Willow Leaf Ficus

Pumice....Bag.....roots.
I cut a couple small slits in the bag.....and thoroughly watered the pumice......sprayed water into the bag....going under the lights with mama.
20200928_225202.jpg
Got 4 in there....
 
I had some issues with this tree last indoor season and this summer.

Shohin WLF Problems....advice needed please.

I was noticing over the last months....years actually....that my Willow Leaf Ficus is a slow grower. I've also noticed that it constantly sheds prefectly green leaves, as it slowly grows new ones. I pulled it out of its pot and the root growth was anemic, so I up potted it into a larger one and...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com
The root growth was very poor and it kept dropping leaves while also slowly growing....it never got bushy, it was just growing and dropping....very slowly.
After a repotting into a larger pot with larger substrate and some very careful watering and some shade in the heat of the day, via a bushy Chinese Elm bench neighbor, the tree has taken a turn for the better! Its looking like I wanted it to this summer, finally.
Just pulled it in from the rain....the remnants of Ida....been raining all day and probably tomorrow too.
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just.wing.it said:
I had some issues with this tree last indoor season and this summer.

Shohin WLF Problems....advice needed please.

I was noticing over the last months....years actually....that my Willow Leaf Ficus is a slow grower. I've also noticed that it constantly sheds prefectly green leaves, as it slowly grows new ones. I pulled it out of its pot and the root growth was anemic, so I up potted it into a larger one and...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com
The root growth was very poor and it kept dropping leaves while also slowly growing....it never got bushy, it was just growing and dropping....very slowly.
After a repotting into a larger pot with larger substrate and some very careful watering and some shade in the heat of the day, via a bushy Chinese Elm bench neighbor, the tree has taken a turn for the better! Its looking like I wanted it to this summer, finally.
Just pulled it in from the rain....the remnants of Ida....been raining all day and probably tomorrow too.
View attachment 395362View attachment 395363View attachment 395364View attachment 395365View attachment 395366View attachment 395367
Click to expand...
They usually give me a fit too. This year I put mine in a dappled sunlight area and ignored them. They did really well this year but are not as dense as full sun would provide.
We had 2 inches of rain yesterday, an inch last night and at least 2 inches today. I haven't checked the gauge.
 
just.wing.it said:
I had some issues with this tree last indoor season and this summer.

Shohin WLF Problems....advice needed please.

I was noticing over the last months....years actually....that my Willow Leaf Ficus is a slow grower. I've also noticed that it constantly sheds prefectly green leaves, as it slowly grows new ones. I pulled it out of its pot and the root growth was anemic, so I up potted it into a larger one and...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com
The root growth was very poor and it kept dropping leaves while also slowly growing....it never got bushy, it was just growing and dropping....very slowly.
After a repotting into a larger pot with larger substrate and some very careful watering and some shade in the heat of the day, via a bushy Chinese Elm bench neighbor, the tree has taken a turn for the better! Its looking like I wanted it to this summer, finally.
Just pulled it in from the rain....the remnants of Ida....been raining all day and probably tomorrow too.
View attachment 395362View attachment 395363View attachment 395364View attachment 395365View attachment 395366View attachment 395367
Click to expand...
Looks like it recovered very nicely. Mine only looks good in the summer. I kind of hate it.
 
I have some lows in the 40's (F) coming soon. Tree is growing strong still. I had some free time this evening....took advantage of it.

Leaves off. Wires on. Indoors for winter.
Some branches are too long, but good for now.
Its really starting to look like what I envisioned when I first saw this trunk.
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Carol 83 said:
Really nice base. Just curious, why defoliate? Mine self defoliates about half-way through winter.
Click to expand...
I have been doing it like this with my bougie and my other ficus for a few years. As long as they're growing strong when they come in.
I figure doing this forces the tree to push more growth upon entering the indoors, so there is no lag time the normal transition, when the tree slowly realizes its not liking the new home, and it slowly drops its leaves.
I think I can get a full set of new shoots before it "goes dormant", basically.
The new leaves are grown indoors under the lights, then I do the same thing again when I take it back out in the spring....let it grow all summer, and repeat.
Maybe even work on it again in summer like repotting...
 
just.wing.it said:
I have been doing it like this with my bougie and my other ficus for a few years. As long as they're growing strong when they come in.
I figure doing this forces the tree to push more growth upon entering the indoors, so there is no lag time the normal transition, when the tree slowly realizes its not liking the new home, and it slowly drops its leaves.
I think I can get a full set of new shoots before it "goes dormant", basically.
The new leaves are grown indoors under the lights, then I do the same thing again when I take it back out in the spring....let it grow all summer, and repeat.
Maybe even work on it again in summer like repotting...
Click to expand...
It seems to be working well for you. I may consider doing the same on my willow leaf, nothing to lose. I know it will drops it's leaves anyway..
 
awesome

brought mine inside a month and a half ago
and it has dropped some leafs

i might put a glass container over it soon or bag (thanks for idea) to get it to improve via humidity.

drops a lot of leafs which attract spider mites lol. i used some neem on half my indoor plants a month ago including this one i believe. ive had a rough go with the tropicals this season perhaps not enough use of tower fan or watering methods. bougie, hibiscus, and a few ficus looking rough but oh well


good luck with the cuttings and nice quality trees per usual by you
 
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