small leaf ficus ????

[Rintar]

Bought by my father in law who past away over 15 years ago left and forgotten about in mother in laws back yard found as part of a 4 hour clean up was told to chuck it but I think not I would like to know if it is indeed a ficus and or hopefully a native its pot grown but had no care or training the moss has destroyed some old raised roots away from the trunk I think its save able and I'd like to get it healthy then enter it in next years under 12 month comp I think their will be a few plants from here (MILs house) that would be good for bonsai

[coocarch]

Ficus benjimina, sorry to hear the bad news

[Rintar]

No bad news cocarch it was over 15years ago that's how I know this tree is at least that old the leaves are all a maximum 2cm their has been no ramifications or work done would it still be a benji their leaves are supposed to be 6 to 15cm

[Andrew F]

No bad news cocarch it was over 15years ago that's how I know this tree is at least that old the leaves are all a maximum 2cm their has been no ramifications or work done would it still be a benji their leaves are supposed to be 6 to 15cm

There are small leaf varieties mate

Good score, once again you'll need to air layer it

[Rintar]

Thanks VS and do they count as natives? Was thinking more get it healthy now and just trunk chop in Oct ..... Layering takes longer and I need something to play with ilk have enough layers if they live plus plenty of money/jade trees if I want them

[Andrew F]

Thanks VS and do they count as natives? Was thinking more get it healthy now and just trunk chop in Oct ..... Layering takes longer and I need something to play with ilk have enough layers if they live plus plenty of money/jade trees if I want them

Native to here and asia, trunk chop is quicker but iv read mixed results with back budding on benji's , if you time it right layering may only take a month if warm enough

Whats the roots like on this one?

[Rintar]

Didn't get a chance to check going back Monday for another go at the gardens will take at least another 4hours solid work and that's just the back front is more tree chopping and lots more ficus. Will leave some branches till October so ill no doubt have 20ish ficus come December...... Will be happy to give away most. Plus I have a lot of paperbark Mel seeds that have germinated and hopefully more than a few will survive till December if you VS want to come get yourself a Christmas present or 3 your welcome same will go to anyone else who will be in Newcastle about then but w shall see how I go they could all die yet.


Also does trunk chopping or air l layering count as the start of the 12 months for anbita

[Andrew F]

Didn't get a chance to check going back Monday for another go at the gardens will take at least another 4hours solid work and that's just the back front is more tree chopping and lots more ficus. Will leave some branches till October so ill no doubt have 20ish ficus come December...... Will be happy to give away most. Plus I have a lot of paperbark Mel seeds that have germinated and hopefully more than a few will survive till December if you VS want to come get yourself a Christmas present or 3 your welcome same will go to anyone else who will be in Newcastle about then but w shall see how I go they could all die yet.


Also does trunk chopping or air l layering count as the start of the 12 months for anbita

Thank you for the offer mate, when it warms up ill be in contact for sure, might have a few p.j and m.b figs to swap for benji stumps.

Cant help as far as Anbita is concerned but google threw this link at me:

viewtopic.php?f=142&t=11807

Look great.

[xtolord]

I thought benjamina at first, but the bark color kind of reminds me of Ficus retusa too.
The benjamina I've seen have a greyish brown tint vs a darker brownish tint in retusa.

I'll try to get some close up of the leaves to cross check something.
I've noticed small "dots" patterns on the benjamina leaves.
I'll check if they are also present on retusa leaves in the coming days.

[Rintar]

Ficus retusa is closer yellow to orange rough bark

[Andrew F]

The grow tips and leaves look like Benjamina.

[Rintar]

IT was very very root bound got some shots but don't have the cord for this camera and my other one which I didn't use as its broken has the larger usb cord grr technology. Any I trimmed it right back to points were it was shooting soaked it in a heavy handed Seasol mix for over an hour why I did some other gardening got it out hosed it off a bit to see what I was working with and as you can expect after possibly 20years in one pot it was very very root bound. I made some decisions and cut the roots back to a third of the pot from filling the pot some roots were thicker than my thumb many were finger sized closer to the surface visible ones I kept most of the others I removed i still left lots of feeder finer roots and I hope its enough. now I had a look around the Mother in laws shed and found a small amount of prelite a little potting mix propagating sand and spag moss. so yes I mixed all together to fill the bottom of its original pot. Did this while it was again soaking in Seasol bath. Left it their for about 45min before putting it back in original container and back filling the gaps left with excess mix. Then the mother in law came out and said i should put the last of the spag moss on top and drench it again in the seasol mix as she probably wont be able to water it and she doesn't think it will fit in the back of the territory. She was right still to tall but I had cut it back as hard as I was willing to for now. I really do want to bring it home though and put it in the green house for the rest of winter to help it recover but as it was just re potted and no longer root bound I couldn't lay it in the car. Pre doing all this that would not have been a problem... Lesson learned for the other two I'm yet to take from hers. Any way I hope this encourages growth and back budding and I can soon get a lift home with it.


Cheers J

aka Rin

[Rintar]

this little one is starting to show some back budding so i have decided i will soon be again shortening and hair cutting him to try encourage more lower growth also have tied/wired down a few of the straight tall branches to shoot out ward and hopefully encourage lower limb growth. thoughts and suggestions welcome.

[Rintar]

some photos taken today. it is now in a much more predominate sun spot with all branches ties t come at an approximate 90 deg angle or less from the trunk and with growing tips hire up continuously cut of to encourage growth further down and back it seems to be working

cheers Jason

[Rintar]

Wow its been 3 years and I have done nothing with this tree means its been in that same mix for 3 years as well........ Time to do somethin with it. Its healthy and strong but I've not been good with air layers so going to have to just cut back and try get some cuttings to grow.