Ficus retusa? Benjamina? Green Mound? Any case. Ficus.

[leatherback]

4 weeks ago I was driving across mid-Germany and a ficus dropped in the back of my car. Driving a typical European car, the tree was pushed in, pot forward. And everything that stuck out in the back was chopped off. But.. For under 100E this was a decent enough deal to take the effort. Finally a new large ficus. Picture from ebay:

 

[leatherback]

At home I spent a bit of time with a saw, hose and substrate. Off with its head. New socks.


This is how it moved into an unheated greenhouse and was brought inside over the weekend.

 

[Colorado]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Looks like microcarpa to me. Aka, retusa. I find the species to develop very quickly - my favorite ficus species. Nice find!

 

[leatherback]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Looks like microcarpa to me. Aka, retusa. I find the species to develop very quickly - my favorite ficus species. Nice find!

I think it is a retusa, with the 'green mound' variety grafted on it. I will let it recover over winter and in late spring probably remove all the grafted branches forcing it to leaf out from the trunk again. That is coarser, but in the end it will develop faster.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Yes, the trunk its regular Ficus microcarpa usually several young trees atached together and fused then grafted with "Ficus compacta" or other cultivar. "Ginseng" ficus also are produced the same, they strangle the roots to make that ugly bumps and graft the top

 

[canoeguide]

Man, that's a great chunky ficus that I'd love to have. Great find!

 

[leatherback]

4 weeks in, the plant seems to be happy enough with the abuse. It is pushing some airroots (Which, when I moved the tree inside, were covered with alu foil in an attempt to keep them growing in the dry air inside). Today:

 

[brentwood]

Any updates on this?
B

 

[leatherback]

Any updates on this?
B

Not really. It is mid-winter. No sun to speak of so nothing exciting happening. Just sitting there, slowly opening a leaf here and there.

 

[Taste]

lovely ficus. Been bit by the ficus bug myself recently.

 

[bonsaiboy60077]

Just got this one from the local bonsai club meeting in Chicago last night.

 

[leatherback]

So.. This ficus is back outside, ready for spring to pick up!



Quite happy with the development over winter!

 

[leatherback]

Thoughts I give it a haircut. Should really have used my chainsaw!

 

[Linn01]

Update on your Ficus LB?

 

[leatherback]

Ehm.. I know there sometimes is the impression one can do magic with plants, but asking for an update on a trunk chop within a week is very optimistic.
I have 1 bud showing on the trunk.

 

[Linn01]

Ehm.. I know there sometimes is the impression one can do magic with plants, but asking for an update on a trunk chop within a week is very optimistic.
I have 1 bud showing on the trunk.

oooh did not pay attention to when you posted this Jelle. My apologies

 

[Cajunrider]

Ehm.. I know there sometimes is the impression one can do magic with plants, but asking for an update on a trunk chop within a week is very optimistic.
I have 1 bud showing on the trunk.

I’ve been known for staring at my chopped trees as if I could will the buds to come out.

 

[leatherback]

I’ve been known for staring at my chopped trees as if I could will the buds to come out.

I know right!

Still at one bud. Just checked. No change compared to 3 hours ago.

 

[Linn01]

No change compared to 3 hours ago.

Damn!

 

[Backwardsvg]

Surely your magic has worked by now!? any update?