Strangler Figs Ft. Desoto Park, FL.

[Haoleboy]

Visited the park last weekend and saw a few stranglers. Thought I'd take some pics and share.

 

[cockroach]

Awesome. I have tried to replicate this with a microcarpa.

 

[Haoleboy]

Awesome. I have tried to replicate this with a microcarpa.

View attachment 166402

Looks good so far.

 

[Bonsai Mike]

Stranger Things. The upside down ficus checks out.

 

[miker]

I love to see photos of Ficus aurea thriving at the northern edge of it's natural range.

I am working on a specimen, please see the bonsainut thread here.

https://bonsainut.com/threads/florida-strangler-fig-ficus-aurea.27954/

 

[Haoleboy]

I love to see photos of Ficus aurea thriving at the northern edge of it's natural range.

I am working on a specimen, please see the bonsainut thread here.

https://bonsainut.com/threads/florida-strangler-fig-ficus-aurea.27954/

I read that thread last week. Tree looks good. I know where on is off the side of the road. Think I'm going to grab it hopefully this weekend.

 

[miker]

It can be difficult to get much of the root systems, especially if you have no tools other than your hands to get the plant free of what it is clinging to, however, in favorable conditions and keeping what is left of the roots moist in sphagnum, it will regenerate roots quickly. Partially or completely exfoliating the plant can help reduce stress while this occurs.

Also, Ficus aurea is readily propagated from softwood and hardwood cuttings, so, if nothing else, just lop some small straight branch ends off the tree, cut the leaves off and place the cut end(s) in soil a couple inches deep. Rooting typically takes 1-3 months.

I don't know how well the leaves of Ficus aurea reduce for bonsai, but I guess it will be a while before the attempts I have seen get to that stage.

Florida collected material may be more adapted and thus tolerant to chill and frost than Ficus aurea material collected elsewhere. Exposure to freezing temperatures should be avoided. Winter Ficus aurea like any other ficus.

 

[Haoleboy]

It can be difficult to get much of the root systems, especially if you have no tools other than your hands to get the plant free of what it is clinging to, however, in favorable conditions and keeping what is left of the roots moist in sphagnum, it will regenerate roots quickly. Partially or completely exfoliating the plant can help reduce stress while this occurs.

Also, Ficus aurea is readily propagated from softwood and hardwood cuttings, so, if nothing else, just lop some small straight branch ends off the tree, cut the leaves off and place the cut end(s) in soil a couple inches deep. Rooting typically takes 1-3 months.

I don't know how well the leaves of Ficus aurea reduce for bonsai, but I guess it will be a while before the attempts I have seen get to that stage.

Florida collected material may be more adapted and thus tolerant to chill and frost than Ficus aurea material collected elsewhere. Exposure to freezing temperatures should be avoided. Winter Ficus aurea like any other ficus.

It's pretty small. I'll bring some tools though. I became fascinated by stranglers while living in Maui. The Charles Lindbergh grave is loaded with them. I'd never seen/noticed them until then. I took a large cutting of one in a park there. I put it under lights and it thrived. I ended up having to leave it when I moved. It was a Microcarpa or Retusa. Not really sure. I did take some cuttings of a Retusa about a month ago. They seem to be doing fine. Started them in water and once water roots appeared, I put them in soil. They have been in a small greenhouse since. With the door open of course. The donor tree had amazing aerial roots. So hoping for the same with these cuttings one day.

 

[miker]

You will have no problem rooting some cuttings I'm sure, keep us up-to-date.