Giga
Masterpiece
this is true plus the inner branch are being shadded out because it's so dense.
The Royal Ficus
- Thread starter Redwood Ryan
- Start date
this is true plus the inner branch are being shadded out because it's so dense.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Oh I'm well aware Ficus do this. The new growth doesn't typically shrivel up and die though, that's not normal. I'm not going to defoliate right now, that'll come later down the road when the tree is pushing new growth.
namnhi
Masterpiece
I guess Adair haven't read this post. Slip pot without disturbance the roots into a more better drainage medium may not be the best idea. I think this is a valid point. I also agree with anyone saying this tree needs a hair cut as it no longer looks like a tree more like a shrub now. I found that with Ficus, the root ball can stay a bit more wet as well as you provide it a lot of sun and warm temp.... which is ideal now.
NN
NN
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Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Why do you think that?
namnhi
Masterpiece
We had quite a few threads here discussing around this topic. It has to do with amount of water that old (compacted root ball) and the new medium hold. Not quite sure what would be your new medium but if they are all inorganic then that will definitely be drying out a lot more than the old.
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
I think considering the time of year, you could at least do a partial repot...still plenty of summer left down there in Virginia for recovery.
I wouldn't take the current rootball and just plunk it down into a larger pot surrounded by very free-draining mix. I'd want to loosen up the current rootball first. Use a root hook or whatever tool you prefer to tease out the sides and bottom, and then aerate the rest of the root mass by poking holes with a chopstick, old screwdriver, etc to increase the drainage. Backfill with new soil.
FWIW, remember I bought 2 of the "Fred" ficuses a couple of years ago. Both were incredibly rootbound. I did a full repot on one and the other, I just unpotted, teased out the sides/bottom and reduced a bit, aerated the rest, and put it back in the same container with some new soil. It is still doing well, I haven't gotten around to the full repot yet. Root mass is very dense.
Possibly some of the leaf yellowing/dropping is related to the shipping process.
I wouldn't take the current rootball and just plunk it down into a larger pot surrounded by very free-draining mix. I'd want to loosen up the current rootball first. Use a root hook or whatever tool you prefer to tease out the sides and bottom, and then aerate the rest of the root mass by poking holes with a chopstick, old screwdriver, etc to increase the drainage. Backfill with new soil.
FWIW, remember I bought 2 of the "Fred" ficuses a couple of years ago. Both were incredibly rootbound. I did a full repot on one and the other, I just unpotted, teased out the sides/bottom and reduced a bit, aerated the rest, and put it back in the same container with some new soil. It is still doing well, I haven't gotten around to the full repot yet. Root mass is very dense.
Possibly some of the leaf yellowing/dropping is related to the shipping process.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
I looked at the tree today and I do see some new growth. I'm going to keep it moist and let it soak up the sun.
I do need to get better tools that will allow me to be more successful with repots. I don't know if I actually own a root hook...
I do need to get better tools that will allow me to be more successful with repots. I don't know if I actually own a root hook...
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
I like my root hook, but you could certainly get by with other tools (or even make your own).
Another option would be to poke some holes through the root mass and back fill with some fresh soil, without even taking the tree out of the pot.
You said you got the tree from Scott Lee, where is he located? What kind of climate? Overall, the photo gives the impression of a pretty healthy tree, so there's probably no need to rush into any kind of root work or repotting if you're not ready to do it.
Don Blackmond
Omono
You won't need any special tools. You use just about anything. A simple root hook can be made out of an old fork using pliers and a hammer. Use a sturdy fork, not some thin cheap thing. Hammer the fork flat, then use the pliers to bend the 2 outside tines to about 60 degrees and leave the 2 inside tines straight. Done.
Ficus are practically indestructible so I would not worry much about repotting and root work. You can do a full repot with aggressive root work now. Just be sure to put it in a warm spot with full sun afterwards. I would do 100% defoliation too if it was mine, but I certainly understand if you don't do that and also if you want to go conservative with repotting.
