Repotting Ficus: Go by season or temperature?

[Anarion]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could give advice about repotting out of season when in warm climates. I am in Southern California (Zone 10a), where day temperatures are still above 100°F in September and will not drop below 65°F night temperatures through November.

Can I repot a ficus even though early summer has passed? Would I even be able to do it during winter months, which stay warm?

 

[dancing with butterflies]

I don't know but I have a similar question I have two bonsai that badly need to go into bonsai pots and want to ask if I should wait til spring, the divi divi and bullhorn acacia. unlike you I live in zone 4 mn st paul . So I think you may have more leeway than me.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could give advice about repotting out of season when in warm climates. I am in Southern California (Zone 10a), where day temperatures are still above 100°F in September and will not drop below 65°F night temperatures through November.

Can I repot a ficus even though early summer has passed? Would I even be able to do it during winter months, which stay warm?

If your ficus is healthy and full of vigor I'd feel comfortable repotting it in your climate. I've taken a tropical class during the winter in MI, and we repotted Ficus "Too little" in a heated greenhouse, took it back home in a clear plastic bag and put it under lights with the tree in the bag for a week, and it lived. I've done it since but wouldn't recommend a winter repot, as the tree struggles even in my grow tent. They all lived...so far. good luck

I don't know but I have a similar question I have two bonsai that badly need to go into bonsai pots and want to ask if I should wait til spring, the divi divi and bullhorn acacia. unlike you I live in zone 4 mn st paul . So I think you may have more leeway than me.

Sorry I can't help you because I don't have either of those. The Acacia I did have was super sensitive so I'd wait till the hottest part of the summer to be safe.

 

[Carol 83]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could give advice about repotting out of season when in warm climates. I am in Southern California (Zone 10a), where day temperatures are still above 100°F in September and will not drop below 65°F night temperatures through November.

Can I repot a ficus even though early summer has passed? Would I even be able to do it during winter months, which stay warm?

I repot all of my tropicals in the summer when they are growing strongly but I live in Illinois. You shouldn't have any issue repotting ficus now or even later in Cali.

 

[Kievnstavick]

For my tropicals (albeit none that the both of you have mesntioned), I have been doing mid-fall repots.

My biggest reason for doing it at this time is to help with removing any unwanted guests slipping into my grow tent where conditions are ripe for an infestation. My second reason is to allow them as much unimpeded growth during our summer months before being hacked at coming in for the winter.

When the tempatures start going down to the point of taking my trees in, I give the trees a good washing. I then give it a repot (working the roots) and a major pruning to fit them into my grow tents nicely. As my grow tents maintain ideal conditions sans CO2 levels, I feel comfortable doing the aftercare required to keep them chugging along.

Now keep in mind, a grand majority of my tropicals are only 3-4 years from seed. They are still very much in the development stage which means I am being aggressive with them to get the roots sorted and get the tree's basic shape set. Sure it slows them down, but I am aiming for quality rather then speed with these tropicals.

My one refined tropical has not followed this course. I wash the plant and give the substrate a very good rinse.

I believe for tropicals, your repotting time will largely depend on your own personal goals as well as your climate.

 

[vp999]

If I live in Southern Cal I would't hesitate to repot a ficus and its probably grow all year round there.

 

[hemmy]

I am in Southern California (Zone 10a), where day temperatures are still above 100°F in September and will not drop below 65°F night temperatures through November.

Can I repot a ficus even though early summer has passed? Would I even be able to do it during winter months, which stay warm?

Daylight length is shortening, but you should be fine. Nighttime temps are key. Above 70F is better, but over 60F for a month or two should be good. It also matters how hard of a repot. You can almost flat cut some ficus if you have heat and humidity. My previous coastal SoCal 10a climate, was 73F/61F day/night. For drastic ficus repots, I would send them inland for more heat.

But I wouldn’t repot after early Sept. and when you get into winter the cool rainy season isn’t the best for ficus root recovery.

Good luck.

 

[Dabbler]

Go by growth - if it's strong and you can provide good temps then by all means any time is a good time

 

[NaoTK]

California+ Ficus is unstoppable

 

[vp999]

California+ Ficus is unstoppable
View attachment 564970

Only behind Florida+ Ficus lol.

 

[dancing with butterflies]

Yup. Too bad I can't live there ...sigh

 

[Paradox]

I always repot mine in July

 

[Gabler]

I've been repotting mine in August or early September. They grow a little bit over the winter and then really take off in the late spring. I put the pots on the ground to allow escape roots to thicken the trunk. Then, I prune in mid August, wait for the tree to put on some more growth, and repot in late August or early September. That gives my trees a month to regrow their roots before temperatures start dropping in the middle of October. I try to wait until as close to November as possible before bringing them inside. Maybe there's a better way, but my way has been working well enough to put on two inches of trunk girth on a Ficus microcarpa in two and a half years (three summers) from a cutting. Next summer, I'm switching my focus from development to refinement to make a nice small "indoor" bonsai, so my timing may change a bit.