[lackhand] Ficus benjamina 2

[lackhand]

• Species name: Ficus benjamina
• Original height of stock: 20 cm to the top, including the rock
• Where you obtained it from: Fort Collins Nursery
• Cost of stock: $15 (I think)

I lopped the top off of this tree as a cutting on March 20 as seen in this thread. viewtopic.php?f=133&t=14912
I decided to go ahead and enter this despite that drastic treatment, partially as a personal vote of confidence that it will live, but also to push the limits of what might be possible during the contest. There has been a lot of talk about root over rock for this, and I wanted to challenge myself to see if a credible ROR could actually be created. Well, at least by me, I'm sure there are others more capable.

Of course, there is some chance that it won't take off and I'll be tossing a dead twig soon. Let's hope not.

With 5 cm to go, this will have to be a very short tree. I'm hoping for a strong low branch that I can cascade or semi-cascade, but we'll see what I get to work with.

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[Neli]

Do You mean to tell me that You whacked a ficus benjamina like that? Dont you know it has to have some leaf bellow the cut?
It will be very interesting to see if it lives... This is one of the few figs you are not supposed to cut without leaving any leaves. Lets see if it is a myth or it is truth.

[Bougy Fan]

It should be fine as figs always want to live. Generally the problem with benjis is branch loss due to defoliation. Some suggest leaving the tip intact and other insist there is no problem. I think benjis are just susceptible to branch loss for no apparent reason

[lackhand]

Do You mean to tell me that You whacked a ficus benjamina like that? Dont you know it has to have some leaf bellow the cut?
It will be very interesting to see if it lives... This is one of the few figs you are not supposed to cut without leaving any leaves. Lets see if it is a myth or it is truth.

Yes, this has definitely been whacked below all branching. I know it's a risky move, but it was an ugly tree with a long straight section that wouldn't back bud (which may not bode well for its survival! ) so I took the top off as a cutting. I'm sure the cutting will take, and it will be the second decent one taken from this tree, so if this doesn't live I would be okay with it. I hope it does though. If nobody ever pushed the limits, nothing would ever change, right?

[Shane]

Hi Lackhand, can't tell from the pics, did you put any sealant on that cut? Cheers Shane

[Neli]

I pray for your benji. I trimmed my daughter's house plant. Decided to help her, reduce its size. It was too big. Not a bonsai...and iit expired...So I have experience with it...
Bougy, lets hope you are right, but everyone I know says be careful.

[lackhand]

Hi Lackhand, can't tell from the pics, did you put any sealant on that cut? Cheers Shane

No, I did not. Didn't even think about it honestly, would that effect it's ability to back bud? I thought that if you sealed, it would be less likely to send out new shoots. Now that you ask though, I can't recall where I got that idea, and I can see how increasing moisture around the cut might help it send out shoots. Hmmm . . .

[lackhand]

I pray for your benji. I trimmed my daughter's house plant. Decided to help her, reduce its size. It was too big. Not a bonsai...and iit expired...So I have experience with it...
Bougy, lets hope you are right, but everyone I know says be careful.

Thanks Neli, I'm sure your prayers won't hurt!

Shane, I just reviewed the trunk chopping guide again and it looks like I indeed should have sealed that cut to prevent dieback before new shoots can form. Not sure how I missed that on my first couple reads, but I'll just have to take care of it now. Probably have to freshen up the cut and then seal, so hopefully there hasn't been much dieback. Seems like I'm doing a lot of finger crossing and praying with this one, but that will only make it all the more satisfying if it lives!

[kcpoole]

Do You mean to tell me that You whacked a ficus benjamina like that? Dont you know it has to have some leaf bellow the cut?
It will be very interesting to see if it lives... This is one of the few figs you are not supposed to cut without leaving any leaves. Lets see if it is a myth or it is truth.

I have done one a few years ago, and it survived OK. That was before i knew Benjis did not back bud well
All good now so hope this will be OK

ken

[lackhand]

Well, time for an update on this tree. Any guesses

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We have leaves! Not where I wanted them at all, they're tucked sort of inside the trunk close to the rock, but I'll take them. I've seen root growth as well, so I think this thing will make it. I'm still always nervous with that few leaves - a bug gets one and it could easily die - but at least things look good for now. As for making use of that growth, that will be a completely different challenge. Hopefully it will build energy and give me some more buds to work with. Either way, I don't think this one is winning any prizes, but it still gives me a good benchmark to see how well it goes within the time frame.

[Neli]

That is good news! I would be honest I did not expect it to back bud.

[lackhand]

Growth continues. Now I'm trying to decide how long to wait before I have another look at the roots to see if they need any rearranging.

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Any ideas on encouraging more backbudding on the stump? I'll try about anything right now, since if nothing buds I'll be left with a carving project, which really isn't ideal for ficus.

[The Ficus Guy]

Growth continues. Now I'm trying to decide how long to wait before I have another look at the roots to see if they need any rearranging.

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Any ideas on encouraging more backbudding on the stump? I'll try about anything right now, since if nothing buds I'll be left with a carving project, which really isn't ideal for ficus.

You think it's possible that the rest of the trunk died and that little sucker is the trees last hope?

[lackhand]

Growth continues. Now I'm trying to decide how long to wait before I have another look at the roots to see if they need any rearranging.

IMG_2290.jpg

Any ideas on encouraging more backbudding on the stump? I'll try about anything right now, since if nothing buds I'll be left with a carving project, which really isn't ideal for ficus.

You think it's possible that the rest of the trunk died and that little sucker is the trees last hope?

That's a definite possibility Ryan. It was still green last time I checked but it's been a month or two since then.

[bamboos]

I just saw this post and would like to put in my .benjiminias will survive trunk chopping and survive it quite well.A couple of years ago I bought nine of them -- asked for a saw and chopped the top5 or 6 feet off there was no leaves on any of them just the trunks and aerial roots. I then arranged transport to get them the 1800 Klms home.first transport co missed the first pick up -- a couple of frantic phone calls and was promised they would be picked up ASAP.long story needed 2 more transport cos before they were picked up --- nursery kept watering them finally got them delivered . Only took a month! They all survived and were not shooting when they arrived but within a few weeks they all shot new leaves All were root chopped and put in bonsai pots as soon as they arrived.Trying to develop the canopy now
Steve