AusBonsai

I have 2 figs a Banyan and a Green Island fig, both fairly young and being developed. I defoliated both in mid December and wired them up.
in the 2 months since then the banyon had exploded in growth and i have just defoliated again.
The Green Island however only has a sparse regrowth of leaves and upon close inspection this weekend its lowest heaviest branch has completely died off, with many of the higher branches having the ends dying off.

What could be causing the problem?
My guess is to much water, we had a LOT of rain in Brisbane for a month after I defoliated, and I have been watering it every day since the rain stopped because we have had hot sunny days since then. But this is just a guess.
I didnt think it would be a problem because they are a tropical tree.

I also want to know what to do to save what I have left.

Have you pulled it out the pot Rowdy ? I have 2 MB figs from my Mum and all the branches were rotting off but it was still shooting from the trunk. I pulled them out of the pots and the mix wasn't draining freely, and no new roots had formed. So I have repotted in some really free draining mix and hope that was the problem.


Tony

Hi, Rowdy,
Bummer. The following is the question key I would ask myself (in good humour) when faced with similar circumstances for any fig bonsai:

1. Was the fig growing vigorously before defoliation? Did it have rich evenly green glossy leaves with frequent trimming required and roots coming out of the pot everywhere?

Yes: Go to 2.
No: Go and get a stick and whack myself with it. If the tree is now a dead stick that will do. Hit myself hard. Remember for next time to only defoliate a if it has been growing vigorously and has had the chance to stock its pantry. Leaves are food.

2. Has the fig tree remained saturated after defoliation? Evidence to look for- very wet growing medium, rotting sections of roots, algae, drainage impeded by roots or decomposed growing medium.

Yes: A defoliated tree uses little water and in the time after defoliation the growing medium remains overly wet and the decay rate of the growing medium (and the roots) increases. This may cause the air spaces within the growing medium to be lost and it may cause roots to be lost. Treatment- reduce watering frequency, increase ventilation, in severe cases remove tree from pot, wash growing medium from roots, removed decayed sections, treat with fungicide, algicide or bacteriostat and replant in fresh free draining growing medium. If it was in a shallow pot tip the pt sideways to let it drain. The next bit may sound funny- if it is still really wet flush it with water to neutralise the pH then abstain from watering until the medium starts to dry out. If it was already a bit dry let it keep drying. Flush it next time.
No: Go to 3.

3. Has the fig tree dried out after defoliation?

Yes: Go and get stick etc. etc. Put the tree in a more shaded position, water thoroughly, apply choice of tonic if it tickles your fancy
No: Scratch head. Go to 4.

4. Is there evidence of pests infesting the fig tree? Check carefully both above ground and below ground. There are several scale insects that infest figs that most growers dont even notice. One gets on the leaf margins and gives symptoms that look awfully like a particular micro-nutrient deficiency. Another gets into the lenticels (corky pimples on the trunk) and sucks the tree. You can use sticky traps to try to find fungus gnats.

Yes: There are pests! Treat the right pest accordingly. Don't kid yourself about the remedy. If you like the tree treat it properly.
No: Scratch head again. Post picture of tree on ausbonsai and ask for help.

You may note I did not say anything about cold weather. I live in the tropics. Cold could add all sorts of factors that I dunno anything about. Salt too- during the cyclone quite a bit of my neighbours saltwater swimming pool came for a visit to my garden. It has made its long term mark.

Hope your Green Island Fig bounces back soon Rowdy!

cheers
Ash

Ash has pretty much nailed it for you
a pic would help though
if the trunk is small it can sulk a bit when repotted and they can dieback if they're not happy
I would take it out of the pot and check for lawn grubs or damage to the roots
sometimes a small plant can get damage to the main root supply by accidentally snapping it

the other problem in bris atm is bradsia flys or fungus gnats
they're the little buggers that can multiply every 2weeks and they love wet soil with lots of peatey or organic mix in the soil
they sometimes are already in the soil you buy ,anyhow if you see lots of them around the pot and soil they are laying lots of eggs,they hatch into tiny larvae that eat new roots,the fine ones that you plant needs to grow,it makes the plant slow right down
these are difficult to control
look in the pest section for more detail, but reduced watering and pyrethrum reduces their numbers quite a bit

A photo is not worth it, its only a little thing, not an established bonsai.
I got it when i did my first bonsai lesson just over a year ago.
I have been told brisbane is about as far south as they grow and it has always been a slow grower compared to my banyon.

Anyway I did a repot this morning, I didnt find any insects, but I did find a big fat root that had rotted away.
The rest of the root system seemed to be pretty healthy though, with lots of little feeders.
I potted it up with a 50% mix of diatomite to get it draining better and discourage insects.

It’s a bit late in the season so I up it gets some good growth in before it gets cold.

I have a few starters and some cuttings I am propagating - you are right about them being slow to grow (especially for a fig) If the root had rotted sounds like it was too wet in the mix. Anyway hopefully it will idle along now

Tony

Hy Green Island fig is now a finished bonsai (dead)
i have scratched at it looking for green and theres nothing there.
I have room for a replacement tree now, i am thinking a Williow leaf fig or a bouganvillia

Figs!! More the merrier Haha. I love them.
Get a natalensis if you want a fun, fast growing fig