AusBonsai

Hi there 2nd post so please be kind if this is not the right forum - I did look!

I've got 4 fig tree's, the one in question here is actually a chunky prune taken from stock.
They are all looking decidedly unhealthy...

Once and for all I need to know where these guys should be kept to give them the best chance of getting really healthy once again..
The one in the pic was actually repotted recently (which I understand to be the wrong time) and is looking particularly unhealthy..
The others I haven't repotted for some time and they are really just struggling and looking similarly tired..
Once upon a time they had been healthy so I know they have the ability but alas not for some time.

Look forward to the advise!

I would repot them in a few weeks time when the weather is warmer. Make sure you pot them in a large growing container to fatten up the trunks. A pinch of lime in the soil helps them along.

Where are you. I'm in sydney and I just grow them out in full sun. I would put them into a larger pot, something like a squat 12" pot, defoliate them and then give them a hole heap of dynamic lifter.
This is what I have done with mine the past few years and they love it.
Also when potted give them some seasol and a liquid feed as the leaves start to shoot.

Thanks Brian and Chad.

I'm "Inner Melbourne" as well Yarraville in fact.
What sort of sun/shade combination should I go for?
I read a lot online but the reason I joined here is that often information is simply not for our state or even country!

The only real feed I've been giving them is actually seasol..
As far as timing when the leaves start to shoot! Well they have been stagnant for a little while now..
When do figs being evergreens start to shoot anyway?

They should be growing now.
Figs will tolerate full sun and partial shade. Mine are in full sun. You can put them in an igloo as they love humidity.
Have they been in those pots for a while, if so when you pot them give them a root prune.
As for the Fert, seasol only really helps with root development. If you are going to liquid feed, use something like power feed or nitrosol. But if they were mine I would repot now and give them heaps of dynamic lifter.
Don't worry to much about defoliating yet.
By looking at them I would say that they are root bound and just need a good feed.
Once the dynamic lifter kicks in they will power on

I wonder whether they are being overwatered and not getting enough sun as it looks like some leaves are falling off possibly because of that. I also see possible catepillar attack and I would do two things: spray with dipel for catepillar infestation and spray with confidor for possible scale (though I can't see any in the pictures).
They will need some fertiliser, but be careful as they are natives. Give some osmoxcote for Australian Natives and once a month I use Charlie Carp (organic)
I agree that it will need a repot when warmer and try to include some coarse gravel in your mix.
These are my tips. I attach a picture of my 30 year old fig which I am proud of.
Good luck

I can be absolutely sure that a couple of the figs are not root bound because..
1 was repotted only recently.. 2 was repotted last year and put into a much larger pot...

One of the others may very well be root bound but I'll give it a couple of weeks until things are warmer before a re-pot here as suggested.

Re. The dynamic lifter...

a) Can I use this even though my plants are somewhat unhealthy?
b) In general how much / what percentage should I use on my bonsai?

Thanks!

P.S. Toohey that is a cracker mate! What a tree!

If a tree is Crook, do not feed. Use Seasol instead which is a tonic.
Figs should be in full sun year round, but in winter protect from frosts.

Ken

I personally would not use dynamic lifter on any of my trees.
It does not break down as well and liquid fertilizer works much better in my opinion.
I am a fan of Ozmocote, but never use cheaper alternatives as the sustained release does not seem to work as well and will often breakdown with a fertiliser surge.
Michael Toohey

That would depend on what it is crook from KC! If it is starving as I suspect these are then feeding would be the logical remedy?????

To Boics' questions: Seasol is not really a fertiliser. It is claimed as a 'soil conditioner' because the makers cannot/ will not guarantee a fertiliser analysis. Seasol is good to add trace elements but you also need to use a fertiliser regularly on all potted plants. Bonsai need even more because we water frequently and leach out all the soluble nutrients very quickly.
In my experience dynamic lifter is good for figs and can be applied as heavily as you can fit on the pot however figs will lap up ANY fertiliser, especially high N. ferts like the powerfeed and Nitrosol already recommended. Soluble ferts are quicker acting than solid ones so I'd give them a weekly water with a liquid fert starting ASAP. You will be amazed at the growth when you start feeding your figs.

In Yarraville you could probably keep your figs outside all year round. It is unlikely to get cold enough to worry them where you are. Mine live year round in the poly house because it gets to 5 below in winter here. Keeping them close to the house and a bit sheltered in winter would be good insurance in all southern areas though. If its likely to get really cold they are one of the few which enjoy being inside in winter. In warmer areas they grow all year round but down south they often stop over winter then resume growth as the weather warms up in spring. The actual time of year will depend on your location and average temps. I'd expect them to be opening new leaves soon. the recently repotted one might sulk a little longer though. When repotted in warm weather they just keep growing.

Figs can tolerate full sun but might be better with a little light afternoon shade if you can manage it. They will also grow in quite shaded places but the more shade the longer and lankier they will grow.

Awesome reply Shibui.

Thanks so much for taking the time and effort here.
I have in fact been using a VERY small amount of Seasol on all my plants..
However this is very diluted and infrequent (once every 2-4 weeks).

Can I use seasol in full strength?

Personally I think I'll invest in a little dynamic lifter.
I read a heap on the forums last night about the fors and against DL here and I'm comfortable for figs at least that this is acceptable.
It has become glaringly clear that I have not fed my bonsai near enough in years gone...

Here is some more good info for you:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/loa ... 71778.html

Personally I use all fertilisers at the recommended strength on my bonsai. My bonsai are actual trees in pots so I do not see any reason to use more diluted fert than the manufacturer recommends for potted plants. I reckon your trees will not know themselves when they get a bit of food into them.

So I've popped a little dynamic lifter on the figs..
The one that was inside for a while I reckon has improved whilst the couple outdoors (one in particular) doesn't seem to be getting any better.
I just read in detail the link from K2bonsai (thanks for that).

The guide down the bottom of this page in particular is interesting yet a little ambiguous.
It reads like so...

Ficus leaves can tell you much about the condition of your tree. I will close with a little chart of how leaves often respond to some common problems:

stunted, black, or deformed buds..................................................................need more light
limp leaves...........................................................................................................need water
buds fall off................................................................................too much water or too cold
leaves turn pale green, then yellow...................................................severely under-watered
yellow leaves..............................................................................dry roots, needs more light
falling green leaves..........................................................too much water, insufficient light
pale leaves.....................................................................................................needs fertilizer
yellow leaves with green veins......................................................................iron deficiency
brown or transparent spots...........fertilizer burns (flush soil, allow to dry before watering)
mottled yellow color.....................................................................................pest infestation

Nevertheless the running theme is that my leaves are in places yellow and lighter green than they have been...
Nothing like the deep and dark green they have looked like in the past.
Knowing that they are reasonably well fed (at least now) and generally decently watered I think they may require more light...
For this reason one will go inside as a "control" and I'll move another to a more sunny space outdoors and leave the healthier one where it is..

Fingers crossed this will result in a pep up!
More pics attached...

Update.

All my figs have pulled through.
(attached a new pic of the tree seen in first post pic 1 and 4).

Seeing as I fertilised one earlier than the other and they are exactly the same tree (one is a cutting from the other).
Then I think fertiliser did actually help as it is far more advanced than the other tree.

In the end I ended up slip potting the larger tree in question also (through fear of zero drainage and blocked soil).
This larger one has taken literally weeks later to show any growth and personally I think had the tree a little more fertilizer then it may have sprung back a little earlier..
I am also of the belief that a lack of sunlight has added to their slower growth.

I have alternated between Dynamic Lifter, Charlie Carp and Seasol for these trees.

Cheers,