Ficus benjamina progress

[DonovanC]

Just a progress thread.
This lady started out as a “houseplant” which consisted of several cuttings. This one was towards the center and was almost entirely shaded out. I don’t plan to chop her at any point - this is a 40 year project.

And today:

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I like the graceful trunk. Its a little thin, but graceful. Nice.

 

[DonovanC]

I like the graceful trunk. Its a little thin, but graceful. Nice.

Thanks
I’m fond of it as well. And I do look forward to seeing a bit more mass in the trunk, but I’m in no hurry.

 

[roberthu]

Nice movement. Don't see ficus this size very often cause they grow so quickly.

 

[sorce]

grow so quickly.

Amen!

I'm all for a long game, but 40 years seems to be adding wait just for the sake of wait!

20 tops!

Sorce

 

[DonovanC]

Amen!

I'm all for a long game, but 40 years seems to be adding wait just for the sake of wait!

20 tops!

Sorce

Right lol. Realistically I’m looking at my son’s graduation as a nice checkpoint - he’s 19 months old. It’s always felt like a decent point.

 

[MHBonsai]

Benjaminas grow so fast, you could have that thing 3" across in three years

Nicely done, lovely shape. You could go much smaller on the pot size to keep it reduced.

 

[DonovanC]

Benjaminas grow so fast, you could have that thing 3" across in three years

Nicely done, lovely shape. You could go much smaller on the pot size to keep it reduced.

Eventually it’ll be in a much smaller pot - it’s in this pot to grow. I do want a bit of girth before I start restricting. Unfortunately indoor space dictates that I keep it under 2’ when I bring it in, so I can’t let it grow too tall. So trunk thickness will take a bit longer.

 

[cbroad]

I’m fond of it as well. And I do look forward to seeing a bit more mass in the trunk,

Watching.

I like what you did with yours. I have one very similar, this gives me some ideas of what to do with mine!

 

[DonovanC]

Watching.

I like what you did with yours. I have one very similar, this gives me some ideas of what to do with mine!

Feel free to share it!

 

[plant_dr]

It looks so much healthier since you started! Keep doing what you're doing!

 

[cbroad]

Feel free to share it!

I've had this one at least 3 years, got it for free as a starter reject from the nursery where I used to work. This has been close to death twice, like no leaves for months but keeps coming back! It really needs a repot...

It was originally a variegated variety, but after its last near death experience normal growth took over. There's still a small branch/trunk near the base that's still variegated.

We had rain almost every day for a week or two and it started throwing tons of surface roots and a few aerials. Trying to capitalize on that, but I've broke a couple aerials trying the straw method to get them to the soil.

I'm off early today, maybe I'll try to bend mine and see what I come up with.

 

[DonovanC]

I've had this one at least 3 years, got it for free as a starter reject from the nursery where I used to work. This has been close to death twice, like no leaves for months but keeps coming back! It really needs a repot...

It was originally a variegated variety, but after its last near death experience normal growth took over. There's still a small branch/trunk near the base that's still variegated.

We had rain almost every day for a week or two and it started throwing tons of surface roots and a few aerials. Trying to capitalize on that, but I've broke a couple aerials trying the straw method to get them to the soil.

I'm off early today, maybe I'll try to bend mine and see what I come up with.

View attachment 325471
View attachment 325472

Nice
Have a plan yet? Lol if you have the space I’d keep it growing! I definitely look forward to having the space to be able to let some of my ficus trees grow tall, but sadly I have very little space and have to cut them back each fall to get them all inside.

 

[cbroad]

Have a plan yet?

Ummm.... Well it didn't turn out like I expected:




At least you inspired me to do something about it! The plastic pot wasn't strong enough to take all of the cranking I would've needed to do to get some good bends in the trunk, so I decided to chop it.

At least this way I can get some taper in the trunk, and I think the cutting has some good potential now. I'm not set on the main tree's direction yet but I'll see how it develops.

Lol if you have the space I’d keep it growing

Haha yeah I have some space although I didn't really need another tree to winter over inside... I have t5s and a 600-1150w dimmable MH/HPS to keep them growing well through the winter.

 

[DonovanC]

Ummm.... Well it didn't turn out like I expected:
View attachment 325816
View attachment 325817


At least you inspired me to do something about it! The plastic pot wasn't strong enough to take all of the cranking I would've needed to do to get some good bends in the trunk, so I decided to chop it.

At least this way I can get some taper in the trunk, and I think the cutting has some good potential now. I'm not set on the main tree's direction yet but I'll see how it develops.



Haha yeah I have some space although I didn't really need another tree to winter over inside... I have t5s and a 600-1150w dimmable MH/HPS to keep them growing well through the winter.

Hey I think it looks good! You’ll have taper and movement, plus now you have some cuttings!

 

[cbroad]

plus now you have some cuttings

Haha definitely, I did have another cutting off of it I didn't show. I think the main cutting has a lot more potential now than the main tree.

Actually it has the chance of becoming pretty nice in the future in my opinion. I personally haven't seen many benjaminas with slanting trunks, I've mostly only seen more upright forms.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

 

[DonovanC]

Haha definitely, I did have another cutting off of it I didn't show. I think the main cutting has a lot more potential now than the main tree.

Actually it has the chance of becoming pretty nice in the future in my opinion. I personally haven't seen many benjaminas with slanting trunks, I've mostly only seen more upright forms.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

That’s true I suppose, most that I’ve seen are more of an upright styling. I have a few slanted benjamina projects started - mostly shohin size.

 

[DonovanC]

I found a picture from June 15th of this year. It’s really cool to see how much change can happen over just a few months.

 

[DonovanC]

I haven’t used my camera for quite a while, so I decided to dust it off the other day.

 

[just.wing.it]

Cool tree!
I dig it!
Will def be better in a shallower pot.