Ficus root over rock

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Gerard
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Ficus root over rock

Post by Gerard »

I have planted this fig onto a large rock then buried it in a mix of diatomite and pine bark with a layer of dynamic lifter at the bottom.
I expect this will grow really fast and most of the rock will be covered in a couple of years.
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by Andrew Legg »

Looks like it will make a cool tree some time Gerard. Keep us posted! :cool:
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by boom64 »

Hi Gerard,
A very nice shaped tree to start with,should be a ripper. This is probably a newbie question , but what is the reason for defoliating the tree at this stage ? Regards John.
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by kcpoole »

boom64 wrote: A very nice shaped tree to start with,should be a ripper. This is probably a newbie question , but what is the reason for defoliating the tree at this stage ?
Maybe just to see the structure and wire it?

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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by anttal63 »

Inspired me Gezz, gonna do one too !!! Especially after seeing QV's at the auction !!! :tu:
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by bodhidharma »

Nice job Gerard. I have one i want to unearth today and i will add it here if it is okay. :fc:
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by siddhar »

Nice job Gerard. I have one i want to unearth today and i will add it here if it is okay.
I'd like to see that bodhi :fc: :tu2:
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by mal »

Hi Garard,
Great looking tree.

Do you make up your own muck? if so where is the best place to get the glay from? I have a nice young fig here I would love to have ago at root over rock style.

Cheers
Mal :beer:
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by Gerard »

mal wrote:Hi Garard,
Great looking tree.

Do you make up your own muck? if so where is the best place to get the glay from? I have a nice young fig here I would love to have ago at root over rock style.

Cheers
Mal :beer:
I used to think I had to buy clay, but a bucket spade and the side of the highway will do the job. Take it home and crush it into dust then put it through a fine sieve.
For root over rock I mix in lots and lots of moss because I want to push the roots hard against the rock but do not wish to restrict their growth.
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by mal »

That would be peat moos you are refering to?? thanks
mal
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Gerard
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by Gerard »

Sphagnum moss is what I use to make a spongy mix.
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by The-Calli-Kid »

Hey mate, looks really good!
I use Sphagnum moss to make muc mix too... Slurried up clay and sphag 'paste'.
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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by lennard »

Gerard, like it that you used such a nice trunk for the planting because in my experience I have found that to get roots to look good is not so difficult but for the trunk and canopy to catch up is not so easy!

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Re: Ficus root over rock

Post by bonsaibeginer »

Great looking tree Gerard.
Is this the normal way of training root over rock, with muck I mean? I've got a fig at the moment wrapped over a rock using cling film. I read that you use just a bit of sphag moss for moisture retention and attach the roots using grafting tape and then wrap the whole thing in cling film and burry it in sand? The idea is the roots have nothing else except the rock to go to?
Has anyone else heard of this? I would hate to have just wasted another 8 months as this is the 2nd time I'm attaching this tree to this rock... :palm:
Grant
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