"Large branch" scion graft (ficus benjamina)

[yamadoriboi]

May 30, 2024 I attempted to salvage my upper canopy on my ficus benjamina by grafting the branch lower on the trunk where I needed more branches. It is July 10th now and it seems that the branch has taken and is pushing full leaves. I thought this might have been a bit too large of a branch to graft but it seems to have paid off. How long should I keep the tape on? Have you seen a branch this large attempted before? Will it survive?
Also wondering when i could do the same with the other apex branch; placing it just a bit higher. Thanks for any feedback.
Cheers, Ryan

 

[leatherback]

Not sure why you are grafting; I feel the tree would have had a better start by strong pruning, to induce taper and in the process get lower budding. Your ficus might be in the need of more light to develop as a bonsai.

That being said, IF I graft, I leave the tape on untill the trees growth splits it.

 

[Shibui]

Many ficus bud easily from bare wood but benjis are known for being unreliable so I understand the try at grafting.
I have seen quite large grafts with ficus. They are known as extremely easy to graft and to fuse. I heard one club member observe that if 2 ficus are left in the same room for long enough they would end up grafted together.

Leave the tape on as long as you can stand. The graft union is generally physically weak for months, even years, after grafting. From experience, larger scions are much easier to knock or get blown out by the wind. You could remove the tape to check on progress but I'd probably tape it back or provide some other support to avoid graft union damage.

Assuming you want to graft another branch to the trunk somewhere above and probably opposite side? I'd say you could do that any time you want though probably best during active growth period.

 

[Dabbler]

That is a very weak ficus - I would give it more light before starting any work on and wait till it's healthy and pushing a lot of new growth - I use to have a few of these as with strong light(outdoors) they will readily backbud

 

[stanky]

More light and MORE humidity - it starts growing air roots.

 

[yamadoriboi]

Not sure why you are grafting

Thanks for the reply. This tree is 8 years in my care now and has lived in over 10 different homes as we travel for work. My wife has almost killed it twice. This is the first year that I've been serious about bonsai. My goal is to keep the tree interesting while still building structure. Also to learn some techniques. So that's why I'm grafting. After learning some things the tree is in better health than ever before. I'm just going big and trying to reach my final design that I've envisioned.

 

[yamadoriboi]

 

[yamadoriboi]

 

[yamadoriboi]

Quite happy with the results and I got some really nice cuttings to root. 5 ficus for some friends to start

 

[yamadoriboi]

I now have a Shohin Ficus Benjamina "Too Little". I am very pleased with how it all went down. Now I can start dreaming about the next step for my very first and favorite bonsai.
The air layer was set 2 months ago. After some research that said even large benjamina cuttings would root without airlayering, I decided it was time to pull it off. Only a few small roots have sprouted but it's winter so that's a win in my book!

 

[Vince Sartain]

I now have a Shohin Ficus Benjamina "Too Little". I am very pleased with how it all went down. Now I can start dreaming about the next step for my very first and favorite bonsai.
The air layer was set 2 months ago. After some research that said even large benjamina cuttings would root without airlayering, I decided it was time to pull it off. Only a few small roots have sprouted but it's winter so that's a win in my book!

I'm not experienced with FB"Too Little" but I can tell you that with an unknown FB cultivar I have, I would not waste my time air layering. I was able to take many cuttings 2 inches or larger in diameter and 18 inches long and just stick them in the pot beside the mother and they took off and never skipped a beat. I did make sure that each cutting had a few leaves but I'm not even sure that's necessary. Granted I am is zone 10A so that is also working for me.

 

[yamadoriboi]

Little update 3/12/25

 

[RozendaalArts]

Little update 3/12/25

Awesome work on that graft, great placement. I'm thinking of experimenting with grafting some of my spare ficus grown from cuttings, though they're much smaller than yours.

 

[yamadoriboi]

Update 7/30/2025

Continue to fill canopy on right side and achieve my dome shape.

 

[yamadoriboi]

Awesome work on that graft, great placement. I'm thinking of experimenting with grafting some of my spare ficus grown from cuttings, though they're much smaller than yours.

Thank you! It took alot of work to revitalize this guy. Think I may have end shape in sight