Mame Contest Ice Ginseng

[Johnathan]

Okay everyone, so thanks to my loving sister and niece I came into a "Just Add Ice" Ginseng Ficus. I decided to make a more formal thread about this, just to kind of document everything over the next 3 years.

Sometime in the next week I plan on beginning the transformation of this tree into a Mame for the contest. Below is a few pictures just so everyone knows what we're up against lol a shot of the full tree, 1 from each side, 1 from underneath to show branch structure, and 1 where I'm thinking of cutting.

I intend to cut most of the tree off of the tubes, trying to do so to kind of start a nebari. After cutting I plan on applying rooting hormone, and placing it into 100% perlite, and then covering that with a 2 liter bottle with the bottom cut off (creating a homemade humidity chamber with the perlite) and placing onto the shaded side of my house. That side gets sun from sun up until about 12 or 1230.

My first 2 questions for anyone willing to help...

1. Do you think the proposed cut location (in red) is a good one?

2. Should I remove all of the leaves when planting into the perlite? Most but leave 1 or 2 on each branch?

 

[sorce]

You'll save a lot of contest time layering it.

Probly don't even have to strip the bark.

Just put a Radialdisk™ where you want roots and throw some moss on it!

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/radialayer™-a-season-saver.17046/

Mine been putting out roots above the soil just watering daily.

Sorce

 

[Johnathan]

I didn't want to clog up the @MrJeppo thread with questions about my tree, so I apologize for tagging you all lol @cbroad @sorce @Anthony

I apologize @MrJeppo for throwing your thread off kilter, but I tagged you here because I believe we have similar situations and you might be interested in what's said here. If I'm wrong and you're not, again, I apologize.

Here is my tree I've attached more pics. It's been through a helluva life so far since coming inside, but it is still growing strong. I believe if I can get it layered and then outside for for the late spring and entire summer it'll be well ready to take on the next indoor period late this fall.

 

[Johnathan]

These 2 are showing where I would attempt a layer. Cutting / carving off the bulb and attempting to get roots and a solid formed base.

Thoughts and suggestions please.

 

[cbroad]

Yeah I would do it around there, or when you make the slice, do it at an angle so when you plant the layer it comes out of the soil at an angle and already has some movement down low.

I did this with a crape myrtle that was boring and straight. I even kept the pot tilted the whole time to get a more even spread of roots with no weird jutting roots, it worked really well.

 

[Anthony]

@Johnathan,

apologies, can't offer any advice.

Process of dumping all ficus save the local willow leaf and 2 Ficus.b.
Reason, much better plants than Ficus to work with, more believable.
Good Day
Anthony