Ficus Benjamina #32 Progression

[DonielDoom]

Another stick in a pot from the same mother as my others.

2/22/2022


10/14/2022


10/16/2022


2/7/2023 repotted into granular soil and a cheap bonsai pot


4/16/2023


12/10/2023 repotted (again?!) due to excited-inexperience. Similarly gimmicked myself into the branch bender clamp thing; don't waste your time, it hurt more than it helped. Last, just wire the tree to the pot from the bottom holes. Sometimes you've got to @#$% around and find out...

 

[DonielDoom]

Continued montage...

6/20/2024


7/1/2024 Chopped it roughly in half. I knew I wanted a significantly shorter tree, but was a bit lost in my design. After some time in limbo the decision didn't get much clearer and I eventually just went for something


8/29/2024 Because I clearly didn't do enough previously (insert sarcasm font)

 

[DonielDoom]

Continued montage...

This thread is already a testament to Ficus' toughness. I am shocked at what I have done in some cases

11/26/2024





3/15/2025 Chopped a bit of the trunk off, again

 

[DonielDoom]

End montage...

It's been outside since the end of May and is now in full sun. I plan to let it grow without insult.

I may need to set up a water tray type of system to retain moisture in summer. Something that I can set it on/in. I swear I've seen folks make a pumice and moss box to set pots into.

I see room for personal growth in my fertilization practices. I imagine that will have a fairly significant impact in health and vigor.

I welcome feedback and constructive criticism.

6/26/2025


I believe this is my preferred front, but with a change to the planting angle I could see the opposite being the front. If that were the case, the scars and uro would be the primary trunk features. I'm finding that I enjoy the somewhat less traditional styles generally, FWIW.

 

[DonielDoom]

Before/after a major chop. The intention was to set structure and/or remove much of the problematic (leggy or otherwise undesirable) growth. Some may have already seen this from my other post recently discussing pruning timing in growing season in relation to indoor overwintering.

I have ~8-10 weeks before I transition the tropicals inside to overwinter. I'm hopeful to get some healthy growth in the coming months.

 

[DonielDoom]

Here's the growth about 6 weeks later. The outdoor season is coming to a close and I'm looking ahead to the tropicals coming inside.

 

[DonielDoom]

Removed a lot of that great growth. A new front perhaps? I think I like it more than the other options at this point in time. We'll see... A bit of an angle change with it's repot next summer might do well.