Willow Leaf Ficus... Potential?

[canoeguide]

I'm interested to hear any feedback or thoughts on where this is headed and what it looks like.

I saw potential and got this three years ago. It was infested with scale.

I defoliated the entire thing... aided by the fact that willow leaf ficus seems to defoliate for me in winter naturally. It recovered and even grew synconia.

Eventually, I made the chop and repotted it.

This summer, it grew tiny leaves and tons of shoots after a hard prune. Why so small of leaves? I did a lot of shoot selection and put it into a pot that I think pairs well with the tree (one by Sam Miller). What are your thoughts on this tree?

 

[namnhi]

All I can say is I like the progress you have made. Very nice tree.

 

[Michael P]

A tree to be proud of! My willow leaf ficus grow similar sized leaves after hard pruning AND regrowing in full sun.

 

[Paradox]

Nice progression.
Chopping it was the best thing you could have done

 

[PowerTap]

This looks fantastic.

 

[canoeguide]

A tree to be proud of! My willow leaf ficus grow similar sized leaves after hard pruning AND regrowing in full sun.

That's what happened here too. It's good to know that!

 

[jason biggs]

the branches look nicely spaced - i think this is going to be an awesome tree...

 

[canoeguide]

This photo is from October, but it is filling in well. The goals now are to manage apical dominance, thicken the lower right and back branches, and improve secondary branching.

 

[19Mateo83]

This is a sweet little WLF, nicely done!

 

[canoeguide]

Here is a 2024 update on this one. I get good compact growth over the summer in full sun, but the branches' development will take a while. I let it get a bit bushy and gave it a big haircut.

 

[MHBonsai]

Good work taking the time building the structure! How are you overwintering?

 

[canoeguide]

Good work taking the time building the structure! How are you overwintering?

I keep this one less than a foot from a south-facing window, with no supplemental lighting. It gets through the winter but isn't lush, and development is basically paused until spring.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I keep this one less than a foot from a south-facing window, with no supplemental lighting. It gets through the winter but isn't lush, and development is basically paused until spring.

If that’s the case, why are you hard-pruning it during this time of year? I would think leaving foliage on helps keep the tree stronger through suboptimal winter conditions. I overwinter mine in about the same conditions, and it drops leaves all winter which is annoying enough to almost make the case for hard pruning.

 

[canoeguide]

If that’s the case, why are you hard-pruning it during this time of year? I would think leaving foliage on helps keep the tree stronger through suboptimal winter conditions. I overwinter mine in about the same conditions, and it drops leaves all winter which is annoying enough to almost make the case for hard pruning.

Good question, and there may be a better way than how I do it. For tropical trees like this that aren't very developed, I prune rather hard when bringing them indoors for the winter, and then when putting them back outside in the spring. The willow leaf is my only ficus that defoliates itself when coming inside for the winter, so I'm also avoiding that mess. The density of foliage achieved outdoors cannot be maintained in lower light. Also, I want more control over where the new leaves that do emerge over winter are allowed to grow. This kind of sets the tree up for the spring prune, and the real growing season.

This tree has potential and some charm, I think. But, I'm also not getting very rapid development or ramification. So, I may be doing this all wrong

 

[Michael P]

Whether to prune WL ficus when bringing in for winter is a question for me too. In the past I have not, and my trees often self-defoliate by the end of February. This year I am wondering if a good thinning would reduce defoliation during the winter.

 

[DonielDoom]

I don't have anything of refinement, so i think my experience may be a bit lackluster here. This is the first year that I've chopped hard as I transition my F. Benjaminas indoors for winter. The leading reason was for pest prevention followed by maximizing my indoor square footage. I figured it would be easier to spray fully, ensure better coverage, and leave fewer hiding places for bugs and/or eggs with less foliage. All seems to be doing well, so far.

I'm now stuck in a loop trying to think about which practice (regarding pruning timing and seasonality) would be more beneficial for my particular setup.

Great question!

 

[19Mateo83]

For the last two years I have cut back my ficus before bringing them inside for the winter. I have a 2’x4’ grow tent for them. Once they get over the initial shock of coming in they generally give me pretty good growth and I can cut them back again before they go back out in the spring. The willow leaf ones are the biggest drama queens though. They always drop leaves when they come indoors but they do eventually get with the program and start growing again.

 

[canoeguide]

The leading reason was for pest prevention followed by maximizing my indoor square footage.

Available space is another big reason I tend to cut back all of my tropicals when they come indoors for the winter. The trees get bigger; my space near south-facing windows stays the same.