MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
It looks healthy enough, right? Can I do some cutback while I am at it?
Defoliation of benjamina “Christine”
- Thread starter MrFancyPlants
- Start date
It looks healthy enough, right? Can I do some cutback while I am at it?
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
How’d I do?
I really haven’t done much defoliation.. generally I clip and grow. I.e. cut back to leaves where I like the branch line. And I did a little of that today, and preserved a leaf for most branches, with some extra on the lower branches.. not that this is super apically dominant, but I do want to extend the cascading branch, and it takes forever to grow it out.
I really haven’t done much defoliation.. generally I clip and grow. I.e. cut back to leaves where I like the branch line. And I did a little of that today, and preserved a leaf for most branches, with some extra on the lower branches.. not that this is super apically dominant, but I do want to extend the cascading branch, and it takes forever to grow it out.
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
This gives me the view to take out some busy branches. I think I’ll wait until I have some growth before I cut back harder.
Srt8madness
Omono
Great structure! Hopefully replacement leaves shrink?
vp999
Masterpiece
You can do anything to a ficus this time of the year. Have fun
vp999
Masterpiece
I defoliated and did more wiring on my tiger bark ficus couple days ago and I am in Silver Spring MD lol
luvinthemountains
Chumono
I think you could thin branches right now. There are multiple areas with redundant branches that are probably competing for energy. With this species, I also get a few shoots from one place all the time, and I try to select for placement and departure angle from the trunk as early as possible. Cool tree!
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
No problem leaving a few leaves when defoliating but not really required.
It will be interesting to see what response you get with the terminal buds left intact. I would normally take off the terminal buds when defoliating. Sometimes the new terminal leaf just unrolls and the tree doesn't bother to grow the lower buds. Depending how advanced those terminal buds are they may still produce large leaves but can be trimmed off if that happens.
Excellent base with taper and bends but the defoliation reveals the long trunk. Longer than desirable trunks are common when we try to grow the tree too quick and not prune enough. You may not see any problem but I would be looking for a spot to reduce trunk height. The middle front branches look like a possible option. Top could be struck as a cutting?
It will be interesting to see what response you get with the terminal buds left intact. I would normally take off the terminal buds when defoliating. Sometimes the new terminal leaf just unrolls and the tree doesn't bother to grow the lower buds. Depending how advanced those terminal buds are they may still produce large leaves but can be trimmed off if that happens.
Excellent base with taper and bends but the defoliation reveals the long trunk. Longer than desirable trunks are common when we try to grow the tree too quick and not prune enough. You may not see any problem but I would be looking for a spot to reduce trunk height. The middle front branches look like a possible option. Top could be struck as a cutting?
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
@Shibui, good point about shortening the trunk. I will keep an eye out for buds in the right place to start a new venture.
@luvinthemountains I think it is a good time to remove branches. I was going to wait a week or two to see the budding response before I remove. Also, I am thinking it about time to take some more cuttings of this variety. The density of ramification can not be matched by other benjimina in my experience.
@luvinthemountains I think it is a good time to remove branches. I was going to wait a week or two to see the budding response before I remove. Also, I am thinking it about time to take some more cuttings of this variety. The density of ramification can not be matched by other benjimina in my experience.
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
This one is a cutting from the OP plant. I went a little harder on it, but had been meaning to take out the lower branches on it for a while. As @vp999 pointed out, in person a bit ago, the roots are looking a little “ginseng” on this one. Maybe late this summer I’ll try and develop a fresh set of roots on this one, either by ground layering or taking the whole thing as a cutting again?
luvinthemountains
Chumono
Tough call! Maybe once you have developed a new canopy, the "defect" will not be as noticeable? I feel like you would lose too much of the first trunk section going the cutting route, and probably even with a ground layer. The trunk proportions as it is currently are pretty nice.
Also, I suggest losing the smaller, first branch on the left in your first photo. The placement seems awkward. After this pruning, you will almost certainly get a new shoot about that same height on the right, and you could let it run to form a great first branch. Just a thought.
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
I took 47 leaves off tonight. Are you supposed to remove the berries when you defoliate?
vp999
Masterpiece
I would do it to keep the energy within the tree, or at least remove half of the fruits. How's SC treating you?
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
We are liking many aspects of SC.. the beach and the schools are great. We miss the diversity of Silver Spring and the DC area. And, the restaurants, we definitely miss the restaurants.
The trees are liking the sun so far.
The trees are liking the sun so far.
vp999
Masterpiece
Nice! Best of luck to you, all the ficus that I got from you are doing great, I put them in bigger training pots in order to grow out more branches. I will post pics next summer when they are looking nice.
