Schefflera fusion?

ABCarve · Jan 21, 2013

This was a typical schefflera house plant, 7 ft. high, long and leggy. It was given to me about 25 years ago when I started doing bonsai and was wacking everything in sight. I guess I enjoy the roots more than the foliage. There is a big hole between the two trunks on the right side. Can I go in just that one spot and treat it as an air layer, pack it full of long fiber sphagnum to get roots to fill the hole? Will they find there way down thru the tight existing roots?

Redwood Ryan · Jan 21, 2013

ABCarve said:
This was a typical schefflera house plant, 7 ft. high, long and leggy. It was given to me about 25 years ago when I started doing bonsai and was wacking everything in sight. I guess I enjoy the roots more than the foliage. There is a big hole between the two trunks on the right side. Can I go in just that one spot and treat it as an air layer, pack it full of long fiber sphagnum to get roots to fill the hole? Will they find there way down thru the tight existing roots?

Very nice tree. I'm sure you could cut to expose the cambium, dust it, then pack with moss. I'm sure the tree will throw roots all over.

As to them fusing, it's never been my experience that Scheff. fuse at all. I had a big grouping that I wrapped together to try to fuse, but after a few years gave up as they only started growing closer together, not fusing.

ABCarve · Jan 21, 2013

What about grafting the new roots into the other trunk once they get started. Maybe I'm over thinking this. Do you think the new roots will eventually fill the hole given enough time?

mat · Jan 21, 2013

That's a pretty nice looking Scheff.

I agree with Ryan that they don't fuse (like Ficus do so easily). For the same reasons, I don't know if grafting will work well. I've had some luck with roots starting from spots that have been injured, either purposefully or by accident. So, Ryan's plan of scraping, dusting and packing sounds good to me. Like with any aerial roots - humidity is key.

good luck.

rockm · Jan 21, 2013

That's one of the best schefflera bonsai I've seen in a while. Great job. Can't help with the fusion stuff. I got rid of all my tropical some time ago because I couldn't get results like this.

ABCarve · Jan 21, 2013

I think I'll just scar the hole and pack it. The moss should make the illusion there's something there....falseies.

NewWorldBonsai · Jan 21, 2013

ABCarve said:
I think I'll just scar the hole and pack it. The moss should make the illusion there's something there....falseies.

I think you've got the right idea.

Sphagnum and hormone will certainly do the trick. To get hundreds to pop like the picture it just needs super high humidity and heat.

ABCarve · Jan 22, 2013

Very cool!!! That must be the trick for the aerial stuff. Mine puts them out in the summer and I lose them in the winter. The greenhouse is too cold.

Schefflera fusion?

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