Developing a strangler ficus?

[avz10]

Having read the replies on my other post, it made me thinking...

This wild fig I got with the other 2 (aerial roots that I have sealed and the poor fit fig over a rock- will wait till spring with that one). So, this was just a tiny fig, I planted it and it produced some shoots: (there is a picture of all 3 in my other post)



Since November to now, this is how it looks, the 4 shoots approximately 10- 15cm high:



From above- the big size battery:



I was thinking, if I put a piece of hardwood in the middle. Fasten the shoots to the stem, wont it develop into a strangler fig in time? Perhaps I would also need to cover the stem with Glad Wrap and a peet mix??





Any thoughts?

Albie

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Albie,

It's difficult to compare the size of the figs with the size of that dead wood. Visualise the bonsai in ten years time; you will see none of that deadwood if you grow it well, so what is the point? If I were you, I'd go for a more tapered piece of deadwood, and also something with some jins that will stick out from the strangled tree. Do a search for phoenix grafts. The results will show you how to go about the process, but make sure you have nice long roots to start with.

I must say that this is just my logic talking here as I have no experience with either.

Cheers, and good luck!

Andrew

[The Ficus Guy]

Check out Jerry Meisliks article about creating one of these:

http://bonsaihunk.us/EpiphyticCreate.html

Hope that helps!

[Barry1]

Check out Jerry Meisliks article about creating one of these:

http://bonsaihunk.us/EpiphyticCreate.html

Hope that helps!

Great article ..thanks for sharing

[Bretts]

Consider using a live host instead of deadwood that will rot.

[Alan Peck]

Hi avz10,
Got this given to me about 4 years ago after being raised from seed. Thought I'd give it a go as you don't see many strangler figs done as Bonsai.
It started as big as my little finger so kept it in it's black 4ins pot double decked above another with the bottom removed for a year before straping it to this piece of Mallee root I had been pondering over for a use. Just treat it as a root over rock prep.
Think you might be aware that stranglers eventually kill their host tree from strangulation (hence the name) over time so if you do use a live host rather than dead wood it's a safe bet that you will never see it standing all on it's own after the host has rotted away. We have some classic examples of this here in Oz but mine will never reach that stage on Mallee. The arial roots are now really growing as you can see. I feed it as all my other trees and give it a handfull of pelletized chook poo twice a year. I plan to see if the leaf size will reduce with the start of defoliation this year. It makes good variety for your collection though and is an interesting talking point. Good luck.
Try to use a bigger piece of wood as they grow down from the tree canopy in the natural environment. Have fun.

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[Bretts]

Nice Allan
The idea with using a live host is that the strangler roots can be controlled not to circle and kill the host tree. Just another option and the way I see this style.

[avz10]

Excellent!

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Albie

[avz10]

I had my try with the strangler fig yesterday. I used this article to guide me
http://www.bonsaichat.net/dynamics/show ... =14#post14 and here are some of his photos:











This is what I did: The stump and cutting the bottom part- very hard wood!


Cont with 2nd post

[avz10]

Another angle:


Horizontal cut


My only two fig trees left- was actually one, but I divided it






It is back in the garden- so I suppose wait and see!!

Any thoughts/comments?

[Tony Bebb]

G'day Avz

Good start. At least you have some roots on the wood. I would suggest to build a good Strangler you would need to treat it like a root-over-rock, except with wood. Whilst you can still grow the trunks and branches up and along the wood, they will not flatten out as good as the roots. You will need to keep branch growth secured tight to the wood to achieve the same results as the roots.

Bretts suggested using a live host, but an old strangler has killed the host, so it depends on the effect you are after.

Tony

[avz10]

Thanks Tony, especially for mentioning the trunks and branches.

Should I keep it like this for a year- or what would you suggest?

Albie

[Tony Bebb]

G'day Albie

Keep it like that for a while definitely mate as it will at least give it a chance to grow longer roots to reposition if necessary. It may also do what you want it to do. You seem to have wrapped it well so it should grow just fine.

Tony