Ficus benjamina #55 fusion trunk progression

[DonielDoom]

Starting a thread for this fusion-trunk Ficus benjamina.

I wrapped a fat handful of rooted cuttings with velcro tape and put them into a 4" nursery pot. That got them fused enough to hold together and was starting to swell around the edges. It was removed, replaced with grafting tape (Buddy Tape brand), and repotted. You can see the pattern of the velcro in the bark in some of the pictures.

Nov 17 2023

 

[DonielDoom]

Rootwork and put into a grow box (which I later had to undo to bring inside).

May 26 2024


September 8 2024 - cut back after growing for the warm season outdoors


Here's a fun bonus image of the velcro tape as a binder on cuttings

 

[DonielDoom]

September 29 2024 - some glamour shots testing out a higher quality camera...



October 18 2024 - slip potted into a kitchen colander because I didn't want to manage untreated wood inside


July 31 2025 - it's in the middle of the rack there. Not the best photo for it, but it does show the rack it's on in the summer.


August 7 2025 - unrestrained growth, no management


August 8 2025 - cut hard with hopes of growth inward to increase the selection for a base branch structure. Ideally I should've done some of this earlier

 

[DonielDoom]

September 20 2025 - Not sure if I should be proud or grimacing about the moss carpet and liverwort haha!

 

[DonielDoom]

September 25 2025 - cut back to a rough branch structure, leaving a bit more than needed. This and the other tropicals will come indoors to overwinter under lights soon. Seems like I got into mid-October last year before nights got cold.