green islander

[Guy]

My green island fig has two new shoots growing from just below a large root removal quite close to the soil-that side now has zero roots-just wondering if these new shoots could be bent down(carefully) and partly buried to try to get roots to form on the shoots-and eventually remove the extra above ground growth--would this ground layering end up as roots feeding the larger tree---I guess what I'm asking is could a branch become a root----

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[Ash]

To answer your questions Yes and No. I have read several notes on people pinning branches down on figs to become roots. In theory the vascular architecture of the stem would be the wrong way around and it should not work. In practice it has not worked for me.

However you do not have a problem with this tree- rather a real bonus- having two shoots at that position is a great for developing the base of the tree and roots. I would not bend them down but rather let them grow unimpeded until they are so large you can't stand them anymore. They will greatly thicken the base, heal that scar and the new stem tissue will be more likely to sprout roots.

Also from a design point of view if you used them as roots they would emerge a bit high up.

hope this helps

Ash

[Guy]

To answer your questions Yes and No. I have read several notes on people pinning branches down on figs to become roots. In theory the vascular architecture of the stem would be the wrong way around and it should not work. In practice it has not worked for me.

However you do not have a problem with this tree- rather a real bonus- having two shoots at that position is a great for developing the base of the tree and roots. I would not bend them down but rather let them grow unimpeded until they are so large you can't stand them anymore. They will greatly thicken the base, heal that scar and the new stem tissue will be more likely to sprout roots.

Also from a design point of view if you used them as roots they would emerge a bit high up.

hope this helps

thanks ash --reckon I'll repot into a large growpot for a couple of seasons- and see what happens---also could you confirm whether this is a green islander--I've seen other leaf shapes with the same name

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Guy

Ash has good advice. Sap would flow the wrong way. When you root prune next time, cut off the roots under the trunk and leave mostly latteral roots to get all the energy in from the sides to help the buttress also.

It is Green Island. The pointier leaf shape that is often called GI is Ficus Phillipinensis. Common mistake.

Tony

[Jerry Meislik]

I have experience bending branches down and having roots grow - kind of a ground layer. Make sure to leave the branch growing and attached otherwise it will not root.
Jerry

[Andrew E]

Gotta agree with Ash, Grow them on to encourage trunk thickening and assist in healing the large scar on the trunk. They are positioned too high on the trunk to become roots and as said the sap flow will be the wrong way anyway. Certainly looks like a Green Island.
Andrew

[mickaus]

When you say, "let them grow to encourage healing". how big is too big? surely at some point the scar from taking off the sacrifice branches would outweigh the benefits?

[Ash]

how big is too big?

This is a good question- The answer it really depends on how the artist intends to shape the rest of the tree. You could allow the sacrifice branch to grow just a bit and then remove it before it gets large- this would result in a plant with smaller scars but also a smaller trunk base. I would tend to allow it to grow until it is as thick as the old scar, this will result in a new scar yes, but a much thicker base. It will take time to heal, but because it was from a quick side branch at the base it will heal quicker than would a similar size scar on a chop down. This tree has the advantage of having two shoots- if one is allowed to grow much larger it can then be removed first, the second shoot helps heal the first and eventually when all are healed the base taper will be better.

Thanks for the input Jerry- I have never done this so could only answer based on first principles. Guy it is worth having a look at Jerry's fig book- it has chapters on this sort of thing complete with photographs.

Good luck with the Greenislander

Ash