New ficus clump

[amcoffeegirl]

I got this on ebay yesterday. I don't have it in my hands yet.
I don't exactly know what I'm going to do with it.

Can anyone offer styling suggestions?

I will probably just let it grow out until next spring. I may go ahead and pot it up to give it room to grow.
I think the two on the ends will need to be shortened to create more of a forest look. Also it appears to have six trunks which I would like to be seven trunks.
I will update on arrival.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Some other examples of clumps

 

[Redwood Ryan]

It looks like 1 trunk with 7 branches coming off wired to be trunk looking. It's hard to offer suggestions on a tree we don't know what it currently looks like.

 

[thams]

I looked at this same tree a few times. Honestly, I think it's begging to be a squat pig. I'd reduce all trunks to stubs to develop a leader and other low branches. It would really draw attention to the strong trunk. I know it's not the direction you were thinking, but that's my vote.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I agree with Thams. I would cut it back hard if it were my tree.

 

[KayaMooney]

Looks like It may have started as a root cutting as do a lot of F. Salicaria clumps. I'd put it into a larger training pot and pot it lower in the pot and arrange the trunks in a better form.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Something like this? Is that what you mean by one trunk longer?

 

[carp]

I would pay a decent price for that trunk.....

What I would do with it is remove all but one trunk. Allow that trunk to grow freely to build a natural taper and get away from that round look. Then build a single trunked tree once you've established a natural looking, tapering trunk. It would make a sweet mame or shohin if you did this properly. Definitely would take a few years to do, but you would increase the value of the tree x10.

 

[ericN]

Some other examples of clumps

I like the third one the best! LOL

Eric

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Is that one yours?

 

[ericN]

Is that one yours?

LOL yes.

Eric

 

[amcoffeegirl]

The tree has arrived and I kind of like it.
I already have 8-12 developing single trunked trees.
I would like to keep this one and work it into something with the multiples.
Can it work?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

A few pics

 

[sikadelic]

I would lean toward the single trunk plan like the others mentioned.

However, it is your tree and you should design it how you want. If you want to keep the clump, I would let it go for a couple of years to thicken the "trunks" so you get some taper going. Then you could cut it back hard and start developing branches. You may have a couple of them fuse near the base.

 

[ericN]

If it's my tree, I will definetly grow it as a clump. IMHO, i think its a good material for a small clump style tree.

Hope that help
Eric

 

[KennedyMarx]

I think it could be a nice little sumo banyan style. Reduce the trunks and plant it in a shallow by wide container. Crude virt:

 

[KayaMooney]

I think it could be a nice little sumo banyan style. Reduce the trunks and plant it in a shallow by wide container. Crude virt:

I think this is a good idea however I wouldn't reduce the trunks just yet. This is a root cutting and the "cut" area is still very obvious, I would just let it grow freely in a larger pot to help heal over the chop site for now.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Thanks to everyone.
I have put it in a bigger pot. It was very root bound.
I will let it grow and see if I am inspired to make any choices.
I already have a nice sumo (see my avatar)

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks to everyone.
I have put it in a bigger pot. It was very root bound.
I will let it grow and see if I am inspired to make any choices.
I already have a nice sumo (see my avatar)

I understand AND will give you yet another option here... perhaps grow it and let it grow aerial roots for a bit I like the piece and just my two cents

Grimmy

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Oh yeah- duh. Thanks.
That might help. I wasn't even thinking of that.