AusBonsai

Hi all,

At the collection we have defoliated and finished wiring the lovely PJ Fig that was created by Max Candy.

I have just purchased a new pot for it and will repot it soon..

Question. What is the best possible media or potting mix for the Port Jackson fig.

Opinions and discussion please.

Pictures coming soon of new pot and the tree after wiring and defoliation.

Grant.

Some thinking music.

Hi Grant,
I cant say its 'the best' because I have not consistently trialled the alternatives. One of my old growing mediums for Ficus rubiginosa is 3 parts sieved decomposed granite: 1 to 2 part composted van-shaiks pine bark (we truck it up from Mount Gambier for ferns). The bark content depends on container depth. They are screened between 7 mm and 2 mm so it is somewhat coarse. I obtained the decomposed coarse crystal (slow cool) pale white/grey granite from a little rivulet/creek in our back yard and it had weathered from granite piles in the hills above our home. Because it had coarse crystals and was a bit more porous and had a rough sharp surface it retained a bit more moisture than grader chipped hard pink granite. The sharper coarse crystalled granite also promoted root division more than the smooth river tumbled yellowish granite from local creeks where we live now. For Myrtaceae I used 1:1 aggregate & bark.I have recently replaced the granite with maidenwell diatomite following the recommendations of growers here and I am also using it straight.
Is there any reason to use a different mix to what Max used or what it is in now?
regards
Ash

Ash wrote:Hi Grant,
I cant say its 'the best' because I have not consistently trialled the alternatives. One of my old growing mediums for Ficus rubiginosa is 3 parts sieved decomposed granite: 1 to 2 part composted van-shaiks pine bark (we truck it up from Mount Gambier for ferns). The bark content depends on container depth. They are screened between 7 mm and 2 mm so it is somewhat coarse. I obtained the decomposed coarse crystal (slow cool) pale white/grey granite from a little rivulet/creek in our back yard and it had weathered from granite piles in the hills above our home. Because it had coarse crystals and was a bit more porous and had a rough sharp surface it retained a bit more moisture than grader chipped hard pink granite. The sharper coarse crystalled granite also promoted root division more than the smooth river tumbled yellowish granite from local creeks where we live now. For Myrtaceae I used 1:1 aggregate & bark.I have recently replaced the granite with maidenwell diatomite following the recommendations of growers here and I am also using it straight.
Is there any reason to use a different mix to what Max used or what it is in now?
regards
Ash

I am always seeking to improve the bonsai; both at home and at the collection.

Max would have used just about anything in his mixes so hard to translate that mix; plus it is now in Canberra which is not exactly its natural home.

Figs are alledgedly tough and will grow in just about anything; but I would still like to nut out what is best. I know it will be opinions rather than scientific fact but interesting none the less.

So Diatomite for sure. 100% or 50%? Not sure. What else for a lovely healthy fig? Some gravel? Some Pine bark? Coarse, medium of fine. All product sifted or not?

Grant

Oh Grant another bit I might add- I sieve and wash everything and I also treat all media with Scotts Crown (to kill fungus gnat eggs & larvae) and anything that is to be stored until later I tread with fungicide and alginox. I also air dry the growing medium before storing. Sounds like a lot of mucking around but Bradysia (fungus gnats) are a big problem here sometimes and are promoted by organic fines in growing medium. Effective treatment is expensive. It is amazing how many people don't know what this evil pest is or how to sample for it. Some people have told me that their 'root chewing nematodes' went away when they changed to using diatomite. I reckon their 'nematodes' are fungus gnat larvae and the shift to diatomite meant less fine organic material for the larvae to chew when not eating roots.

It is very fine tree too bridging between feelings of massiveness and delicacy! Is it growing a just a little wet? I notice the green at the base of the roots.

regards
Ash

Ash wrote:Oh Grant another bit I might add- I sieve and wash everything and I also treat all media with Scotts Crown (to kill fungus gnat eggs & larvae) and anything that is to be stored until later I tread with fungicide and alginox. I also air dry the growing medium before storing. Sounds like a lot of mucking around but Bradysia (fungus gnats) are a big problem here sometimes and are promoted by organic fines in growing medium. Effective treatment is expensive. It is amazing how many people don't know what this evil pest is or how to sample for it. Some people have told me that their 'root chewing nematodes' went away when they changed to using diatomite. I reckon their 'nematodes' are fungus gnat larvae and the shift to diatomite meant less fine organic material for the larvae to chew when not eating roots.

It is very fine tree too bridging between feelings of massiveness and delicacy! Is it growing a just a little wet? I notice the green at the base of the roots.

regards
Ash

The green is a touch of moss that is resprouting after being inside for 6 months. And it has been very wet for Canberra lately. Raining a lot yesterday and today as well.

You live a long way north so I am glad you are taking the precautions necessary for your local environment. Ho do PJ Figs do up your way.

Less organics seems a very good practice from many aspects; thats for sure.

Grant

You probably Guessed what I have mine in
Diatomite 2/3 / Zeolite 1/3

They seem to like it

Ken

Grant what type of pot did you get?

The last pic with the lighting 'removing' the picture off the front of the pot makes it look like a cream glazed pot.

I really like this tree (unusual for a fig), and Im keen to see what you decided on.

Ficus rubiginosa grows very well up here. Mostly it is called 'rusty fig' or 'rock fig' here but bonsai people call it 'Port Jackson'. I have seen them in the wild just about all the way to the top of the Cape but their leaves are large and thick around here and further north. Most of them are lithophytes in dry vine forest, sometimes stranglers. Not many free standing ones up here. I like material originating from about the Whitsunday's south for their smaller leaves and finer indumentum. Grown here as bonsai it is excellent but not so popular. I don't know why. The one I just put in my avatar was my first bonsai.

cheers
Ash

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Grant what type of pot did you get?

The last pic with the lighting 'removing' the picture off the front of the pot makes it look like a cream glazed pot.

I really like this tree (unusual for a fig), and Im keen to see what you decided on.

Hi Scott,

The pot it was in was a very cheap(but not bad looking) pot from Malaysia or Thailand etc. It is cracked through and a touch too shallow in my feeling.

I got an oval , unglazed slightly two tone brown japanese pot the same size but a bit deeper. It can always be used for other trees in the future as well as the fig.

Grant

kcpoole wrote:You probably Guessed what I have mine in
Diatomite 2/3 / Zeolite 1/3

They seem to like it

Ken

Hi Ken,

Do you sieve out the fines from the Diatomite and Zeolite or use out of the bags?

Maybe 5% dust and fines in them.

Grant

Hi all,

Here is the PJ Fig with the new pot to be used. The paralaex error makes the pot look bigger(wider) than the original but it is actually slightly narrower but deeper.

Hi all,

I actually repotted the tree last week and it is doing fine and has filled out slightly even with the cool weather down here and heaps of rain.

I am sticking with the mix I am using for most of the others trees until I have a had at least one years experience with the mix.

Mix is 40% Diatomite, 20% gravels, 20% Pine bark Mini Nuggets and 20% Coco Peat.
Grant

Really nice!

Love the colour of the pot with the new growth!