Ficus benjamina #58 fusion trunk progression

[DonielDoom]

Starting a progression thread for one of my fusion projects. This project was started ~1.5 years ago from a handful of rooted F. benjamina cuttings.

At ~0.5 years in, I transitioned the individual rooted cuttings into a clump and wrapped them with grafting tape (Buddy Tape, to be specific). I've let them grow freely from that point on. They spent the summer of 2024 in my backyard with full sun and a raised bed (for the roots to escape). Mid-October the foliage was chopped back and escaped roots cut to overwinter inside. Sadly, I can't find much of my photo evidence of these actions.

This is a photo of a near-identical, but different, benjamina project to show the general idea. It's in a 6" nursery pot. This one's relatively the same in terms of timing and actions taken.



This is the earliest photo I can find of the originally-described project. November 2024.

 

[DonielDoom]

Late March 2025 I pruned the majority of growth and did some wiring. I also wrapped a couple small branches together, trying for more fusion but with intentional gaps. It has spent the winter under grow lights and enduring my neglect. I've also had some pest/bug issues. I'm eager to get this outside.

The rough plan is to pull the wire off as it transitions outdoors, or as it starts to bite/become problematic, and let the roots escape into a raised bed to grow freely for the summer. I am a bit conflicted on whether I want to sort the roots this year or allow at least one more year of growth. I am leaning more towards postponing rootwork to late this season or next year.

I welcome comments and criticism. I'm learning a lot through these Ficus projects and value feedback.


Close up of (two) wrapped branches


Pre trim and wire



Post trim and wire

 

[DonielDoom]

Forgot to add - the grafting tape simply ripped at some point from the trunk growth. Picture the hulk ripping his shirt, but much less action-packed

 

[DonielDoom]

This one got chopped fairly hard about 6 weeks ago. I thought I posted a before/after in this thread, but I guess not. It's getting close to the end of the outdoor growing season and I'm starting to think about the transition inside.

 

[Takahiro83]

Cool

 

[Michael P]

Trying to fuse two smaller branches solves a problem we often face: two little branches close together where we would like one larger branch. Keeping that idea in my mental tool kit.

 

[DonielDoom]

October 16 - trimmed, light inspection and detail clean, sprayed with an insecticidal soap mix, hosed down, and brought inside to overwinter.

The graft/fusion didn't take. I didn't manage or monitor it, and I believe that encouraged me to get to it too late. Seemed like the wrap got too tight on the green growth and it got crushed and died off. My confidence of the cause being user error is very high. I'll skip over my assumptions and contemplations...

No huge updates with this one. I'm a bit directionless in the design, similar to some of my other ficus projects. That may just be due to the early stage of material and my experience level. Current focus is something like this - fusion and graft success of the main trunk (trunk development), rootwork and soil media, then see where I land with the foliage growth that's available to build some branch structure. That is, unless I manage to offload it on someone more interested, haha!


Before trim


After trim

 

[Michael P]

Did you prepare the trunks of the cuttings in any way before applying the grafting tape? Did you wound them and line up the exposed cambium as might be done for an approach graft? I am thinking of two similar projects starting in 2026.

 

[DonielDoom]

Did you prepare the trunks of the cuttings in any way before applying the grafting tape? Did you wound them and line up the exposed cambium as might be done for an approach graft? I am thinking of two similar projects starting in 2026.

Not with this project - I simply bound them and leaned on the natural tendencies of the various ficus varieties that fuse themselves. With some other fusion benjamina projects I've tested out the process you describe, exposing cambium by scarring/cutting on the points of contact. Those fuse faster.

With how fast they grow and fuse without scaring I've stopped doing it. Mainly because I'm not building well designed trees from the start and it's a bit messy when you're grafting more than ~3 separate trees. I should probably use that opportunity to gain grafting experience with more correct techniques, I'm now realizing while writing this.

