Fast Growth Method

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi Banksiaman

I think you'll find that most non fig native you try with this fast growth method will go to heaven very quickly . Our natives have generally evolved into very good feeders in highly nutrient deficient soils and this method places them in the exact opposite medium. I realise that banksias like their tucker and maybe you could try it on one that you're prepared to read a eulogy over, but i wouldn't put your pride of place in one that's for sure.

As an aside (as i look at your user na- i picked up my first two banksias a few days ago - i'm not even sure of the variety they are, but i'm madly reading up on them in the forum. How are you on the identification side of things? The nursery could tell me what they were as they were in the ready to die section.

Welcome to the forum by the way I hope you'll have as much enjoyment as i do!

Stew

[Paul B]

Hi stew,
if you can send some pics, I shall have a go,

Cheers

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi BM

I have managed to resize my photos and here they are. I think the lower trunks look a little different in bark structure so they may be different species of Banksia.

What do you think?

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Thanks

stew

[butterflycaught]

Hi guys,

Last week I transplanted my Ficus into this fast growth mix and now it's started shedding its leaves

Have I killed it? It's been growing in a pot since October 2011 (5cm tall then)- and was happy and healthy until i repotted it...

Can I still save it by putting it back into soil ASAP or should I wait until summer? I'm in Perth, so we stil have some heat left in this summer.

Cheers,
annabel

[Andrew F]

Hi guys,

Last week I transplanted my Ficus into this fast growth mix and now it's started shedding its leaves

Have I killed it? It's been growing in a pot since October 2011 (5cm tall then)- and was happy and healthy until i repotted it...

Can I still save it by putting it back into soil ASAP or should I wait until summer? I'm in Perth, so we stil have some heat left in this summer.

Cheers,
annabel

Might have been too much of a change in pH. Did you root prune it first?

[Bretts]

Hi Annabel

I have only done the one of these. I did do several others but I deviated from the given instructions in that I used smaller nursery pots. They all died.
It is evident that there is no room for error with this technique.

Figs will drop all their leaves when stressed. It does not mean they will die. It was probably not the best time to repot a fig with Winter now on it's way but with the temps you guys have had I don't think that would be the issue at the moment.
It is possible that it is not liking the heat at the moment with all that fertiliser.
I think you have a couple of options. Leave it as is and move it to a fairly cool shaded area or repot into a fresh free draining mix. This could tolerate a little more sun.
A picture of your tree and setup would help alot in giving advice.

[Luke308]

R U still messing with that rubbish Bretts? How many times do you have to be told, it does not work and will only kill trees!!

Matter of fact, I am thinking I might throw a couple of Qld SL Figs I have here into some foam boxes and see what happens myself. Don't know why, they will probably not grow that well, if at all.

Are you saying this method you recommended doesn't work?? I thought you said it worked for you in Darwin, Vic and Perth. I'm confused

[Bretts]

He is talking tounge in cheek Luke

Although Graeme and other acomplished nurseryman have used this technique to thier advantage for many years another forum decided to delete any information on this subject "incase it gave beginers the wrong impression"

Greames tounge in cheek comment may or may not have been a bit of a joke about what seemed a very silly action.

[Bretts]

Mine is going great. Not a big jump in growth yet but it is still early.
I did a number of 1 year old cuttings on a smaller scale(100mm pots) and most have dropped thier leaves. Not sure they are going to make it.
I wonder why ? Maybe too much blood and bone?

Not enough drainage!!! Seriously, you MUST have better than good drainage. If the trees sit in wet pots they will perish, unfortunately.
The first couple of tries I had at this ended in disaster as well, but once I learnt to cut BIG holes out of the box all went well. As long as jamies "pots' last the distance they will be brilliant for this.

A timely reminder from a page or two back!

[Bretts]

If it isn't the bonsai nay sayers pecking at the fast growth fig it is the bloody chickens.

It is now put away in the shade/chook house for Winter. Looks like it will need repotting. Not sure if it will get another round of DL or time for a bonsai pot
Hmm DL chook house maybe the fig well placed could save me buying fertiliser

autumn bonsai 009.jpg

[Andrew F]

Bahahahahahaha. Time for a emergency repot.

[Josh]

Has anyone tried this method with elms, maples, or any other trees besides figs Just wonderin as I can't put anything in the ground to grow on (renting) so thinking this may be an option. Maybe reduce the amout of fert and put in a bit more potting mix to reduce the fert amount if it is to much straight like this. Any photos of other trees tried

Josh

[Graeme]

Sorry, but I haven't visited this page for quite some time now.

Please, please DO NOT PLANT ANY TREES THAT ARE NOT GROSE FEEDERS IN THIS TYPE OF MIX!!!

As stated right back on page one, the only trees I have tried this with are Ficus and a few Hibiscus, both of those trees are very big feeders and will eat up everything you give them. I have tried it with some Chinese Elms and lost the lot in very quick time. I have not tried with any other species, but do not believe other trees would either do well or even live in the caustic surroundings produced by the use of so much fertilizer.

[Bretts]

Well this is where the fast growth fig ended up after the chooks had their way with it over Winter. The worst damage was only done recently when the shade house was rearranged and this one ended up on the ground.

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I don't usually repot figs this early in the season but decided I would rather get it in a new pot now.

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I could change my mind on the front, see what happens

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I will have to go back and review this process but considering that I was learning along the way considering timing and what, when, how much extra fertiliser to add. I agree with Greame that this is a VERY worthwhile technique. Figs grow very slowly for me here and this has increased growth a big deal compared to other figs I was growing. If nothing else it has convinced me that figs LOVE dynamic lifter. I am also still asking questions of how this can actually work and it begs many questions in my everyday growing.
It also confirms that some people are VERY tunnle visioned and think that if they don't know about it then it must be wrong.

Has anyone else tried this?

[shibui]

Maybe not exactly the same Bretts but members of Albury Wodonga bonsai society have been using very heavy doses of pelletised chook poo to increase growth of figs for nearly 20 years. It was not uncommon to see 5cm of pellets on top of the potting mix, more added every few months to keep the fert levels up. Never saw problems, just lots of growth.