ficus retusa

[craigw60]

A friend of mine has kindly dumped a bonsai on me which he wants me to work on for him it is ficus retusa and looks like one of the trees which was imported by collectors corner. It is quite a big tree and has had no work done to it for many years. I have no experience with this species. Can they be treated in the same manner as port jacksons. If I get a chance tomorrow I will post a photo of it but in the mean time if someone knows about these trees I would really like any advise I can get.
With thanks from Craig

[Pup]

Graig I have had them in the past and treated them the same as PJ without any major probs. Like all Ficus they do not like the cold.

On monday night I saw two PJ's that had been out in our hot dry sun, good job they can be defoliated at this time of year.
All the leaves were sun burnt.

I will be doing a couple of mine tomorrow at our meeting.

Cheers Pup

[Jamie]

i have one mate and i have treated it rough as and it seems that it likes it, it has responded to all the punishment i have given it, ground layering, defoliation, bending chopping back hard and it just keeps on bouncing back stronger.
like pup said though watch the cold, and watch the heat, try keep it balanced, if its hot, put a humidity tray underneath it, it will only help with airial roots anyways

cant go wrong with them really, i havent killed one yet!


jamie

[craigw60]

Thanks guys,
This tree has not been repotted for years and the mix is like cement so I guess I should launch into it. I will keep it in the poly tunnel so warmth and humidity will be provided for the next couple of months anyway.