  OscarIndigo Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:17 pm

Hi guys!!! I would like you to take a look at my ficus benjamina.
I dont know what to do with... Crying or Very sad
Anyway... here is the pictures Very Happy
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3316
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3317
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3318
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3319
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3320
Ficus Benjamina, Need tips!! Img_3321

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Post  JimLewis Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:31 pm

It looks to me as if you actually have three trees there -- unless something is happening under the soil that we can't see.

At this point they are a bit thin and immature to do much with. If you want to keep the three stems, you probably wold want to wire (or brace) them so they diverge away from each other -- not like a fan (2 dimensions) but like a clump.

I'd suggest that you fertilize heavily for this growing season and see if they'll put on some weight. I don't know what it's like in Sweden this time of year, but if it can go outside for the summer that would be better. Otherwise, it will need a lot of light to keep its leaves from growing too large.
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Post  slowly but surely Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:42 pm

Check out the posts on "Ugly office ficus" number one and two. Here's the link to one of them:

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/bonsai-f1/ugly-office-ficus-experiment-1-t1023.htm?highlight=ugly+ficus
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Post  aRodas Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:23 am

why dont you try fused them? two examples HERE, and HERE, and in Spanish THIS ONE
aRodas
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Post  OscarIndigo Wed Jun 02, 2010 1:44 pm

can i fuse them with electric tape?

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Post  bonsaisr Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:50 pm

I would not try fusing in your climate. It would probably take forever.
My suggestions:
Get it out of that pot into a large shallow training pot in course bonsai soil.
Put it outdoors for the summer in full sun.
Feed well.
When you repot, you can tell if it is one trunk or three. It will probably be more interesting as a three tree clump, not three separate trees.
Prune the tops so that the thickest trunk is tallest. Group them as 1-3-2 or 3-1-2, & not in a straight line.
Full sun & frequent pinching will make the leaves much smaller.
Iris
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Post  JimLewis Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:56 pm

I agree with iris. Fusing is unlikely to work in the far north unless you have an ornate greenhouse setup. (And even so, do NOT use electrician's tape; it will damage the bark when it is removed.)
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Post  OscarIndigo Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:29 pm

There is still one problem...
When i repotted it last year there was a root-clump 7-8 cm high and 3 cm in diameter wrapped in a thick net and the roots had grown through it and i tryed to remove it but the roots had grown into it... Crying or Very sad
How do i get the net of? Do i need to cut of the whole root "clump" or can i make an airlayering just above the net?

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Post  JimLewis Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:37 pm

If you don't plan to separate the trees, just lave it be. But figs can take very hard root pruning. So you can wait until the warmest part of the summer (when you should repot figs) and cut the rootball back to remove the net and expect no great harm to the tree(s).
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Post  Eastern Bonsai Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:28 am

I believe you should wrap them tightly together. They will fuse with time. I live in NY and have been taught by a very good friend with over 30 years exp. He has much knowledge and world class ficus. Here is a link that will help.

http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/ficusforum/FriendsBonsai25.html

Abe
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Post  bonsaisr Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:40 am

First of all, Mr. Indigo is 12 years old, which may affect how well he can follow our advice.
The climate of Sweden ranges from USDA Zones 4 to 7. We need a better idea of where in Sweden he lives.
Hank Miller has a large greenhouse. He is not growing F. benjamina.
Ficus benjamina, outside of the tropics, is one of the least responsive Ficus for bonsai. It is very good for practicing beginners' techniques, but I wouldn't recommend these other suggestions.
Iris
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Post  OscarIndigo Thu Jun 03, 2010 3:59 pm

I also have a cutting from a ficus retusa from last year and it's doing pretty well.
Is retusa better bonsai material?

I live in zone 7 by the way Very Happy


Last edited by OscarIndigo on Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

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