Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

[bonsai_beginner]

Thank you all! I think I'll do an open pot later on these figs!

Then create a forest style

Thank you very much


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[bonsai_beginner]

Just a quick update, I have begun air layering one of the main large trunks. I stripped the bark, dusted the exposed wood in root hormone, wrapped a wire tourniquet are the top of the cut and then put the plastic bottle around it to act as the new pot.





Once I start seeing roots through the clear plastic I'll cut the top half off, re plant it and then reduce the new tree so it's just another stump ready to be grown into a bonsai

I hope I'm on the right track! Haha thanks everyone for the help and advice


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[Jarad]

Farout! You're a fast mover!

For your figs to sprout roots fromt he air layer, they require a bit of vigour. By the looks of the leaves they are the healthiest looking trees (didn't you mention they were pot bound? )

Might be an idea to slip pot them into bigger pots with fresh soil or the ground so they can grow strong and push out a tonne of roots.

[bonsai_beginner]

Farout! You're a fast mover!

For your figs to sprout roots fromt he air layer, they require a bit of vigour. By the looks of the leaves they are the healthiest looking trees (didn't you mention they were pot bound? )

Might be an idea to slip pot them into bigger pots with fresh soil or the ground so they can grow strong and push out a tonne of roots.

Hahaha I had some time and figured the soon the better for this. Give them some real time before it warms up to develop some strong roots.

Yes they are pot bound. The one I have just layered is actually root bound into the pot (one of the largest roots has actually split the bottom of the plastic pot and is pushing out)

I'll have to cut the pot open to get this tree out


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[bonsai_beginner]

Quick question, is there anything I can do to encourage growth lower down the trunk?



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[NAHamilton]

Hi Mate,

I bought a large one last year viewtopic.php?f=79&t=14883&p=183040&hilit=narly#p183040 and took a load of airlayers and cuttings off it. This year I'll use those to approach graft some lower branches and secondary branches off the branching that's already there.

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-qZB8H ... U0&index=2 this is worth a look and I think would also work with smaller branching. You get the added bonus of using the roots to thicken the trunk too.

It's a longer road but saves loosing stock and you get to choose where your branches go.

Cheers
Nigel

[bonsai_beginner]

Thank you very much NAHamilton

I'll definitely have a look at that


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[Ben Thomas]

Just be carful when cutting back Ficus Benjamin, always cut back to the lower leaves as they won't always back bud if you cut back to no leaves.

I lost a big one trying to trunk chop it then read something about not doing that.

Did just the same!! Lesson learnt

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[bonsai_beginner]

I'll but cutting this in the next month, fingers crossed it recovered well!


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[bonsai_beginner]

Their leaves have been turning yellow and dropping off ever since i brought them home! I don't really know what to do, I'm worried they might die altogether! Any advice as to what could be happening??














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[Jarad]

If they are pot bound, it might also be a good idea to get them into some bigger pots to let the roots grow.

Mate, they didn't look healthy when you bought them. They are pot bound.

You should have slip potted them into larger pots/grow beds/the ground.

Is there any green under the bark? If so, I would slip them into some new, fresh soil in larger pots/grow beds/the ground. Add water and sun and then wait.

[bonsai_beginner]

Yeah there is green under the trunk but to slip pot them I'd have to cut the roots that have grown through the plastic pots. I think they really need a good root pruning/new soil/cut back


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[Jarad]

If they are in poor condition, I would err on the side of caution and not do too much work on them (I am a newb, so I have a tendency to be over-cautious).

Why not cut open the pots instead of cutting the roots? When you get them out of the pots, you may find that the roots are a complete mess and have taken up most of the space within the pot. You will need to tease them out and a lot will break off anyway. I had a wrestle with a Chinese Elm on Sunday that had filled the pot with roots, was an interesting experience... I had to remove a lot more than I was planning to...

Maybe do one, take some photos and chuck them on here.

[bonsai_beginner]

I've cut the pots open and slipped them into a larger one with well draining soil


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[Jarad]

Hey mate, how'd the roots look?