$5 Yard Sale Ficus Benjamina

[Haoleboy]

Picked up today at a yard sale. Trunk and root chopped. Found a decent nebari when trimming the roots about 4" under the soil. I was quite pleased what I found. Nebari is about 8" at the widest point. Tree was about 8' when I chopped it.

 

[AZbonsai]

Wow thats nice! Good pick up. How tall now?

 

[Haoleboy]

Wow thats nice! Good pick up. How tall now?

Thank you! Maybe 12"-14" I've had Ficus die back a bit so I left it a little longer for now.

 

[AZbonsai]

What kind of container was it in?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Ouch! A trunk chop and root reduction at the same time on a Benji. Risky, but you're in Florida...

 

[Haoleboy]

About a 25 gallon decorative pot. It's in a small tote now (more like a wash tub). Maybe 16"×10×6". I reduced it quite a bit.

 

[Haoleboy]

Ouch! A trunk chop and root reduction at the same time on a Benji. Risky, but you're in Florida...

I've dug a 20 footer and reduced the roots 90% on a benji before. Never missed a beat. That was in Maui. About cried when I had to leave it behind. This will be very well cared for over the next few weeks.

 

[sorce]

This will be very well cared for over the next few weeks.

Then left to die? Lol!

Mad score!

Sorce

 

[Haoleboy]

Then left to die? Lol!

Mad score!

Sorce

Gave it away after taking care of it for 8 years.

 

[Haoleboy]

Here's a cutting I took from the tree. It's about 4" wide at the base. It's been untouched for two weeks covered with a white kitchen garbage bag in indirect sunlight. I uncovered it today to check on its progress and give it some fresh water. Seems to be doing ok. Not the prettiest. But it does have a nice base. If it survives, I'll use its branches for some approach grafts. I also have several other small cuttings that will be used for grafts as well.

 

[sorce]

It's great to see outdoor filth on a ficus trunk!

I rooted about 6 random ficus cuts this year indoors and out....
Nundembagged.

Those remaining leaves should be waxy enough to hold up.
I nun bag dem.

"Florida" .... is Latin For, Root Growth!

Or...

Nundembagged!

Sorce

 

[Haoleboy]

It's great to see outdoor filth on a ficus trunk!

I rooted about 6 random ficus cuts this year indoors and out....
Nundembagged.

Those remaining leaves should be waxy enough to hold up.
I nun bag dem.

"Florida" .... is Latin For, Root Growth!

Or...

Nundembagged!

Sorce

Is that Sorce code for I should remove the bag?

 

[sorce]

Is that Sorce code for I should remove the bag?

Half jokingly.

Is more bad than good for me.

Sorce

 

[Haoleboy]

Half jokingly.

Is more bad than good for me.

Sorce

I usually leave the bag on for a month or so on larger cuttings. Then I cut vent holes and slowly make them larger over the next couple of weeks. Seems to work really good for me.

 

[Deeej]

Any updates on this tree? I'd love to see how it's come along.

 

[Haoleboy]

Any updates on this tree? I'd love to see how it's come along.

Doing pretty good. It died back some. Removed what died back a few months ago. I took the concave cutters to it a little bit today. It's putting out aerial roots in the back and on top of the scar. I'll do a little carving when I get a chance. I'm just letting it grow for now.