Ficus salifolia vs. Ficus salicifolia '89

Hey everyone,


I can't seem to find too much information on Ficus salicifolia '89. I just purchased one from Wigerts as it intrigued me. From what I have read, '89 has a wider leaf and also grows faster than regular Ficus s. How much faster, and what exactly causes this? I understand why the leaf is wider, but why does it also grow faster? Are there any techniques that could cause the leaf of '89 revert back to normal? This isn't my goal, I'm just curious. Thanks for any insight you may have.

There is a theory that '89 is the "normal" and the smaller leaf is the "sport." As you know '89 appeared after a freeze at the nursery in 1989. It might just more vigorous because it has slightly larger leaves, or it might be that it the "normal" version.
I have never known either version to "revert."

Que Iris in 5...4...3...2...

The correct name is Ficus salicaria.
Iris

drgonzo wrote:Que Iris in 5...4...3...2...

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:There is a theory that '89 is the "normal" and the smaller leaf is the "sport." As you know '89 appeared after a freeze at the nursery in 1989. It might just more vigorous because it has slightly larger leaves, or it might be that it the "normal" version.
I have never known either version to "revert."

Thanks Billy. I guess I will see how it grows once I receive it.

I don't know what to call it anymore. Salicifolia, salicaria, nerifolia....

I think we are trying to agree on "salicaria" right after we agree on what is the best soil mix.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I think we are trying to agree on "salicaria" right after we agree on what is the best soil mix.

I didn't even know there was a dispute over what soil mix to grow them in. Interesting.

I'll post pictures of the tree once it arrives. Thanks all.

One thing I don't see too often, if at all, is people fusing Willow Leaf Ficus. Andrea (Eriks wife) sent me a picture of the tree that I am going to be sent. It's a twin trunk, with a small gap between the trunks. I'm interested in whether or not the '89 would fuse faster or 'better' than the regular Willow Leaf.....

Well since 89 grows faster, I would think it will fuse faster, if that is the result you want.

Please see the photos of leaves in Announcements on this same subject.

Thanks Billy, I do see the difference in size.


Here is the tree as I received it today. I'll study it for a good while before I do anything. At first one would say to seperate them, but they are already slightly fusing in the back of the tree. Thoughts are welcome:



Here's where fusion has begun:


Shot of the two trunks:


The two trunks give it a pretty wide base:

1. I would take off the three large roots I see above the soil line. They will feed the trunk above and give you reverse taper below.

2. A question I have never quite answered about the fusion of trunks that you are looking for. When you prune do you have to be careful not to remove too much from one life stream over the other? I did have a three stem twist fuse over the years. I removed one top without any die back of the trunk. But, when I did the heavy prune you could barely see the separate trunks and would probably not know it was fused unless you had followed the tree through the years.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:1. I would take off the three large roots I see above the soil line. They will feed the trunk above and give you reverse taper below.

2. A question I have never quite answered about the fusion of trunks that you are looking for. When you prune do you have to be careful not to remove too much from one life stream over the other? I did have a three stem twist fuse over the years. I removed one top without any die back of the trunk. But, when I did the heavy prune you could barely see the separate trunks and would probably not know it was fused unless you had followed the tree through the years.

Thanks Billy. I think you're probably talking about the roots circled in the picture?


The ones in the left side have begun fusion, but removing them would be a good idea due to the reverse taper issue you mentioned...

That's an interesting question you pose about pruning. For now, I don't think I'll be removing anything for a while. The trunks are rather straight, so if I was to try to fuse the trunks the end result would be a tall taperless tree.

Decisions, decisions...

This is a resilient species and you could go ahead and cut them apart when you weather warms up.

Thanks Billy!

However, the problem I see with seperating the trees is that clusters of branches have grown and created reverse taper, which would only become more clear upon seperation. If I was to fuse the trees then I would end up with a taperless tree with no movement.

Unless, of course, I just pot the tree(s) up, let them grow wild and get taller, then once they've fused I could work taper into them...

Hmmmm

Ryan wrote:Thanks Billy!

However, the problem I see with seperating the trees is that clusters of branches have grown and created reverse taper, which would only become more clear upon seperation. If I was to fuse the trees then I would end up with a taperless tree with no movement.

Unless, of course, I just pot the tree(s) up, let them grow wild and get taller, then once they've fused I could work taper into them...

Hmmmm

In warmer weather, two Sumo trees.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:

Ryan wrote:Thanks Billy!

However, the problem I see with seperating the trees is that clusters of branches have grown and created reverse taper, which would only become more clear upon seperation. If I was to fuse the trees then I would end up with a taperless tree with no movement.

Unless, of course, I just pot the tree(s) up, let them grow wild and get taller, then once they've fused I could work taper into them...

Hmmmm

In warmer weather, two Sumo trees.

Unfortunately I make do with what warm weather I have up here in Northern Virginia

I tried to move them around a bit today, but they seem pretty attached. Cutting them would probably leave unsightly scars on each tree. Not sure about the sumo part as each trunk is probably just a bit over an inch. The trees are more attached up at the top, and leave only a small gap in the middle of the two, so I might as well just slip pot them and let them grow, grow, grow.

Up until about a week ago, this tree was just about 100% leafless.


I built a new tropical enclosure and moved it into that enclosure last Friday. Here is how the tree looks today:



Comments always welcome.

By the way, here is the tree literally 3 days ago. Crazy fast growth:

'89 is a vigorous grower, that is why is suggested cutting them apart. You could also cut each trunk back by 1/2 abd remove all branches, that would give you the beginnings of the two Sumo trees.

Thanks Billy! I think I'll just leave them to fuse though and get a bigger tree from them.

I finally defoliated this guy to get a good view at the branch work today. If I don't have to defoliate another Ficus for a while I'll be fine. It took me an hour for this one. It's been growing pretty well, thankfully.




Maybe something like this later down the road (minus the pointy apex)?

Here's a good picture showing the difference in leaf size between the '89, left, and the regular, on the right: