Ficus Microcarpa (gingseng)

[bonsai-novice]

I was given this ficus last year and have just reported it. As you can see it is grafted, woth only 1 of 2 grafts taking. And the rootstock subsequently putting out new shoots.

I was thinking of just leaving it to do its thing, and taking cutting from the rootstock, since they are getting quite long.

Not a clue what the roots stock is? I assume the microcarpa is referring to the grafted bits?

Is ficus easy to take cuttings from, and does it grow particularly fast? Or would it look like a stick in a pot for a long time to come

 

[jandslegate]

So, first things first, either those leaves are enormous for a microcarpa or that guy is in a very tiny pot. I think, whatever you decide to do with it, up potting it will be beneficial. A healthy specimen will take little time to fill it's container with roots.
They are fairly easy to prop through cuttings with the proper conditions (temp, humidity etc). I've had the most success outdoors in the summer. I haven't really tried once they're in for fall and winter.
A humidifier will also help, in my experience. Especially once it gets cold enough to turn on heaters in the winter as this dries the humidity out of the air and ficus love humidity.
Do some digging around online for videos. There are limitless options for what can be done with approach and fusion grafting, aerial roots and so on. The roots are as much if not more of the primary features with ficus. Likewise a lot can be done with the foliage through basic directional pruning without even having to introduce wiring. Which that too is a completely viable technique to apply.
Bonsai Empire has a great basic care guide that would probably be beneficial. All in all it's a good species to start with as they are pretty forgiving and vigorous growers as long as you meet their basic needs. Also, since they are easy to prop it gives you opportunities to get more adventurous without putting in a huge risk. I'm at work atm but I can post a few pictures when I get home. Good luck with your tree I think you will enjoy it!

 

[jandslegate]

Okay I think I was confused. I was also composing my post in between actual work things, lol. That's a pretty good sized pot isn't it? Is that a dresser behind it? If so then I was absolutely off the mark. I apologize if so. Some of the outer leaves are pretty good sized but your new shoots look good as well. And the root stock is gensing with probably microcarpa grafted. Sometimes you'll see retusa grafted as well.

Here's a picture of my 4 year old mallsai gensing ficus. It was a 15 dollar tiny tree in a container the size of a small drinking glass. As you repot you can slowly and progressively raise it up to show more root flare. So long as you have plenty of fine roots to keep below your growing medium. The pic next to it is the grafted trunk and some more aerial roots it's pushing out. The third pic minus the one in the front middle are all cuttings of various ages taken from the mallsai host, heh. The last 2 are also cuttings that I'm experimenting/learning with. The one with the little Buddha is planted on a giant rock with muck channels for roots to work their way down into the pot. The other is just a weird idea I got partially from driving through Tennessee and also from pictures of ficus trees growing in city scapes in Asia. It wasn't well thought out because those bricks weigh a lot, lol.

 

[bonsai-novice]

Okay I think I was confused. I was also composing my post in between actual work things, lol. That's a pretty good sized pot isn't it? Is that a dresser behind it? If so then I was absolutely off the mark. I apologize if so. Some of the outer leaves are pretty good sized but your new shoots look good as well. And the root stock is gensing with probably microcarpa grafted. Sometimes you'll see retusa grafted as well.

Here's a picture of my 4 year old mallsai gensing ficus. It was a 15 dollar tiny tree in a container the size of a small drinking glass. As you repot you can slowly and progressively raise it up to show more root flare. So long as you have plenty of fine roots to keep below your growing medium. The pic next to it is the grafted trunk and some more aerial roots it's pushing out. The third pic minus the one in the front middle are all cuttings of various ages taken from the mallsai host, heh. The last 2 are also cuttings that I'm experimenting/learning with. The one with the little Buddha is planted on a giant rock with muck channels for roots to work their way down into the pot. The other is just a weird idea I got partially from driving through Tennessee and also from pictures of ficus trees growing in city scapes in Asia. It wasn't well thought out because those bricks weigh a lot, lol.

Hah. Yeah that's a dresser behind it. I assume the graft is the microcarpa as it has leaves significantly smaller than the ones sprouting from the root stock.

And your trees are all looking very impressive

 

[Maiden69]

Grafts look like tiger bark. Ficus grow fast in tropical areas and places where the growing season is long. They love full sun. I wouldn't waste time doing cuttings from the rootstock, as that material is not that great looking for bonsai. Here is my tiger bark thread with more information.

Ficus Tiger Bark progression

I think I am finally going to start making threads of my trees to keep up with the progression as I rather enjoy reading the progression threads posted here by many members. I bought this ficus last July last summer discounted at Lowes. Going to try to dig up some pictures but the tree was not...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[bonsai-novice]

I am a bit unsure about taking a cutting from the grafted part as it is quite small, and it hasn't really grown at all. All the energy is clearly going into the shoots from the rootstock, which is why I was thinking of taking cuttings from there instead. But I'm not 100% sure?

Would removing some of the rootstock growth encourage the grafted section to grow more, or would it just encourage the rootstock shoots to grow more ?

 

[jandslegate]

Normally I just use cuttings from what I've pruned. It's sort of a bonus, heh. I think Maiden69 might have a more authoritative answer but if it were me I'd let the new shoots develop more before cutting and I'd probably try removing the rootstock growth if nothing else so that it isn't using energy resources. Almost like suckers on a crabapple, etc. Worst thing that would happen is more may appear in the future and you just nip those if it happens.

 

[bonsai-novice]

Thanks for the tips