Ficus Questions

simple · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject: Ficus Questions

Hello!

I have a newly acquired F. benjamina from a local Nursery. It has multiple trunks shooting of a common base. If I tie the trunks together with raffia, will they eventually merge into single trunk?

I suspect they will. Opinions?

PS: also, any special needs for root pruning? And since this guy is quite infested with critters, what % of original soil should I retain when repotting?

Stymie · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

If you injure the multiple trunks where they will touch each other, the bonding will be hastened. An alternative is to remove the unwanted trunks. This will direct more growth into the remaining favoured few or even one. The latter would probably be my favourite choice because bonded trunks will still look like bonded trunks for many years.
When root pruning, it is usual to remove up to a third of the roots, beginning with any tap roots and coarse material. The finer roots are the ones which extract nutrients and moisture from the compost.
What kind of 'critters'? If you're sure that they are injurious, all the existing 'soil' can be removed, even to hosing off the last remnants. When re-potting, use a free draining mix dry to run in fully then water well immediately afterwards.

simple · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

Thank you Stymie for the feedback.

The reason I was looking at joining the trunks is that they are all about the same size (1/2" maybe) and there are about 15 of them. There isn't really one clear leader.

But if I were to remove a number of the trunks, it would severely reduce the amount of greenery up top, how much should I leave to support the tree. And will the tree survive such a drastic pruning?

Also, I would assume it's not the best to do all this at once?

Stymie · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

It does seem silly to remove all those trunks. Fifteen is a veritable forest. Its almost impossible to visualize that on a benjamina. Could you consider keeping them as they are and judiciously pruning to an acceptable overall shape Question

If you can send a digital photograph to me on a PM or to my Email address, I might be able to suggest a way forward which is both aesthetic and acceptable to you. Don't do anything too soon without thinking this through. Come back. = Stymie.

jimothy · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

I too would love to see this tree - it sounds like a fascinating project.

steve · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:23 am Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

I would like a look too. Sounds like clump heaven.

simple · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject: Ficus Questions - UPDATED

OK, here are some pictures of what I've got. Let me know what you think I should do...

http://www.whitecastle.net/Ficus1.jpg

Dick · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

It's all tied up!!!

The question is do you want to let it all grow together as one trunk or not? If not, then it needs to be separated into single trees. Otherwise, you can leave it tied up and even add more ties to it with raffia and in a year or two it will all grow together ae one trunk.

StaceyR · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

I think you have a great single trunk tree going there. In my opinion it should be left tied together.

Stymie · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

Its your tree simple and your decision. I see the inclination to make one thick trunk. Dick's suggestion to use more ties is good if you decide that way although I would estimate a little longer time will be necessary to get the fusion. Regular feeding with a high balance of nitrogen may help the trunks to expand quicker, along with leaving plenty of top growth. It won't look like bonsai as this happens but the end result may well reward you.

simple · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

Well to be honest I am open to both routes.

My inclination towards a single trunk is that in a few years, it will look fantastic as a big think single trunk. Although I may have some trouble as, not visible in the picture, is the empty space in the middle of all those trunks. I was thinking of scratching the insides of those trunks and adding some rooting hormone, then packing the inside with soil so a bunch of roots would grow into the center and hopefully fill that space up.

Although, if I were to remove a number of the smaller trunks, a lot of energy would be directed into a single (or a few) trunks, but it would be starting with quite a small trunk and I think might look odd on top of that GIANT root structure. Also, a lot of the top greenery would be gone.

I will think on this one.

Anyone have any tips on promoting those aerial roots to form?

Thanks again all for your positive comments.

Stymie · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

Sorry to be a wet blanket but Benjamina doesn't make aerial roots.
Won't it disturb the trunks if you try to pack the interior with something? If you do, perhaps clay would be useful. It won't leak out and will keep its shape. I've used it to pack out high roots to look like a wider trunk base and its stood there for several years, looking like bark. I think that you're going to do the fused trunk. I feel it in my bones. Mr. Green

steve · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 12:57 am Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

I think he's headed that way too. But man with some bridges in there what a grove!!

Zemiakova brigada · Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Ficus Questions

The only problem I can see might come about later on when you’ll