Tiger Bark Ficus- Do I Need To Seal the Wound?

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

I just got this Tiger Bark Ficus from Wigert Bonsai nursery recently. I went in to do a little pruning and wiring. While I was working on it I noticed the large trunk chop wound at the top of the trunk. Upon closer inspection I started noticing the bark around the wound is kind of dark and pealing away from the core. The crevices around the top definitely look like they could hold water so I’m worried about the trunk rotting over time. Should I seal it with cut paste? If so, should I remove a bit off the top of the trunk before applying the paste?
Here are some pictures, thanks!

 

[Jorgens86]

I dont apply any paste on ficus. I notice if you use paste it starts to rott inside. When you cut ficus it heals itself with that white stuff

 

[Lorax7]

No, you don’t need cut paste on a ficus. Its sap contains natural latex, so it seals cuts on its own.

 

[Paradox]

The deadwood already looks like its degrading. It's a bad cut IMO. I would get a dremel tool and carefully carve back that deadwood stump so the live cambium on the edges can roll over it better to heal thr wound.

 

[Ply]

I've tried the no cut paste on ficus thing - didn't work for me at all. Ficus heals wounds very slowly, and that becomes even worse without it. Never had any rotting with cut paste, I have gotten die/back and rotting when not using cut paste. But I guess your milage may vary.

Might also be depended on the variety though, I've exclusively got ficus microcarpa (tiger bark).

Like @Paradox said, it's too late for either cut paste/no cut paste on this one. Cut away all the rotting wood and make it smooth, than scar the live wood to expose the cambium, and lastly apply cut paste. That would be my advice.

Try and keep your ficus dry if you can. Ficus wood rots very easily, and the wound your talking about is in a spot that accumilates water easily.

In my experience ficus also need to be quite vigourous to callous over large wounds, so letting a few shoots run might help. The one thing I dislike about ficus is their slow wound healing.

 

[Paradox]

Yea I've also used cut paste on ficus without rotting happening

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

No, you don’t need cut paste on a ficus. Its sap contains natural latex, so it seals cuts on its own.

Oh… interesting. Well that answers that, thank you!

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

I've tried the no cut paste on ficus thing - didn't work for me at all. Ficus heals wounds very slowly, and that becomes even worse without it. Never had any rotting with cut paste, I have gotten die/back and rotting when not using cut paste. But I guess your milage may vary.

Might also be depended on the variety though, I've exclusively got ficus microcarpa (tiger bark).

Like @Paradox said, it's too late for either cut paste/no cut paste on this one. Cut away all the rotting wood and make it smooth, than scar the live wood to expose the cambium, and lastly apply cut paste. That would be my advice.

Try and keep your ficus dry if you can. Ficus wood rots very easily, and the wound your talking about is in a spot that accumilates water easily.

In my experience ficus also need to be quite vigourous to callous over large wounds, so letting a few shoots run might help. The one thing I dislike about ficus is their slow wound healing.

Thanks for the detailed response I’ll give it a shot