I have a couple of ficus that I've been working on growing aerial roots on. I made them a growing case for the winter so I could maintain constant humidity, and after 2 months in the case and being misted 5+ times a day, they are finally starting to grow some aerial roots.
After all this work getting them to grow, I want to get these roots to grow down into the soil and toughen up a bit so I don't have to worry about them drying out and dying if I forget to mist them.
But, these roots have a different idea. They all want to grow upwards.
Any ideas for training these roots to grow down? I know the usual trick is to train them to grow into a straw, but that just won't work the way these roots want to grow upwards. I think they are too delicate and brittle to wire, and string would wick water away and dry them out too much.
After all this work getting them to grow, I want to get these roots to grow down into the soil and toughen up a bit so I don't have to worry about them drying out and dying if I forget to mist them.
But, these roots have a different idea. They all want to grow upwards.
Any ideas for training these roots to grow down? I know the usual trick is to train them to grow into a straw, but that just won't work the way these roots want to grow upwards. I think they are too delicate and brittle to wire, and string would wick water away and dry them out too much.