ID these trees

[RichKid]

They are all the same species. I know they must be some type of tropical being that they still have their leaves and the man who owned .them was growing them indoors under grow lights. His daughter who sold them to me didnt know the exact species, but for the price and amount of material I figured it would be worth it even if was just to learn.

 

[coh]

sure looks like ficus benjamina to me...

 

[RichKid]

sure looks like ficus benjamina to me...

My thoughts exactly. I have never owned one though, so I couldn't be sure. Thanks!

 

[RichKid]

P.S. any tips? I'm not big on tropical but she sold me 10 for $18! I figured why not?

 

[KennedyMarx]

Don't hard cut them back past any green growth as they tend to die back rather than backbud that way. This is just what I have read as I have different ficus trees that I am working on.

 

[RichKid]

Don't hard cut them back past any green growth as they tend to die back rather than backbud that way. This is just what I have read as I have different ficus trees that I am working on.

I recently read the same. Will the thin branches at the bottom that have lost all their leaves push any new ones or are they done? Should I remove them if so or what? There are a lot of leaves falling off and dead ones in the tree. They look stressed. Im not sure what to do next.

 

[RichKid]

This is why I stick with deciduous! LOL Don't have to worry about them doing bad in the winter.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I recently read the same. Will the thin branches at the bottom that have lost all their leaves push any new ones or are they done? Should I remove them if so or what? There are a lot of leaves falling off and dead ones in the tree. They look stressed. Im not sure what to do next.

Ficus Benjamina is supposed to be pretty finicky when it comes to getting moved around (light or humidity changes). I wouldn't worry too much about leaf drop as long as you're nursing it back to health. If it were me I would wait until it starts pushing new growth all over and pinch the tips to try to stimulate back budding. The internode length is probably very long due to the light levels where it was being kept. If you can get it to back bud further down the trunk you can cut it back and get better internode length with the new growth as well as wire the branch structure into a better shape. Just the $.02 of another beginner.

 

[augustine]

Ficus benjamina - They don't backbud reliably. If you remove too much foliage the branch or tree may die. Also, it is very difficult to make leggy foliage compact to create some type of design.

I worked with a big Ficus b. for a number of years. In my opinion they are not good plants for bonsai for the reasons stated above. Others may have had different results. Wish I could give a good review of the species.

Varieties such as Ficus microcarpa and nerifolia/salicaria are wonderful candidates for bonsai training. Both of these are readily available.

Best,

Augustine
central MD 7a

 

[Kevster]

I've had several. Still have a few in progress. As stated its not a good idea to hard prune and leave no green. Should leave some green at the end of a branch. If you want to gamble as I have sometimes and I mean SOMETIMES I've gotten bud back after I air layered a top section off and left a bare trunk. Typically the trunk eventually dies about a year later wo any growth.
I have treated the ones I've had very harsh and they have always put out. As for leaf drop. I've never had it when moving them inside but I give them lots of light. Honestly they never slow their growth really!
Best way to get bud back is when they are very healthy snip the ends of branches where new growth is coming from and remove almost all the leaves. REMEMBER leave some green at the ends of branches so there is a demand of energy. This should cause bud back. Might not be where you want it but I have always had luck with lots of new growth through out the tree and spots on trunks.

 

[RichKid]

Ficus benjamina - They don't backbud reliably. If you remove too much foliage the branch or tree may die. Also, it is very difficult to make leggy foliage compact to create some type of design.

I worked with a big Ficus b. for a number of years. In my opinion they are not good plants for bonsai for the reasons stated above. Others may have had different results. Wish I could give a good review of the species.

Varieties such as Ficus microcarpa and nerifolia/salicaria are wonderful candidates for bonsai training. Both of these are readily available.

Best,

Augustine
central MD 7a

Im not sure of the exact species. I just believe it to be some sort of ficus.

 

[daytona1911]

This is Ficus Benj,, But it looks like the dwarf variety "Too Little". They have much better leaf size and closer internodes. Still have an issue with die back if cut back too hard, exp if done during the cooler months. Also, they need to be in well drained soil as they are susceptible to root rot if kept too wet. They do wire up well and ramify a whole lot better than reg benjamina, and are two levels better than the standard fare, but still no Salicaria or microcarpa for sure.

 

[milehigh_7]

This is Ficus Benj,, But it looks like the dwarf variety "Too Little"

My thoughts as well.

 

[RichKid]

Thanks guys.