If (and when) I had the experience and knowledge to start a tree on the right foot for a specific design, I would very likely take the time and effort to expose the cambium of the contact points so I could get to styling more rapidly. For now it's a bit more quick and dirty.

It still works, though, so there's that. I'd estimate you could likely save a season by prepared cuttings as if they were approach grafts. But take that with a grain of salt.

Happy to expand on anything!

 

[DonielDoom]

To add, if you don't scar them, the binding material is more important. It needs to promote the growth into each other as opposed to all around. I've had better success in that route with less elastic or stretchable materials. EG: grafting tape has a stretch and will rip, zip ties or houseplant velcro tape does not.

That said, you have to be more careful to remove the rigid materials before the tree grows over them or swells on either side of the binding material. Grafting tape on the other hand just rips off with the growth.

 

[Michael P]

Thanks for the very detailed reply!

 

[DonielDoom]

You bet! Hope you share your projects when you get to them @Michael P . If I can assist in any way, I'll sure try; don't be shy.

 

[Quirkus]

Interesting to see where your project has gone. I've had this multi-trunk fusion project running since 2018.

This Ficus Benjamina was a multi-trunk purchased from Wilkinsons circa 2018. I tightened the clump with a protective wrap of cardboard and a tie wrap to pull the base together. (Seen in the bottom left corner of the window shelves image)

As of last year I was happy with the success of the base fusion, so took the time to use the upper growth to establish trunks that could taper and branch. With a total of 11 trees making up the entire fusion tree.

Over the next 5 years the main trunk should be close to fully fused, so it's now just wiring out the primary and secondary forms over the next year.

On thing I've found is that styling options need more consideration, with each branch in effect being the culmination of a single trunk, so the energy balance considerations need far more scrutiny, same with root pruning.

This one now has some growing out to do over the next season, a full repot due in 2027, and only light pruning as needed while everything puts on more girth and growth.

It's good to someone else's results starting to pay off! I've had my doubts on whether it could work with this many trees fused, but so far no issues. I guess we won't fully know until around 30 years down the line.

Anyways, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the results of a similar project as it's not a method seen often.

 

[DonielDoom]

@Quirkus thanks for the kind words and sharing. You've got a great looking project on your hands! I'm excited to see more.

I should put an update on my fusion projects, it's been a little bit.

This year I've been having more success managing my pests overwinter and am getting some better growth compared to previous. That's a win for me. Seems like winters in the past would be a solid chunk of work to just maintain. I'm seeing some good growth out of some other benjamina projects with regular spray downs (in the sink or shower with tepid/lukewarm water) and insecticidal soap sprays (castile soap diluted in water in a spray bottle).

Admittedly, this project is low-to-mid on my priority list and I haven't given it as good of care as I have capability for. Part of a larger process of thinning down my "collection" and getting more intentional about projects. I stretched myself too thin being amazed by the prolific nature of the ficus. Seems like they root the second I look away and I have a hard time tossing them at that point. I think getting more involved in my local community might create an outlet for some of those... or compost...

 

[Quirkus]

@DonielDoom
You're more than welcome. It was good to see someone else creating a "Fraken-ficus" as Nigel Saunders calls them

And I hear you on this!:

"Seems like winters in the past would be a solid chunk of work to just maintain."

That's why I switched to having 50% succulents in my collection rather than 100% trees. Cuts back on work and they still look good enough.

"Admittedly, this project is low-to-mid on my priority list and I haven't given it as good of care as I have capability for. Part of a larger process of thinning down my "collection" and getting more intentional about projects. I stretched myself too thin being amazed by the prolific nature of the ficus. Seems like they root the second I look away and I have a hard time tossing them at that point. I think getting more involved in my local community might create an outlet for some of those... or compost..."

Yeah that's how the ficus get ya! They're sneaky like that. Tonnes of innocent looking cuttings, and before you know it all your available space becomes a miniature rain forest

Good look with thinning out the hoarde! I'm sure you'll find a good home for most of them