BonsaiManic
Chumono
To my untrained eye, it looks like a benjamina, but maybe a cultivar with a smaller, narrower leaf. But, like I said "untrained eye."
Beginner Ficus benjamina projects
- Thread starter DonielDoom
- Start date
BonsaiManic
Chumono
As for the tree itself? I tend to prefer a gentler, more subtle movement. I think this is a fantastic start! Keep us updated in this thread, I'm following to find out the rest of the story.
DonielDoom
Yamadori
One of the cuttings from Benjamina #2 already is opening new leaves and poking out a surface root. That was cut and stuck in soil on the 16th of this month; two weeks ago on the dot. Seems pretty vigorous!
On another note, I'm still dragging my feet on where to chop Benjamina #1. I hope to report back soon with a significant chop!
On another note, I'm still dragging my feet on where to chop Benjamina #1. I hope to report back soon with a significant chop!
DonielDoom
Yamadori
It's done. It's over.
It has been chopped.
It has been chopped.
BonsaiManic
Chumono
Very nice! That's going to be beautiful with that gentle movement, and you're going to have a nice taper, too. Plus, those future projects from all those cuttings.
BonsaiOnTheBrainTX
Yamadori
Nice work! Sounds and looks like you’re learning a lot and having fun. That’s what it’s all about imo. I’m very new to this hobby aswell. I also picked up a Benjamina and a Tiger Bark Ficus. They’re a lot of fun to work with. I’ll be interested to follow along and see how these progress.
DearRosemary
Seed
It is done indeed! Mr. #1 is looking really serious now. Fingers crossed the cuttings root -- though I see you're not having much problem with that
BonsaiManic
Chumono
I'm getting much faster root growth than I expected. Extremely healthy foliage, and budding has been consistent.
I did, however incorrectly identify the third tree as a variegated F. benjamina. It is actually a Ficus triangularis. So some more research is required to ensure I am giving it proper care. I removed the leaf with the brown spot. Not sure if it was disease or burn, but as it is overall very healthy, losing one leaf isn't going to hurt it.
I did, however incorrectly identify the third tree as a variegated F. benjamina. It is actually a Ficus triangularis. So some more research is required to ensure I am giving it proper care. I removed the leaf with the brown spot. Not sure if it was disease or burn, but as it is overall very healthy, losing one leaf isn't going to hurt it.
Attachments
DonielDoom
Yamadori
I took some photos recently. Here's a pile of different benjamina projects.
I'm needing to thin and be selective about what I'm growing. The tropicals coming inside for winter (soon) will stretch my care capabilities. If anyone out there wants some benjamina starts, I've got plenty to go around.
I'm needing to thin and be selective about what I'm growing. The tropicals coming inside for winter (soon) will stretch my care capabilities. If anyone out there wants some benjamina starts, I've got plenty to go around.
DonielDoom
Yamadori
Three cuttings from late spring mashed into a new fusion trunk project.
DonielDoom
Yamadori
I've got most of the Benjaminas that summered outdoors back inside now for winter. The jades, too. As one might expect, the indoor space created when trees went outdoors was gobbled up and grown into. I've observed myself procrastinating the culling and thinning of things. And, well, now I'm faced with the physicality of trees coming indoors. Some energy will be directed into that process in the near future.
For my self-imposed photo tax, I present the one Benjamina I repotted into a grow box this spring and slipped into a colander to bring indoors last week. First, I don't want to F@#$ around and find out with that wood box inside. Second, the double repot is a corner cut and a symptom of my loosey-goosey garden planning and management. In the end, though, it seemed to be a decent stress test to build my first-hand experience. The various Ficus trees I've cared for are incredibly resilient and vigorous. I don't desire to repeat such actions, though. I kept the rootwork to an absolute minimum, trying to barely slip it in with some room to chopstick soil into the perimeter.
All that said, I look forward to some effort towards thinning out some projects and continuing my organizational improvement.
For my self-imposed photo tax, I present the one Benjamina I repotted into a grow box this spring and slipped into a colander to bring indoors last week. First, I don't want to F@#$ around and find out with that wood box inside. Second, the double repot is a corner cut and a symptom of my loosey-goosey garden planning and management. In the end, though, it seemed to be a decent stress test to build my first-hand experience. The various Ficus trees I've cared for are incredibly resilient and vigorous. I don't desire to repeat such actions, though. I kept the rootwork to an absolute minimum, trying to barely slip it in with some room to chopstick soil into the perimeter.
All that said, I look forward to some effort towards thinning out some projects and continuing my organizational improvement.
DonielDoom
Yamadori
I've been curious about and interested in the fusion capability of the Ficus family. I decided to start exploring a new way of fusing some cuttings.
I pulled back the soil to the top of the root line on the lower cutting. The upper cutting got bare rooted and secured it in place with wire on top of the lower. Root sorting helped to get everything tight and close to the trunk. Backfilled the soil and will eventually pull it away in future years.
I pulled back the soil to the top of the root line on the lower cutting. The upper cutting got bare rooted and secured it in place with wire on top of the lower. Root sorting helped to get everything tight and close to the trunk. Backfilled the soil and will eventually pull it away in future years.
