Ficus Microcarpa? Six Year progression

Todd-H

Todd-H

Sapling
Messages
32
Reaction score
96
Location
Northwest of Chicago
USDA Zone
5B
Hey All,
This is my first post here. I've been working on this Ficus over the last six seasons from a small cutting. I feel it is moving in the right direction. Over the next couple season my goals it to cut back and create more ramification. The pics start in 2011 with each year afterwards with maybe one or two missing. The last being defoliated early this season and then with leaves. Let me know what you think.

ToddP9240159.JPG IMG_0885.jpg IMG_3491.jpg IMG_3534.jpg IMG_3533.jpg IMG_4200 (1).jpg IMG_4201.jpg IMG_4266.JPG IMG_4267.JPG
 
Way more exciting than the text was insinuating!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce
 
It's really nice to see the progression, it offers a nice visual timeline! Thanks for posting.
 
Very nice progression. Beautiful actually!! I have a cutting from the top of my other tree and it went wild in my tint little green house making airial roots and such this summer it finally made itself in a pot maybe I'll take a pic :)
 
Thanks for the nice responses. I have a bout 25 cuttings in various stage. Being in the Chicago area I don't get the level of growth as down south but I think I've figured out a good schedule to produce small trees in a relatively short amount of time.
 
Todd-H said:
Hey All,
This is my first post here. I've been working on this Ficus over the last six seasons from a small cutting. I feel it is moving in the right direction. Over the next couple season my goals it to cut back and create more ramification. The pics start in 2011 with each year afterwards with maybe one or two missing. The last being defoliated early this season and then with leaves. Let me know what you think.

ToddView attachment 161626 View attachment 161627 View attachment 161628 View attachment 161629 View attachment 161630 View attachment 161631 View attachment 161632 View attachment 161633 View attachment 161634
Click to expand...

I really like this Ficus. I like the moss but I would like to see some roots before the moss starts. Do you have plans to expose some roots in the future. I also have a ficus I started developing 6 years ago. Here is the thread if you want to have a look. https://bonsainut.com/threads/my-first-ficus-progression.19994/
 
Hey Thomas,
So I may have miss titled the thread I think mine is a Ficus Retusa but I can't ever keep the botanical names straight. Your tree looks great. There is a good nebari hiding under the moss but it grew pretty thick through the cool summer we had. I plan to plant it a bit higher in the pot next year and expose the roots but I wanted them to strengthen up first.

Todd
 
This tree is definitely on the right path. The movement you put in the branches is really nice. Cant wait to see it in a few more years.
 
I normally don't care that much for Ficuses but I really like this one. Great job and thanks for sharing!
 
hemmy said:
Wow, what the heck do you do in winter? Do you have a greenhouse for the tropicals and succulents?
Click to expand...
I have three groups for over wintering. Most stay outside behind a burlap wind break, some go into an unheated garage, and the tropicals come into the house. I have some fluorescent lights in my basement for the tropicals. I tend towards allowing my tropical trees to stay outside longer than is normally recommended. They come in when the night time temps start to dip into the 30s. They have all seen a frost.
 
Hi Todd,
Can you please elaborate on the techniques you used for development and the timing of things? For example, did you use mainly "clip and grow" or extensive wiring? When did you prune? How much did you fertilize, etc.? I'm working on developing a green island ficus that's a little further along than where you started and this information would be very helpful as you did an awesome job and I prefer to learn those with good results rather than try to reinvent the wheel myself. Thanks so much.
 
Hey,
So for this one if (I remember correctly) I used an alternating method between heavy root reduction and heavy branch reduction. The first season after it was established as a cutting(year 2) I let it grow freely until a the end of July then wired it to position the main branches with only minor cutting. The following season(year 3) I cut it back hard in July and left it to grow freely again. The next season(year 4) in July I gave it a hard repot and light branch trim/wiring removing the unwanted branches but leaving options. The next season wiring and pruning as needed watching not to let the branches get to out of control. Then this year I gave it a good root/branch trimming and wiring. The first 5 seasons I fertilized heavily with osmocote and liquid fertilizers. This year I went with a lighter touch to maintain the growth. There were a couple defoliations mixed in there.

I have found that doing major work around the end of June or beginning of July provides good results in my climate. I also push the growing season as much a s possible by leaving the trees out until the night time temps are hovering around 38-42 and in the spring I put them out as early as possible They occasionally get frosted but I cover them with a sheet his spring they took 3 frosts no problem. The winter is annoying, between fighting off scale and keeping them moist and humid, I tend to not really do anything but water them. No wiring, repotting, pruning or fertilizing until they are outside.
 
Very nice progression! How is it looking these days?
I got an ugly ginseng as a gift which I layered off this spring. It looks quite similar to yours.
 
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