Thank you.Killer tree. Are there some tropicals that are hardier than others? For your area, when can you safely keep a tree like that outside , and do you put it in greenhouse/ indoors during winter.
Thank you.
I live in a microclimate...since winter of 2013-14 our local nursery said we should classify ourselves as a zone 4. (We once was zone 5) That said...my night temps are very unstable. I've been two stepping my trees which aren't tropical back and forth into the cold greenhouse at night. This looks to be the first time in three weeks my non tropical trees may stay out two consecutive weeks. Without dancing.
That said...my tropical come out once my night temps hit 65F. That ensures me that it's leveled off and they can stay out.
I keep all my tropical inside under grow lights until my fickle weather is more appropriate. I refuse to two step them...when they are actively growing under lights. By waiting until then, they just continue to grow once outside...nothing seems to stall.
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The little sumo guy or the beast above it? Thanks though.that really is a hell of a ficus
If you found a tree with such a good base for that price...this was far more than that number. You should have bought it. The pot came with the tree...irrelevant to me to be honest. I bought it for the sumo trunk. And I liked where it was headed. That left branch sticking out further. I liked that.very nice. passed up on similar tree and pot for $49 or $69 recently...hmm
I ended up back at that place and got it. Cleaned up a bit. They had it in some lava or red clay looking bits partially. Also nursery had it in shady spot i believe and in a greenhouse so I'll keep it outside partsun until nights drop below 50If you found a tree with bones like this...for that price tag...go back and get it. I for one would love to compare the two.
Dang...I love the bones of this tree.
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Ahhh same species. I was thinking similar in trunk structure. My bad.I ended up back at that place and got it. Cleaned up a bit. They had it in some lava or red clay looking bits partially. Also nursery had it in shady spot i believe and in a greenhouse so I'll keep it outside partsun until nights drop below 50
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thanks, was a tough call for me at $46 (random price...)Ahhh same species. I was thinking similar in trunk structure. My bad.
So...you repotted it? By your intentions of referring to cleaning it up?
Absolutely love the species...of course I've not wintered indoors yet. I know Dale Cochoy when he was alive...really tried talking me into this cultivar over a Tigerbark. Loved willow leaf he did.
If you do Facebook...Bonsai Boon or something like that. He did some dramatic root work at the ideal time on a ficus. As well as reading Adam Lavigne's blog will give you good direction...for the future as well. Best of luck to you.thanks, was a tough call for me at $46 (random price...)
(better deal i think was 5 rooted cuttings of green island ficus for $5.95 i got)
I only knew it had a fat base, because i didnt like it initially, it reminded me of roots from ginseng ficus.
but ive wanted one for the foliage and then noticed a lot of the decent ones i see as bonsai have tuberish bases
I contemplated repotting it but decided to leave it until next year. it was neglected at the nursery, not in bright area
and i used chopstick to remove old dead foliage collecting in it. sprayed it out real good with rainwater, removed a stone they had
wedged down into the soil and refilled the void with soil. i gave the pot and saucer a good screbbing and got it into some open air
part sun... hope is to have it happy going into winter and ill give it some south window/grow light treatment over the winter
your tree and pot will be an inspiration for the tree...i was happy mine has some decent branching i can reduce to in the future, etc.
but hopefully the trunk beefs up a bit and ill likelly have to root work next year too