Can I split the rootball of a Ficus?

[RGodman]

Hello everyone,

I have a little 3 trunk Ficus Benjamina that I would like to split into 1-3 single trunk plants. It is in a small 4" pot, and I really want a single trunk plant. The best and thickest is one of the outside trunks (not center) and was thinking if I chop the other 2 I will have to reduce the rootball at the soil level as it will leave too much root off to the side on one side of the trunk, and don't know that I'd ever have any nebari worth anything leaving it and not cutting it some. So as I had I have to mess with it anywa and do some cutting... can I just split the roots into 2-3 plants with a razor-knife?


Thanks for any input,

Ray

[Jarad]

Is it possible to fuse all the trunks together?

Nearly triple your trunk diameter in a fraction of the time.

[kcpoole]

Either fuse them, or cut 2 off and put them in as cuttings.

Ken

[longd_au]

I agree, fusing them is a quick way to thicken trunk fast for ficus.
If you create a humid condition around the base, you will encourage aerial roots that will help create a trunk mass when they thicken to create an even thicker trunk.

I create a humid condition by surrounding all three trunks with foil or plastic wrap.

[mcraig89]

im currently trying to fuse 3 trunks together, I like the idea of fattening up the trunk in the shorter amount of time

[GreenThumb]

Splitting didn't seem to cause any issues for these guys, if there is enough of a root system to support each it should work if this is anything to go by.

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/BreakingUpIsEasyToDo.html

[shibui]

You now have a few new potions to think about Ray but in answer to your original question you should be able to split the tree into separate trunks if you want. Most ficus grow new roots quite easily so you don't actually need many roots on each section to be successful. Over here the best time to work on roots of ficus is summer when temps are warm and tree is growing. Not sure if yours is in a greenhouse over there. Might be able to do work on it earlier if you have warm conditions but avoid working with these in the cold of winter.
ps. you don't need a razor, just something reasonably sharp and strong enough to cut through the roots and any wood that is in the way - saw?

[RGodman]

Thank you all for the replies, great to know. Wow... yeah I had not even thought to fuse them. I do love the aerial roots these things can have and was wondering about how I could increase humidity. I live in Georgia USA... hot hot humid summers, but honestly had intended this as an indoor tree. I really don't have a shady place to put it outside in the summer. It is late winter here now and this little ficus is growing strong in a North facing window (active new growth).

So basically I can wrap the trunks tightly in plastic wrap? How long might it take for he fusing to begin? Should I "tent" the plant with more wrap and a drip tray to increase humidity? (was worried about blocking light if I did)

Would it be best to wait for summer? Can it deal with full sun outside in the heat of summer if it gets afternoon shade?


Thanks everyone,

Ray

[shibui]

You can fuse these any time of year but it will be faster if it is growing so now (coming in to spring for you) would be a good time. It will fuse without humidity - just push the trunks hard against each other and hold in place. You may need something a little stronger than plastic wrap but see how it goes. Gaffer tape is strong and stretchy - stretch it as you wrap the trunks together and it will shrink back and pull them together even tighter. You'll probably need to leave it wrapped up for a full year - maybe longer- to get a good join but that will depend on how fast it thickens. If you notice the wrapping is constricting the trunks too much (trunks above the wrap is thickening out wider than below) take it off and reapply if it still hasn't joined up properly.
Fusing will be even faster if you cut the bark off the parts of the trunks where they will touch together because it is the cambium layers that will make the join. Just don't completely ringbark any trunks. They always need some connection between roots and leaves to stay alive.

[Pierre]

Hi Ray,

I have fused recently 3 pencil thin Benji over this summer. My mistake was to use wire over tape and not keeping an eye on it. It was removed 2 months ago but you canstill see the imprint. It will disappear soon though.
I am now just using grafting tape to hold the trunks tight together.
Cheers and enjoy.
Pierre