Green Island Fig

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old_skool
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Green Island Fig

Post by old_skool »

Hi all was in brissy on the weekend so i took the opportunity to drop into the Australian bonsai grower. Picked up this green island fig and a trident maple + a little ruby fig, both in 6 inch grow pots. I picked the green island because of it's shape, wondering what your ideas and tips would be because i'm a 100% noob? I would like to keep the slanted look

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Andrew F
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by Andrew F »

Hi mate,

Maybe for now just do as much reading as possible regarding maintenance and care. Although a fig I've found green island's to be a tad bit touchier than some of their counterparts.

Best of luck :)
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by old_skool »

VelvetSicklid wrote:Hi mate,

Maybe for now just do as much reading as possible regarding maintenance and care. Although a fig I've found green island's to be a tad bit touchier than some of their counterparts.

Best of luck :)
Thanks mate, will do
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Hackimoto
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by Hackimoto »

Does anyone actually know the Latin name of Green Island Fig?

EDIT :reading: Doesn't matter I just Googled it and it's apparently a cultivar of Ficus microcarpa, the Chinese Banyan. I'm still not totally convinced :lost:
Last edited by Hackimoto on May 28th, 2012, 10:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by Andrew F »

First thing, once it gets warm again, I'd be putting it into a nursery pot or styro box. Feed it like a mad man, but i think these guys are alot more sensitive to fluctuations in the pH of the soil.


Hacki, I believe its Macrocarpa var. Green island.
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by Bougy Fan »

My experience with them is they are VERY slow growers :palm: Once in a bonsai pot they slow right down. There is also an oval leaf variety available.
Regards Tony

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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by old_skool »

Thanks for the advice everyone :tu:
once it warms up it goes into a styro box, would it be wise to chop down to increase the trunk girth ?
Last edited by old_skool on May 29th, 2012, 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by Bougy Fan »

Once you put it into a styro box you can chop it and wire up a new leader to increase the taper. Chopping it will NOT increase the girth but fertiliser will. If you chop take the cuttings and propagate them - they are usually successful with a good strike rate.
Regards Tony

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Re: Green Island Fig

Post by old_skool »

Bougy Fan wrote:Once you put it into a styro box you can chop it and wire up a new leader to increase the taper. Chopping it will NOT increase the girth but fertiliser will. If you chop take the cuttings and propagate them - they are usually successful with a good strike rate.
Cheers tony, overall taper was the aim, still learning the lingo :?
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