Ficus Tiger Bark progression

[Maiden69]

Sweet indoor set up. How much winter pruning will you do while they’re indoors? Mine is growing strong and I was wondering if I should prune it back or wait until it’s outside in the Spring.

Thanks and great tree.

The plan is to prune down to new branches growing on the longer shoots. If you plan on a hard prune, like going back to create new branches I would wait till after the first spring push has hardened off. I had good results from pruning now, but not as strong as when pruned after spring hardening. Right now I am looking at developing some secondaries, I think I'm still early as the tree is still small to what I am shooting for, but I think that I can use those secondaries to thicken the rest of the branching to further development this coming season.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Do you remember how long it took your aerial roots to fuse into the trunk? The ones using the grafting pins. I thought I took a pic of mine, but now I see I didn't. So, here's a pic of Eddie until I take one tomorrow.

 

[Maiden69]

Do you remember how long it took your aerial roots to fuse into the trunk?

That one fused rather quickly, remember that fucus loves heat and in central Texas the growth rate is stupid fast. If you want it to fuse faster you could shave the skin of the bark on the trunk and the root without damaging the cambium, then pin them tight and cover the area with either cutpaste, AC duct putty, or even aluminum tape so water don't get inside. Those 3 things will help the callus grow faster.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

That one fused rather quickly, remember that fucus loves heat and in central Texas the growth rate is stupid fast. If you want it to fuse faster you could shave the skin of the bark on the trunk and the root without damaging the cambium, then pin them tight and cover the area with either cutpaste, AC duct putty, or even aluminum tape so water don't get inside. Those 3 things will help the callus grow faster.

Great info TY. I put two grafting pins in about two months ago, basically mimicking what you posted in this thread, and the only fusing I'm seeing is where the pins went in. It kind of looks like it healed over so the bark peeling is a good idea, except I don't have the hot weather like you. I'll grab the potato peeler and give it some thought.

 

[Maiden69]

I'll grab the potato peeler

Cool idea, if not a cheap box cutter will work great, and you can always cut it back to a new edge when it becomes dull. I bought a cheap Japanese grafting/wood carving knife from Amazon, I like the weight on it to help me control the cut.