bonsairxmd
Shohin
I have a green island ficus that has dense poorly draining soil that it came in. Can I repot it this time of year if no root pruning is done?
Repotting ficus now
- Thread starter bonsairxmd
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tmmason10
Omono
I have repotted tropicals out of the normal season before, provided they are actively growing. If your ficus is indoors, and has acclimated to being inside, and you see buds or budding out than you could repot now. It really depends how it is growing and how well your aftercare will be in terms of watering, temperature, light etc.
KennedyMarx
Omono
Does it really need it, or can you wait until next spring/summer? I've reported in fall and winter. I wouldn't cut any roots, just rinse the soil off the roots and chopstick fresh soil in. If you cut any big roots you'll get a lot of leaf drop and the plant will sulk a long time.
bonsairxmd
Shohin
Not root pruning. It's pretty dense soil but I may try to wait.
edprocoat
Masterpiece
I never met a Ficus that did not like wet feet or dense soil. The more dense the soil the more aerials you will get too. They need lots of organics in the soil to thrive best. They can be grown successfully in pea gravel but get a boost from organics.
ed
ed
mat
Chumono
I have not found this to be the case. The Ficus that I have do okay in organic-heavy mixes (like the ones they are in at most nurseries), but after I repot them into a fast-draining mix they really take off.
I see a big difference when I bare-root them. Coming out of high-organic mix - the pot is mostly full of dirt with a few big roots and scraggly feeder roots. When repotting after a year or so in barely-organic mix - tons of feeder roots. I'll take a pot full of little white roots any day.
I should say that, of course, Ficus will grow in just about any condition here. Florida sand, potting soil, 100% turface, no soil at all, etc. But, I've find that mine thrive and respond better to rough bonsai training when in a fast-draining, mostly inorganic mix (about 10-20% pine bark), lots of water and heavy fertilizer.
[note: My trees are outside almost all the time. I can't speak to whether this is as effective in an indoor setting.]
tmmason10
Omono
I too, have seen explosions in health and growth after moving to a 100% organic soil. I would not recommend wet feet especially if being kept inside, as wet feet can lead to root rot.
KennedyMarx
Omono
I tried coarser (1/4"-3/8") volcanic soils for several ficus in bonsai pots. They grew so much better than using the smaller 1/8" particles like Turface and NAPA DE, which were better than the potting soil I started using in the beginning. I would just grow them out in potting soil and perlite if I could leave them outside year round in big pots, but I have to compromise because of overwintering space issues.
Don't take that as judging anyone for using any specific soils. Just giving my learning experiences. Use what works for you.
Don't take that as judging anyone for using any specific soils. Just giving my learning experiences. Use what works for you.
mat
Chumono
Sorry, got distracted and didn't comment on the original post's question.
Is the Ficus showing any signs of distress? If not, and it were mine, I'd probably just wait until Spring and then do a full-on repot. Bare-root, prune the top & bottom hard and put into bonsai soil.
If it's looking unhealthy you might want to inspect the roots and may need to gently repot now. I wouldn't do any drastic pruning until it's looking better.
Good luck! Keep us posted.
Is the Ficus showing any signs of distress? If not, and it were mine, I'd probably just wait until Spring and then do a full-on repot. Bare-root, prune the top & bottom hard and put into bonsai soil.
If it's looking unhealthy you might want to inspect the roots and may need to gently repot now. I wouldn't do any drastic pruning until it's looking better.
Good luck! Keep us posted.
carp
Chumono
In my experience in Florida, you can repot a ficus until about the begining of November. Here our chances of frost begin about the second week of November til early March.
I am still defoliating, this time of year pushes a third flush in Florida. I deoliated, repotted and root pruned a Ficus Religiosa about 3 weeks ago and its fully flushed in growth right now.
Consider poking some holes in the soil for better drainage. Or simply keep a close eye on your watering. Ficus will tolerate a lot of stress and grow in any soil as long as you water accordingly.
I am still defoliating, this time of year pushes a third flush in Florida. I deoliated, repotted and root pruned a Ficus Religiosa about 3 weeks ago and its fully flushed in growth right now.
Consider poking some holes in the soil for better drainage. Or simply keep a close eye on your watering. Ficus will tolerate a lot of stress and grow in any soil as long as you water accordingly.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I repotted one of mine (ben) about a month ago. And it is putting out new growth. It only dropped about 8 leaves.
Another. Repotted just last week. Has only dropped three old leaves, and is doing fine.
Both were in pretty bad soil with bad roots. I cut a lot of them.
16 hr lights indoors.
Sorce
Another. Repotted just last week. Has only dropped three old leaves, and is doing fine.
Both were in pretty bad soil with bad roots. I cut a lot of them.
16 hr lights indoors.
Sorce
bonsairxmd
Shohin
James H
Mame
I have a green island ficus that needs to be repotted also. I have a soil mix of pine bark/perlite/Mircle Grow Cactus soil that worked very well with my tiger bark ficus. I will wait till spring to repot, it will give me a chance to get a nice pot for it.
edprocoat
Masterpiece
So you have a problem growing Ficus in Florida with organics? I have had the opposite experience with them. Mat how did you make out with the Ficus Retusa you were asking for help with back in Sept 2013, the one with the circling root? Did you ever layer it like you were talking about, it must have great roots by now maybe you could post some pictures.
ed
mat
Chumono
I don't have problems growing Ficus in anything here. I'm just saying that they seem to do better for me in an inorganic mix.
I posted a pic in the Retusa's thread. I repotted it in August into a mostly inorganic mix. It's doing well. I expect it to have lots of roots next summer when I repot again.
I posted a pic in the Retusa's thread. I repotted it in August into a mostly inorganic mix. It's doing well. I expect it to have lots of roots next summer when I repot again.
rollwithak
Chumono
What soil did you report them in?
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Six years ago? 8822!
I used rocks and dirt for a couple years then went to Napa 8822.
I reckon.
Sorce
rollwithak
Chumono
Ha ha, well I suppose posts should delete after 6 years then if it's no longer pertinent information....
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
There's a lot of education in those "progressions".
I didn't mean to sound like a dick!
All information is pertinent so long as we ain't frrrrrrnt'n in it!
Sorce