Its a good looking tree.
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
If I'm not banned, he's not banned...Too bad carp is a complete lunatic and doesn't contribute to the forum anymore, or was banned.Figure he would be helpful with something if this nature.
Kicken' trunk, but the crown is massive!! Nurse it thru the winter and cut back hard if you can bring it outside in the spring?
I miss his input as well. Taught me a few valuable lessons about ficus.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Oh believe me, I know how tough ficus are. The only reason I'm holding off on doing actual root work is because I'm looking for a pot for it. Once I find a decent pot, I'll do root work and repot it.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
That thing is already so powerful looking. ..
Don Blackmond
Omono
it looks healthy. my guess is the same as your guess; climate shock.
Craigm
Mame
Great looking Ficus @Redwood Ryan , super strong root spread. Look forward to seeing where you take it next
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Too dense.
Will most likely kill off what it cannot manage,
High density with some trees is mostly what a camera sees. Flattens the image.
Think along the lines of a juniper as shown by Adair [ Sifu ]
If we tried to grow a ficus like that for other than a week of exhibition, the tree would
kill of the branchlets.
Density by placement of leaf and branchlet, not actual branchlets like say a Zelkova.
Hope I explained that properly.
Good Day
Anthony
Will most likely kill off what it cannot manage,
High density with some trees is mostly what a camera sees. Flattens the image.
Think along the lines of a juniper as shown by Adair [ Sifu ]
If we tried to grow a ficus like that for other than a week of exhibition, the tree would
kill of the branchlets.
Density by placement of leaf and branchlet, not actual branchlets like say a Zelkova.
Hope I explained that properly.
Good Day
Anthony
Saizan
Yamadori
IMHO, even being a bit much crowded, it is an outstanding tree!
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
It is an outstanding trunk / root. Though the roots need tidying and returning to the look of the main roots.
The main roots give memory images of a great and powerful tree on grassed savannah.
But the attitude of the branches and leaves, is just a mass.
Normally when you try for first one major dome, then further subdivide into secondary domes [ see mango tree
under noon sun ] the ficus gives problems.
So the Chinese throw on a green hat. Or add a wall or something else to take up the visual slack or distract the viewing eye.
Ryan has a great deal of real discovery ahead of him. I believe he can do it.
Good Day
Anthony
The main roots give memory images of a great and powerful tree on grassed savannah.
But the attitude of the branches and leaves, is just a mass.
Normally when you try for first one major dome, then further subdivide into secondary domes [ see mango tree
under noon sun ] the ficus gives problems.
So the Chinese throw on a green hat. Or add a wall or something else to take up the visual slack or distract the viewing eye.
Ryan has a great deal of real discovery ahead of him. I believe he can do it.
Good Day
Anthony
KayaMooney
Mame
It appears that your tree is just having inner dieback on weak leaves, this is simply because the canopy is so dense and there is no definition. On an aesthetic side having pads of foliage is a nice appearance but on a purely horticulture side creating definition and pads of foliage helps to make sure that all areas of the tree (foliage) gets equal amounts of light.
I can't give you fully true advice as I have no experience growing in your area but in South Florida where I am It is very common for ficus to have mild die back and drop leaves with an extremely dense canopy, especially when it is so crowded like this one.
If this were my tree I would wait until the seasons permit me to do so and then fully defoliate, select branches (I can see many branches you don't need in the final design of the tree), wire til your hands cramp up and pot it up in a slightly larger bulb pan to rebuild.
I can't give you fully true advice as I have no experience growing in your area but in South Florida where I am It is very common for ficus to have mild die back and drop leaves with an extremely dense canopy, especially when it is so crowded like this one.
If this were my tree I would wait until the seasons permit me to do so and then fully defoliate, select branches (I can see many branches you don't need in the final design of the tree), wire til your hands cramp up and pot it up in a slightly larger bulb pan to rebuild.
eferguson1974
Chumono
Very cool tree!
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