AusBonsai

Just wondering what people use for their ficus. I use a combination of pumice, perlite and pine bark and have been experimenting with ratios

My figs are happy with a mix 30% pumice, 30% scoria or some prefer as lava rock and the rest pine bark. Would be interested in how others use their mix.

Hal.

I use Diatomte, Zeolite, Pumice, Akadama mix and if you like you can add some decomposed pinebark as well.
Very similar to Boon's mix that is very well respected in California.

check out Grants soil test threads and you will see that blended mixes are far better than single components.

Ken

40% diatomite, 40% pinebark, 10% coir peat. Handful or 2 of chicken poo pellet.

bonborn wrote:40% diatomite, 40% pinebark, 10% coir peat. Handful or 2 of chicken poo pellet.

Is the other 10% a secret?
Or is that the chook poo!

Why all the fuss about potting mix for figs? They will grow in almost anything.
I've seen them growing quite happily on solid rock on the coastal cliffs, beach pebbles right on high tide line, clay mountainsides and deep loamy forest gullies.
Some of the potted figs I've seen have been growing in mix that probably wouldn't support any other species.
Nice to have a good mix for your trees but I grow my figs in the same mix I use for everything else. Too complicated to have different mix for each different species.

Tropics here - just sharing

my soil mix is for all my trees - silica based gravel 5 mm and compost
from 1 to 3 compost to 9 to 7 gravel.

If it is a thirsty tree like a Tamarind, I substitute of half of the gravel with
crushed red earthen ware building block brick.
So it can look like this - 3 parts compost - 3.5 gravel - 3.5 red brick.

The brick is porous.
Laters
Tambrand

Here is an example of a willow leaf type ficus in the 1 to 9 mix.
my problem is keeping the trunk from continuing to fatten,

[attachment=0]ficus t.jpg[/attachment

I also tested them in hydroponic pebbles.
Here is one in hand rolled earthenware spheres [ porous]
9 parts spheres 1 part compost
Laters
Tamarind

I just use a good quality (multi-purpose) potting mix, then add poo, mix in some poo, and chuck some poo on top.
Water well & casually walk away.

Keep Calm and Ramify wrote: I just use a good quality (multi-purpose) potting mix, then add poo, mix in some poo, and chuck some poo on top.
Water well & casually walk away.

Any specific brand of poo? Where do you buy from?
Cheers
Gareth

Hi Lenseboy,

No specific brand - I usually use dynamic lifter (pellets) & most recently I've tried "Seamungus" pellets.
Figs thrive on lots of fertiliser (if you want rapid growth) & I don't think you can go wrong with using whatever soil mix you have readily available?