Ficus microcarpa

[Gustavo Martins]

Bought this Ficus January 2017. It was one of those massively produced and costed 9€.

When I got home I repotted it. I got rid of all of its old soil and planted it in a larger pot with some free draining mix. While doing so I also screwed it onto a rock tile to promote some basal flare. I also took some cuttings that rooted in water (quite easy - Gave most away and kept one).

It was still cold so I left it by a window inside until it was warm enough outside. I have watered and fertilised a lot and it has since been always outside. My idea was to let it grow free to fatten up, so no trimming done. And it did, especially at the soil level (although most is still uncovered by the soil) which I think is great. It also developed inverse taper, but I don't mind. My idea is to chop it down. It's already growing strong but night temperatures are still bit chill. So my idea is to chop the trunk down in the next 2-3 weeks and maybe do a repot latter this year (August?). No idea about the design yet... Will see what it gives me.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Ah... and it's producing figs like mad. So it either thinks life is good or it's about dying...

Are these edible or poisnous?

 

[Ironbeaver]

Yellow for a possible trunk line. Blue for a layer or cutting.

 

[Beanwagon]

I think you could take advantage if that inverse taper and air layer it here.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

I thought about that too but I won't bother. The 1 yr old cutting I did is nearly as thick. These guys grow really fast.

I will try to root it once cut, but not a big problem if it fails. I want to start developing the base asap to take advantage of this growing season.

My only doubt is to whether make the cut and repot (while trimming the roots) all at the same time or separately. I think I will do the cut first in order to take advantage of the growth that may come afterwards if I leave the roots untouched. And then, later this year I will work the roots

 

[Redwood Ryan]

The top is worth working with, so I'd chop at the red line to capitalize on the thicker base from that branch and then your new tree is somewhere in the red.

Use the branch on the right (above the chop) as a sacrifice branch to help thicken the base.



*Quick phone edits*

 

[Gustavo Martins]

@Redwood Ryan

I see your point. Do you think the top will root or it would need layering?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Its a ficus.. It'll root.

I would recommend first styling the top in place and let it recover just so that it'll be more stable once you take the cutting. You can take a ton of cuttings for practice, in the meantime.

A technique I've found that is handy is to cut the top off extra low and whittle of the bark with a knife and place your future nebari very carefully for maximum taper and at your chosen angle. This leaves a long portion of wood with no bark beneath your nebari that can be used to anchor the new tree when it comes time to pot. I root mine in a jar or vase with a bunch of spaghnum moss to stabilize and help with the rooting.

Leave just enough of a stub in the pot so that on the off chance it sprouts you'll have a sumo to play with, or be fancy and graft some of your practice cutting back on to the lower trunk.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Unexpected storm just hit the Azores and...

Bam!


All done now.


And the canopy. Trying to root it... Not sure it will being this size. Potted in clay pot with scoria only and covered in a plastic bag to increase humidity levels...


Now it's just a matter of waiting...

 

[TN_Jim]

Now it's just a matter of waiting...[/QUOTE]
Damn, will that take root? Should you maybe defoliate it some or cut 2/3 off of each leaf?
<—legit curiosity questions

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Now it's just a matter of waiting...

Damn, will that take root? Should you maybe defoliate it some or cut 2/3 off of each leaf?
<—legit curiosity questions[/QUOTE]

My experience is that ficus are pretty easy to root. I've already done many cuttings to give away that I just put in scoria and all of them have rooted. Now this one is a bit larger so I'm not sure... But I believe, and hope, there's a possibility.

And yes, I forgot to mention but I did remove most of the leaves leaving only the apical ones...

 

[Carol 83]

Hell of a storm

 

[TN_Jim]

Hoping it takes too..kinda wish there was a cutting threshold thread to concepualize a curve of cutting survival pushing to thresholds...accentuating the tails of the bell.

 

[sorce]

Ah... and it's producing figs like mad. So it either thinks life is good or it's about dying...

Are these edible or poisnous?

I think the fact that these are more likely to reproduce via cuttings or layers naturally....that fruit just means crazy health.

Of course......I been doubting this whole..."last chance to live" fruiting thing across the board anyway.

Nice health!

But a planned repot after a chop is SUSPECT!

Damn! I just seen you chopped the whole thing!

Eeeee!

Sorce

 

[Gustavo Martins]

I think the fact that these are more likely to reproduce via cuttings or layers naturally....that fruit just means crazy health.

Of course......I been doubting this whole..."last chance to live" fruiting thing across the board anyway.

Nice health!

But a planned repot after a chop is SUSPECT!

Damn! I just seen you chopped the whole thing!

Eeeee!

Sorce

Planning a repot later this year if all goes well. The tree will tell
At the moment I want to use all the energy that is available to promote growth after the chop

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Updating:

The chopped trunk is starting to bud all over and pushing some growth...


What used to be the top of the tree also seems to have rooted as I see new buds everywhere.



I'm happy

 

[Clicio]

.
What used to be the top of the tree also seems to have rooted as I see new buds everywhere, I'm happy

Well done, sir!

 

[W3rk]

Updating:

The chopped trunk is starting to bud all over and pushing some growth...
View attachment 197255

What used to be the top of the tree also seems to have rooted as I see new buds everywhere.
View attachment 197256
View attachment 197257

I'm happy

Any tips on getting the cutting to root? I know out of direct sun/keep it humid (bag or plastic lid) but don't drown it. Looks like your media is inorganic for the cutting?

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Any tips on getting the cutting to root? I know out of direct sun/keep it humid (bag or plastic lid) but don't drown it. Looks like your media is inorganic for the cutting?

this is what I did. Plastic bag to cover it for about a month. Once in while (at night or overcast days) open a bit so it can "breathe". Shady position. I used scoria (lava rock) only. Water abundantly every day... That's about it... no magic tricks

 

[Gustavo Martins]

ah.... my climate (warm and humid) may also help I suppose.