Ficus Decora

[Paul B]

Hi guys,
I purchased this plant at a garage sale this morning.
It was full of weeds and bugs.
I have drenched the potting mix and weeded.
The owner thinks it is a Ficus decora ? any confirmation will be appreciated.

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I think it was a good find for a lazy $20.
The base is about 80mm across and the plant is about a meter in height.
Any styling suggestions welcomed

Paul

[Greth]

The base is nice and chunky Paul, going to be a lovely tree. Ficus illiterate unfortunately, but seen this tree and its a great garage sale find. Three strong trunks, roots restricted in that pot but healthy. Only the top end left to style. You got a good eye for a starter for sure. They must have watered it carefully, cant believe its so healthy at the ass end of summer, in almost no potting mix.

[shibui]

Can't help with id. Many figs look similar and you would probably need fruit to id the species however most make good bonsai.

This one is like many that have just been allowed to grow slowly - long and lanky with leaves only at the tips of shoots. At least this one has a few branches - many only have a single trunk with leaves at the top.
It is a fig so you have plenty of options - you could keep it tall or cut off anywhere and it will shoot from all over the stump that's left.
The 3 trunks seem similar thickness at the moment but they thicken rapidly when fed, even in a small pot so allowing one to grow and keeping minimum foliage on the other(s) should see that rectified if you want to work towards a multi trunk tree.
At this time of year I would advise feed heavily to get it really healthy then repot and prune it in December or January.
My approach to figs is feed well and pinch often to promote branching and density.
My PJs seem to need repotting every 2 years because rapid root growth clogs the mix and they start to suffer after a couple of years.
Figs are also a bit frost tender so keep it in a warmish area or inside for the winter if you are likely to get frost.

[Greth]

It was absolutely full of tall weeds, shibui. Which means it has been a long time in that mix, I would repot almost straight away, and feed. Whatever its in is depleted now. Frost will happen in April/May here, almost thought there was some this morning, but it was only heavy dew. Should he be looking at one strong trunk and weaker two, or all equal?

[shibui]

Greth and Paul,
Figs repotted at this time of year this far south usually just sulk until late spring so not really any point repotting now. As long as you can water it just leave it in the mix its in but feed well. Figs can survive in just about anything. Some grow on bare rock and in cracks in walls. I have seen some the owners claim were not repotted for 20 years! This one should be ok for another 6 months or so.
Over here our members pile on dynamic lifter a couple of centimeters deep for figs but you should feed with anything - as soon as possible to build up reserves for repotting and cut back in December. Could possibly slip pot into a larger container for the winter but the different mixes can cause issues sometimes.

Multi trunk trees should have different sized trunks. 1 dominant trunk is taller and thicker than the others but all should be different height and thickness rather than equal height and thickness so for best effect with 3 trunks - 1 taller and thickest, 1 medium and the 3rd shorter and thinnest. Same applies to group plantings and all multi trunk trees. All trunks equal looks unnatural - like a park.

[Paul B]

thanks Shibui and greth for your input

I have decided to leave as is for the moment as winter is not that far away....when the weather warms up again, I will be shortening the trunks to different heights and try to encourage more branching....2-3 years should produce a nice looking tree