Page 1 of 1

Ficus obliqua, where to start?

Posted: August 2nd, 2011, 10:03 pm
by Hornet
i have had this tree for about 5 years now just growing in a pot, its grown quite a bit since i got it (currently 130cm tall) but hasnt been touched by my apart from a repot and some minor pruning. Its probably well overdue to have some work done to it so can anyone tell me where to start? What should i remove, what should i move and where or should i just let it grow some more? Not sure if this is in the right section so apologies if it isnt

John

Re: Ficus obliqua, where to start?

Posted: August 2nd, 2011, 10:24 pm
by Tony Bebb
Hi John

Bit of a problem that both trunks are even thickness. Options are to remove one, or if you want to keep both, chop one back and grow the other thicker. I would probably chop the right one off in the first photo, prune the other back hard, root prune and pot back in the pot it is in to let grow some low branches. When root pruning I would chop the roots off under the trunk to leave the lateral ones to promote taper of the trunk.

Tony

Re: Ficus obliqua, where to start?

Posted: August 2nd, 2011, 10:29 pm
by Hornet
Thanks tony

chop it back completely so its flush with the other trunk? With the left one, how hard would you suggest taking it back?

John

Re: Ficus obliqua, where to start?

Posted: August 2nd, 2011, 10:41 pm
by kcpoole
I would chop the left trunk back to the first little branch on the left, then cut the right hand trunk of back at the join to main trunk.
Repot and remove 2 /3 of the rootsand leave only the horizontal ones radiating our from the trunk, and cut them so they are 1/2 way between the trunk and the edge of the pot

Pot up into a well draining mix and then in month fertilise heavily thru summer

Ken

Re: Ficus obliqua, where to start?

Posted: August 2nd, 2011, 10:51 pm
by Hornet
kcpoole wrote:I would chop the left trunk back to the first little branch on the left, then cut the right hand trunk of back at the join to main trunk.
Repot and remove 2 /3 of the rootsand leave only the horizontal ones radiating our from the trunk, and cut them so they are 1/2 way between the trunk and the edge of the pot

Pot up into a well draining mix and then in month fertilise heavily thru summer

Ken
left trunk in 1st pic?