The Saddest looking mallsai Ficus...

[Redwood Ryan]

Hey all,



Stopped by a Home Depot today to walk around and feel sad for the poor "bonsai" they had there. Ended up seeing one, the only one, and brought it home. It was super cheap and I felt bad for it, so I thought "why not."

Due to its poor health, I walked up to a woman at customer service and asked if I could get it at a discount. "No, it's supposed to look that way at this time of year." I played dumb and just accepted it, and home we went.

Once I brought it home I realized its two main tubers are rotting, joy. So off they went, and it is now just a cutting with a total of 4 leaves.

Here's the tree:




Upon taking it out of the soil, I noticed something, there were no roots at all:


So, off went the tubers:

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Dusted the tubers with rooting hormone:



Potted it up:


And placed it into a baggie:



We'll see what happens from here....

 

[Jason_mazzy]

I have a feeling it will turn into a glorious ficus. They are tough.

 

[RichKid]

i was told they dont back bud reliably, true?

 

[october]

Nice project... I hope it works out well. It will be great to look back at the progression. Good luck!

Rob

 

[QuintinBonsai]

I have one of those ugly tuber ficuses too. Do they really root that easily from cuttings?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I have a feeling it will turn into a glorious ficus. They are tough.

Glorious I doubt, but hopefully this will create an interesting effect

i was told they dont back bud reliably, true?

What do you mean? Ficus backbud incredibly well. These ugly ginseng ones backbud just like any others (just not down low on the tubers).

Nice project... I hope it works out well. It will be great to look back at the progression. Good luck!

Rob

Thanks Rob, I sure hope so. Should be fun to see what happens.

I have one of those ugly tuber ficuses too. Do they really root that easily from cuttings?

I've never really experimented with rooting these tubers from cuttings, but I'm anxious to see what happens.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Ryan, where do you find those transparent plastic pots? I've been using clear cups for my cuttings, but it would be convenient not to have to cut drainage holes myself.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Ryan, where do you find those transparent plastic pots? I've been using clear cups for my cuttings, but it would be convenient not to have to cut drainage holes myself.

I've got a local greenhouse where I buy them. They're similar to (though probably more sturdy than) these, 25 for $26.50:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-1-2-INCH-...ers_Pots&var=570120317534&hash=item3f1dd4910b

 

[RichKid]

I have absolutely no experience with ficus, but I just picked up a few for almost free. They are developed and nice enough, could always use improvement obviously, but I wanted to reduce them just a little. I asked around and was told that whatever I cut I may regret because they either back bud or they don't. Its a risk they said. I have f. benjamina too little. I have two separate trees, and a forest planting with about 7 trees in it. They are all curling up and not looking very well, IDK if its because they moved locations or because they aren't getting enough light. Its not warm enough here for them to go outside yet but I'm hoping summer will bring a recovery. If I do reduce them, is it most likely they will fill in?

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

I rescued one of these Ginseng Ficus as well last year. It loves living in the bathroom between 2 windows and the humidity from the shower. Will the leaves reduce? If so, what's the method?

 

[KennedyMarx]

Here is a quick species guide for you guys:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Ficus.html

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Ficus benjamina can be pretty sketchy when it comes to backbudding, so that's why I'd advise against ever cutting back hard on them unless you live in the tropics.

As to leaf reduction, leaves reduce pretty well. Read everything you can on this site:
http://bonsaihunk.us/

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Not quite a week later and it's already pushing new leaves:

 

[KennedyMarx]

Nice! Ficus are borderline indestructible.

 

[october]

Well look at that.. The little tree that could..

Rob

 

[Redwood Ryan]

It's scary how this rootless thing is making a comeback....

 

[Redwood Ryan]

It's even backbudding in a couple of places

 

[Redwood Ryan]

We have roots:




So since it's on its own feet, I've unbagged it and will feed it and let it grow grow grow.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Arrived at my house with 4 leaves and no roots, and a few weeks later it's full of leaves, and well, I'm not too sure about the roots part. It feels pretty rooted whenever I tug on it, but I won't check to see what kind of roots I've got for another week or two.