Ficus Benjamina development

[Maddog79]

This is a Benji of mine that I have had for a while. I'd happily welcome any comments or suggestions for the future as well as tips on how to rotate images when uploading.

Thanks

Benji 1.jpg

image.jpg

Benji Left Side.jpg

Benji Right Side.jpg

[dansai]

Looking good. Good recovery from defoliation. I have had dieback on branches before with defoliation. This one seems pretty happy though.

[Maddog79]

Thanks Bougy Fan for editing the images.

Thanks Dansai, that was the second defoliation it had last season so I was very surprised to see how well it had recovered. I'm hoping to work on the branch structure & canopy some more come spring time, I'm guessing it is just a matter of fertilising & pruning during the growing season to encourage growth.

[thoglette]

+1 on on avoiding total defoliation for Benjis. It's risky - better to leave one or two bits of green on the end of the branch.

I'm hoping to work on the branch structure & canopy some more come spring time, I'm guessing it is just a matter of fertilising & pruning during the growing season to encourage growth.

Plus warmth.

One comment on style - your branches are very long and quite straight. I'd be looking at strategies to shorten /shape these.

[Maddog79]

A spring 2015 update on this Benjamina. Seems to be really gearing up for the growing season nicely. Just a little concerned about the split in the bark low down on the trunk as it appears to be flaking & lifting away from the wood beneath. It does enhance the aged look of the tree but I'm concerned that it may rot servely. Any thoughts or suggestions as to how I can reduce/repair the split & subsequent swelling, flaking & breaking away of the bark?

[dansai]

Looks like the cambium has died in this area. Possibly sunburn, root rot in the front section or dieback from defoliation.

You could remove the flaky bark and find where the cambium is still green, cut back to there like you do when cleaning up and old wound and cover with cut paste.

When was it last repotted? Might be worth doing a repot when it warms up some more to check out the roots and let it grow strongly for at least a season to heal.

[Maddog79]

Thanks Dansai,
Yes i think you are spot on with the initial damage occurring as a result of sunburn. It is due for a repot & i was planning to do it either this weekend or next. It is already warming up here in Brisbane.