Mame Willow Leaf(?), design input welcome

[Per PF]

Here's my Willow Leaf Ficus (I think?) in its overgrown state. The leaves can be reduced quite a bit, but are large now...

Front.jpeg

"FRONT"
I have some ideas about the future but would love some input. The lowest branch is being grown freely to fatten and contribute to trunk size. I have split the root-base and lodged a piece of toothpick in there to possibly raise it at future repot.

BACK.jpeg

BACK

Skärmavbild 2020-08-17 kl. 21.03.30.png

FROM RIGHT SIDE

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ABOVE-ISH

Thoughts?
Cheers
Per

[legoman_iac]

Hey Per,

Think if you want a thicker trunk, it needs to go in a much, much bigger/deeper pot. I'd let it thicken up before trying too much more wiring. Also, think you need to choose a leader, the fork at the top feels a little contradictory... do you want tall, or bent over? Or both? Or maybe wire the top, straight one and bend it over to the right?

[juan73870]

Hey, it looks like it's probably a Benjamina or Microcarpa ficus. The willow leaf ficus (nerifolia) have long narrow leaves and are a lot trickier to care for. Great start to the little guy you've got there though! I can see it progressing well

[melbrackstone]

Definitely a Ficus benjamina of some sort, the trunks don't thicken up like many other figs. Make the most of the slender elegant trunk and just keep clipping back the top (and roots when necessary,) to get ramification. Lots of sunlight, and a bit of fertiliser to keep it happy, and you'll be able to keep it nice and compact.

[Per PF]

(Sorry for super late reply)
Thanks guys, Benjamina (of some sort) it is!

I decided to unwire it and let it grow for the time being. Like you observed legoman_iac I didn't have a clear idea with that apex and I still don't
Maybe I'll get inspired at the next repot...

[Per PF]

Sooo the idea of cutting this back hard and changing the leader to the first branch has nestled in my head.
1. Do you think it could manage it? (and survive..)
2. Is it a bad idea, design wise? The plan is to raise the root some more as it's fatter below (but needs healing atm)
Thanks for any input!

Front.jpeg

[kcpoole]

sure it will survive with a hard cut,
you could just let the lower branch grow as a sacrifice too

Ken

[melbrackstone]

The tiny one I have is super bendy, so using Ken's idea of a sacrifice branch, you could give the trunk and top section some extreme bends to make the whole thing more compact.
I make this suggestion purely because the tree will grow better with more leaves...give it a chance to get stronger before chopping off those solar panels.

[Per PF]

Cheers guys - I'll wait until it's in more active growth (more sun) and then try some bends before I cut anything.

[Raging Bull]

If you take off the larger top part of the tree don't waste the part you cut off. I have found that they grow easily from cuttings, just apply some rooting hormone, put it in a pot with well-draining mix and water regularly. It helps if you cross your fingers.

[Per PF]

[Per PF]

My two indoor Ficus Benjamina has gone into spring-mode. The sun hours are increasing (finally) + it's been a bit colder outside so the radiators are heating up = indoor springtime!
They have both been in active growth for a couple of weeks now so I decided to trunk chop as planned. I split the trunk and put some toothpicks as wedges before dipping in auxin powder. (I had some leftover lava rock that I mixed in, but it's mostly potting soil for the cutting)

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[melbrackstone]

I put a large-ish benjamina 2cm diameter cutting into water over Summer, and it powered away with new roots pretty quickly! (Just if you're looking for alternatives.)

[Per PF]

That's really good to know, thanks! I would've done that instead if I knew it worked on the species.

[Per PF]

Repot time! The design has changed quite a bit with this one. It's a bit embarrassing to see the first pictures in this thread now
There's still the crown to sort out but it needs to grow some (lignify!) first I think.

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Plenty of roots.

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The two pots I decided between. I think the oval has a more clear front which I think the tree needs at this stage.

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"Final" result for now.

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Size reference (I don't really drink beer so..

Ideas for the crown welcome btw. I.e: how to make these few branches/leaves simulate the crown of a mature ficus.