For Ryan - a few ficus

[Anthony]

These are Ficus priminoides [ spelling?], a local ficus, found on roof tops, walls and as tall trees. Still have to find the seeds.
These were started around 2009 / 2010. and a long way to go.
Soil is just 5mm builders gravel and compost [ say 10 to 1 by volume.]
Shallow 1" pots.
Makes the new growth, much more refined. Earlier attempts ended up with everything over thick and coarse.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

This one is planted in hand rolled fired clay balls - about 8mm
Comments / questions, on all images, as you wish
Good Day
Anthony

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Looks similar to a willow leaf but longer leaves.
I like the 3 rd pic
Interesting line
Do the leaves reduce well?

 

[Anthony]

Hello Girl who loveth coffee,

probably will, but for now the focus has been to try and control the over rapid thickening of the branchlets.
Thanks for looking.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[drew33998]

Nice! He rarely shows up here anymore, but I think that is a good thing. Being college age there are a ton of other things he should be experiencing.

 

[Anthony]

Drew you missed his -like - up at the 3rd image.
Hey, he could be into Plant Biology [ Research where all the money is ]
Good Day
Anthony

 

[tinajasaltas]

Last one looks like a Ficus alii.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Last one looks like a Ficus alii.

Looks like it, but I highly doubt it is. Alii leaves can't get that small.

I like these Anthony, and I'm rather jealous. I've been collecting harder to find species and I'll have to put these on my list....

 

[wireme]

Nice clay balls. I've had a similar idea, no way of firing at the moment and already too many projects. So... Would you like to hear the idea and test it out if you like it?

Also, I wouldn't mind a refresher on the ballbearing theory you often bring up. I vaguely recall the thread, ibc I think? Do you have it saved or a link?

 

[Anthony]

Wireme [ have a real name ? ]

Wireme sounds like I am at a S and M fest - just teasing.
Sure, love to hear the, idea, fire away.
Just be aware that Brother-in -Law took took maybe 3 hours to hand roll those orange thingees - ha ha ha.

The ball bearing idea also shows up in 1989 / 1990 in the BCI magazine. The ball bearings or marbles can only touch / compact at given points. To observe just buy a bag of marbles and fill in a glass.
Gives air space. Using porous balls, gives the ability to hold moisture and fertiliser in solution in the ball.
The companies that make the hydroponic expanded clay material, may have the 5 mm size, if requested for purchase.
When you add in the compost, you get more moisture being held as well as fertiliser.

Then factor in placement, how you water, air humidity and plant needs.

Presently we have a Chlorophora t. growing in 3 mm glass balls with compost. Will show about 5 years from now.
Good Day
Anthony

**** Ryan,

Jerry Meislik [ aka Sifu ] has requested seed from the Ficus p. and the Chlorophora t. [ cousin to the Ficus , which you may also like. ]
When we find the seed of both trees.
Khaimraj can see if he can send you seed or plants.

 

[wireme]

Thanks Anthony, my name is Monte.
Wireme, yeah, dunno I'm really not the bondage type.. Signed in like that some years ago, not intending to post just to see the pics and there ya go, whatever, I live with it. Call me Monte or whatever you like, last name is Paynter.

Anyway, clay balls. I was daydreaming about homemade aggregate s before, thought about fired clay balls and also realized people like porous media. So what if you mixed the clay with sawdust first, dried and then fired? Would the sawdust burn away leaving porous balls or just break to dust? I thought of mixing it then pushing through a screen and cutting it off as it extrudes. This would give you cubes and I know you're a balls guy, ha, couldnt resist, sorry. Maybe bounce the cubes around and round the edges I guess.

Let me know if you try it, I'd like to, I have a tub of clay still frozen in the yard and a big fire pit, but not about to build a kiln anytime soon.

 

[Anthony]

Monte,

the sawdust in the clay idea will work, it was done some years ago. However you need powdered material. Try paper that has been soaked for a few days and then beaten into a fine slurry.
You can dry it down, just enough and add in dry clay powder.

However, don't fire in an electric kiln!
Will damage your elements.

Gas kiln, or if you can handle it, sustained heating in a bar-b- que [ need to reach 750 deg,C ] or a hole in the ground for primative firing.
Cubes might lock together.
Get a few friends and just roll the cubes for a test.

Ask around someone might have a simple idea for making spheres.
Or just write to - Leca
http://www.leca.ae/

They might have 5mm to 3mm spheres.

See if you can get a lb or 2 or 5 lbs for your son's experiment, at school [ firms usually give samples for a good cause.]
Good Day
Anthony