Benjamina ficus year 4

[Kevster]

I got some 3 cuttings off a friends tree about this time 4 years ago. They were only about 1/4 inch thick. Being my first time with ficus (or tropical for that matter) it was trial and error. They all lived. The other 2 I'm letting grow out. One for a thick trunk the other I'm letting the branches get long and leggy to use for future thread grafts.

Anyway this is where I am with the one. Early this spring I potted it in a deep pot with a concave rock shaped rock around it, buried it and 4 months later dug it up. Basically this is how it turned out. I seriously am not a fan of the huge roots that have formed. Not sure what to do.
I also did a little more wiring to the trunk to add some character to the tree and a few branches which you see in the other picture.

I feel the speed at which this tree grows it should thicken up nicely in a couple more years. I know the pot is oversized. I am using it to help it grow faster and the wire is a little messy because it's loose so it can stay on a little longer. As it is now if it's wired tight I have to cut it off in a months time or less.

Any suggestions, or criticism just fire away. Thanks!

 

[JudyB]

Kevster, I agree about the roots, they look too big, and not tight enough to the rock to really work as root over. Part of it appears to be the fault of the rock, which is not really shaped with grooving that you can put the roots into to attain the classic ROR look. But did you wrap the roots with plastic wrap to keep them close enough to the rock to bind them together? Also I wonder if 4 months is enough time. BUT, I'm no ficus expert, so I could be off base here...
Other than that, your new growth looks good for just a cutting start!

 

[Kevster]

I used a roll of a stretchy plastic strip (similar to plastic wrap) that was about 1.5" wide but I wrapped it around many times and it was tight. The "big" roots at one time were pretty tight to the rock after I puller it out of the soil but they seem to be getting farther off the rock as the tree grows. I'm not sure if 4 months was enough either but I feel it was. There were so many roots you couldn't see the rock and held it firmly in place. Plus those big roots stopped getting bigger once they were exposed to air.
I may be wrong. Again was my first tropical. Trial and error.

I'd like to cut the tree free from the rock remove those big roots and try again. Maybe on a bigger rock.
I have other another set of cuttings started on another ror. These are very small cuttings and their roots are gripping the rock like they should and like this one did but you can see a couple of the roots are starting to swell. I will put a picture of them up in a little.

Mainly I was just looking for ideas to correct this problem. I was also thinking just give it time and let the aerial roots cover the base of the tree since they are growing very well in my aquarium setup.

 

[bonsai barry]

Have you given thought to shortening the trunk by making a chop and wiring the left branchas new top? This would make the trunk look thicker and would make a better size relationship to the rock? Here is a quick (meaning poorly rendered) virt.

Also, as the smaller roots thicken up, I would get rid of the big roots.

 

[Kevster]

I have thought about a trunk chop and even wiring the left branch up. It's something I might do. I know one way or another I really need to do something those huge roots.

The more time that passes the more I feel maybe I should ground layer right above those huge roots and start over.

 

[edprocoat]

Ficus do tend to lift their roots when growing, ones that are at soil level in a year or less can be an inch above the soil. They grow fast and are also growing below the roots pushing up. I have a pic in a thread here somewhere called my old ficus in its old bluepot that has done the same thing. I like the roots on your plant, it looks natural to me.

ed

 

[Kevster]

Thanks Ed
That is what is happening here. Originally all the roots were touching the rock. The tree had a very firm grip of it. Now there is about a 1/2 in gap between the big roots and rock. I probably wouldn't mind it so much if they weren't almost as big as the trunk and I'm afraid they are going to continue to grow bigger and get worst.

 

[bonsai barry]

Thanks Ed
That is what is happening here. Originally all the roots were touching the rock. The tree had a very firm grip of it. Now there is about a 1/2 in gap between the big roots and rock. I probably wouldn't mind it so much if they weren't almost as big as the trunk and I'm afraid they are going to continue to grow bigger and get worst.

I wonder if it would be possible to split the roots? You would have twice as many roots but none of them two big. I have no idea if it would work but it would be a fun experiment.

 

[Kevster]

That's something I never thought about Barry! I have never done it but I will research it tonight!
Thanks for the idea and another possibility!

 

[Bill S]

Can't remember who, I think it was Charles Ceronio, told me to take a sharp edge and make a gouge along the thick roots and cover them and they will shoot out new roots from that, helping to thicken them and enhance the root base.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Here's an article on Jerry Meisliks site about splitting roots:
http://bonsaihunk.us/ficusforum/FicusTechniques/FigTechnique9.html

 

[Kevster]

After some more thought I'm thinking about maybe changing this to a banyan tree since I have aerial roots popping out all over the place
If I do this I'm going to run a lot of the roots that are high on the tree down the trunk and use the lower aerial roots to cover the huge ugly roots. This will eventually thicken the trunk and make a huge base.
If I do this is there anything wrong with leaving the rock where it is which will eventually be completely covered in roots?

What are your thoughts on leaving the rock in place and changing this to a banyan tree?