strangler figs

[jason biggs]

4 years in... the figs are not being as destructive as i would have thought... I'm sure in Florida's climate they would have completely swallowed the host trees by now...

 

[Michael P]

Thanks for the photos. I'm planning something similar with a dead crape myrtle stump and a ficus cutting. Is F. natalensis a true strangler in nature? I have not been able to get any of the "natural" stranglers for my project, so will try with F. microcarpa and its cultivar 'Green Island'.

 

[jason biggs]

natalensis is just a brilliant, bullet proof species to use... thoningii and burkei are the natural stranglers where i live but they just don't seem to perform in pots??

 

[Michael P]

Interesting. I was looking for one of the New World species, preferably F. citrifolia because it has smaller leaves. But no luck so far. Meanwhile I have several well-started cuttings of microcarpa.

 

[jason biggs]

an interesting comment was made on our local tree forum the other day, that figs are really just interested in getting their roots into the ground and not that concerned with killing the host tree... I am starting to think more along those lines... they all seem to be doing great living together??

 

[jason biggs]

 

[jason biggs]

 

[Michael P]

an interesting comment was made on our local tree forum the other day, that figs are really just interested in getting their roots into the ground and not that concerned with killing the host tree... I am starting to think more along those lines... they all seem to be doing great living together??

This makes sense. If the fig kills the host tree, it will eventually decay and collapse. If that happens the fig loses its ladder into the forest canopy unless its roots have become strong enough to fully support it.

 

[Dabbler]

This is pretty cool! - I've always love ficus/fig - but never have an indoor place to grow them. One day!

 

[gooeytek]

This is both very cool and disturbing at the same time. I like it.

 

[jason biggs]

basically 5 years in... i am now working at getting the fronts sorted...

 

[jason biggs]

6.5 years in and the host trees are still pushing good growth...we have had awesome rain in November (early summer) and here are a few before cutback. Still not sure what i am doing with these but am enjoying all the growing...

 

[jason biggs]

 

[Michael P]

Great progress! Did you use anything to attach the ficus roots to the host trees? My F. microcarpa is very slow to form roots over the stump. I will try some grafts or fusions with cuttings next year.

 

[jason biggs]

Great progress! Did you use anything to attach the ficus roots to the host trees? My F. microcarpa is very slow to form roots over the stump. I will try some grafts or fusions with cuttings next year.

natalensis roots seem to attach securely on their own with very little assistance...what is important (i think) is to have long roots that are buried right from the start.

 

[Michael P]

That makes sense. The cutting I used had been grown in a tube pot so had a few long roots. Those roots reached the soil when planted and have continued to grow. But the tree has refused to grow any aerial roots so the visible roots on the stump are very sparse.