Fiscus ID Please

[Firecat]

My Mother potted this up for me to have a go at..she found two and shared this one to me.
I have not seen a fig as dark as this so your thoughts would be appreciated.
Came from Ballarat and was from a local nursery and outside grown.

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I would of posted in Species ID but was denied access.

I think 'maybe It's a rubber tree' and maybe a waste of space.

Thanks Steve.

[Redsonic]

I am definitely no expert but it looks like "ficus elastica burgundy" aka the rubber plant:



Image from Hervey Bay Nursery

[Firecat]

I am definitely no expert but it looks like "ficus elastica burgundy" aka the rubber plant:

So is this a viable base for something in the future ?
Can ficus type defoliation/pruning be done or does this 'rubber tree' bleed to much.
Re Steve.

[shibui]

They don't bleed more than other ficus.
Leaves will reduce but starting from such a large normal leaf even 50% reduction will still give you leaves that are too big for bonsai
You should be able to find something better without too much trouble but could use this one to practice techniques in the meantime.

[Firecat]

Thanks shibui.
I snipped all the leaves off and as you say it will be good practice and perhaps a progression tree.
Bleeding was as you say no more and immediately congealed with a spray of water.
Now we will see just what happens in the future, being I'm guessing a short time due to rapid growth of these 'rubber trees'.
re Steve.

[Firecat]

Checked roots for new growth from Mums big terracotta pot and even though this had only been in the pot a couple of weeks new feeders were plentiful.
So into another squat terracotta pot it went after defoliation for a practice specimen (Thanks to shibui)

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