Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

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Per PF
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Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by Per PF »

I made a ficus fusion experiment almost four months ago with three leftover cuttings from a Ficus "Ginseng". They were wrapped in gift string - here's the lesson part: make it even and neat - not like I did... :palm:
JULY 1A.jpeg
JULY 1B.jpeg
JULY 1C.jpeg
JULY 1D.jpeg
JULY 1E.jpeg
JULY 1F.jpeg
Although I'd read that you should leave fusions for "a growing season" and the likes, I was starting to fear the health of the "tree" so I removed it today. Here's the wonky result:
OCT 26F.jpeg
OCT 26A.jpeg
OCT 26B.jpeg
OCT 26C.jpeg
OCT 26D.jpeg
OCT 26E.jpeg
OCT 26G.jpeg
OCT 26H.jpeg
OCT 26I.jpeg
OCT 26J.jpeg
OCT 26K.jpeg
OCT 26L.jpeg
The poor bastard bled some when I removed the gift string...
I have really no future plan for these three/one(?). They'll stay as a potted plant in my office for now and I'll see how the fusion develops.
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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by KIRKY »

Good experiment, I think you have three cuttings on the bottom you can take and I would air layer just below where the bulge is at the top of where the gift string was. Seems like it’s a very strong/hardy ficus to have pushed so much growth.
I don’t think you will get anything usable from the trunk that was wrapped tight by the string.
Still all good experience.

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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by shibui »

Bulges are one of the problems I have also experienced. Even with flat, wide wrap like grafting tape there is a tendency for the trunk to bulge out at top and bottom.
Ficus fuse very easily so definitely a case of know your species instead of relying totally on advice that may be based on other species. Growth rates also directly affect how quickly fusion occurs.
It is tempting to leave the wrap on just a bit longer to make sure but the bulges negate any positives of leaving wrap. I now remove wrap at the first sign of any bulge and rewrap if the fusion is not complete.
Some marks and small bulges will often grow out as the trunk thickens. How much and how quick depends on the species. Ficus are one of the most forgiving.

There is definitely some scope to layer off better parts of this trunk.
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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by Per PF »

Cheers guys, it was something to learn from.
shibui wrote: October 27th, 2021, 12:25 pm ..I now remove wrap at the first sign of any bulge and rewrap if the fusion is not complete.
Makes a lot of sense, I'll try this in the future!
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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by melbrackstone »

If you can get more cuttings, I'd just be adding more and more to the trunk. Over time, you can thicken up trunk and branches with fused cuttings. The bumps and lumps will slowly be swallowed up by added pieces.

This is a fusion experiment from the ficus study group on farcebook.
27788575_10211120817601672_7355326738505901757_o.jpg
This is a much more advanced version
245270453_4574065235972833_7498222127722135283_n.jpg


https://www.facebook.com/groups/369975123052549
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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by Per PF »

Five+ months later (winter months here) it has healed over nicely I think. More than anything all the trunks have become much harder. I'll keep it as a house plant for now :)
IMG_6764.jpeg
IMG_6765.jpeg
IMG_6766.jpeg
IMG_6767.jpeg
IMG_6769.jpeg
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Per PF
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Re: Sloppy Ficus fusion - results (warning many pics)

Post by Per PF »

This one has gotten a re-up-pot and has become quite big - I would say the fusion saved years in thickening up.
IMG_0416.jpeg
IMG_0412.jpeg
IMG_0414.jpeg
(The darker part around the lower trunk is from when I used Vaseline to try and hold Trips off... It seems fine now :)
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