Uninspired

RJG2

RJG2

Omono
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Location
Southern Maine
USDA Zone
6a
This is my first ficus (from Wigert's), and I'm not feeling inspired at all. No taper. Any suggestions?

So far, the only things I can think of is the following chop (first notch halfway, then when mostly healed finish by air layering the top), or wrapping another container around the trunk and growing a ton of roots (then reassess).

At least with the first option I have one long term project that may have taper some day, and a second to play with (still without taper).

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A couple other angles:
IMG_20200831_055207.jpg

IMG_20200831_055316.jpg
 
I think you are right about lack of inspiration.

By notching do you mean to bend the trunk or to do a trunk chop in several stages? This is a ficus. I would just do the chop and put the top in as a cutting. No sense taking several years to do what could be accomplished in 1 year.
 
Shibui said:
I think you are right about lack of inspiration.

By notching do you mean to bend the trunk or to do a trunk chop in several stages? This is a ficus. I would just do the chop and put the top in as a cutting. No sense taking several years to do what could be accomplished in 1 year.
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I was thinking stages just to heal the wound faster, but I see what you're saying.
 
I would trim the lowest branches off, and grow one of the top thick branch as a new leader(cut the trunk at the angle , you would end up with quite big tree1598960488062.png
 
Keep the low branch and chop the rest , add movement to the branch ,grow and then repeat ,its a tried and true method . Basically you paid for the base and that’s where it all starts . Fertilise heavily while its growing . Like Shibui says you can take cuttings from what you chop off .
 
Or you could lay it down and make a raft? You could even split it down the middle and make two side-by-side rafts or a wide hummock.
 
Shibui said:
Like most things, you get what you pay for. I think it is OK for $25.
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Yeah, I wasn't complaining, just looking for ideas as a beginner.

Guess I'll stick with the original chop plan, and at least I'll have two to play with (well, more like 5 or 6 as I already have 3 rooted cuttings and one root cutting attempt). I do like your ideas too @Forsoothe!
 
Plenty of uninteresting pieces of material are made in to something cool, just takes some time.

Make sure in the mean time, you have plenty of other trees to keep you going.

I bought a mallsai ficus a few years ago.. highly regret it as I dont like an indoor tree. I've done NOTHING with it, its grown.... pretty much not at all. I should do something but ... I really don't care enough. But I can't bring myself to throw it away.
 
I'd allow the top to fix the base before cutting it off.

From this point, you can take a cutting and be right back at this point in one year, x8. That's 8 times the stuff waiting for the bin! Lol. I'm bout to throw mine out too. I like Benjamin better.

Sorce
 
sorce said:
I'd allow the top to fix the base before cutting it off.

From this point, you can take a cutting and be right back at this point in one year, x8. That's 8 times the stuff waiting for the bin! Lol. I'm bout to throw mine out too. I like Benjamin better.

Sorce
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Yeah, already took a few that have rooted nicely.

IMG_20200901_093304.jpg

And I see a spec of green on the root cutting.

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Inspiration in propagation!

Sorce
 
Got bored, decided to just work with what it had and wire out the bones. Chopped a bit off the end, took some more cuttings, etc.

Will probably encourage some more aerial roots to create the illusion of taper and add some interest at some point (it's been pretty humid, a few are already starting).

PXL_20210715_001607415.jpg

Original cuttings are doing okay (gave one to my nephew). Root cutting on the right. Wired them out just for fun too.

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I'm jealous of you Florida people ;)
 
RJG2 said:
Got bored, decided to just work with what it had and wire out the bones. Chopped a bit off the end, took some more cuttings, etc.

Will probably encourage some more aerial roots to create the illusion of taper and add some interest at some point (it's been pretty humid, a few are already starting).

View attachment 386531

Original cuttings are doing okay (gave one to my nephew). Root cutting on the right. Wired them out just for fun too.

View attachment 386533

I'm jealous of you Florida people ;)
Click to expand...
We were working our Ficus at the same time!
20210714_212423.jpg20210714_222238.jpg
 
What is it? It looks like a F. elastica leaf.
 
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