WTB Ficus (rough bark?)

[ctwtreeman]

Hi everyone,

I recently saw pictures of this Microcarpa with a really interesting bark. The owner said he’s never seen another like it. Naturally, I wanted a cutting but because I am in the US and the seller is in the UK he doesn’t want to deal with importing.

Anyone know where I can find something like this in the states? Alternatively, does anyone have something like this they’d part with (cutting or developed). I’m very interested in acquiring something like this.

New to the forum and the hobby so apologies in advance if this is hard to follow.

 

[hemmy]

I recently saw pictures of this Microcarpa with a really interesting bark. The owner said he’s never seen another like it.

That’s wild. The platy nature is very cool. I wonder if it could be a F. microcarpa grafted on another type of focus. I certainly can’t find any images of wild rough bark F. microcarpa.

 

[Ply]

Interesting stuff.

Where did you find the picture of the tree?

 

[Ply]

wonder if it could be a F. microcarpa grafted on another type of focus. I certainly can’t find any images of wild rough bark F. microcarpa.

Same, haven't been able to find anything besides this post. Wouldn't rule out grafting. I am curious what the stock material then would be, because in general ficus tend to have either really smooth bark, more white-ish or the well known 'tiger bark'. Im not aware of any ficus with rough, brown, almost cork like bark.

 

[KateM]

I wonder if it can be achieved artificially? There is a post somewhere on this forum about trunk scarification technique for ficus. I saved a screenshot. This looks very artificial, but I guess it could be done in a more naturally looking way. Tough it is not natural for ficus in general...

 

[Ply]

I wonder if it can be achieved artificially? There is a post somewhere on this forum about trunk scarification technique for ficus. I saved a screenshot. This looks very artificial, but I guess it could be done in a more naturally looking way. Tough it is not natural for ficus in general...
View attachment 612026

That's something that crossed my mind as well. We have a fellow Bonsainut here that has also posted pictures of trunk scarring.

I don't know how I feel about trunk scarring. But it's interesting nonetheless.

We're mainly familiar with how bonsai is practiced in Japan and in the west, but in Taiwan and Southeast Asia they're taking different approaches that we're quite unfamiliar with, and its pretty interesting to be honest. Hard to get English info on it though.

Interesting channel btw, thanks for sharing.

 

[rockm]

That's something that crossed my mind as well. We have a fellow Bonsainut here that has also posted pictures of trunk scarring.

I don't know how I feel about trunk scarring. But it's interesting nonetheless.

We're mainly familiar with how bonsai is practiced in Japan and in the west, but in Taiwan and Southeast Asia they're taking different approaches that we're quite unfamiliar with, and its pretty interesting to be honest. Hard to get English info on it though.

Interesting channel btw, thanks for sharing.

Trunk scarring mostly just looks stupid. Sorry. It’s ineffective and never really works.

 

[KateM]

I don't think we are advocating for that

 

[rockm]

Fwiw. Id call and ask Wigerts if they know of such a variety and/or know where in the U.S. to get one. Wigerts, as it’s in Fla l, has thousands of ficus of many cultivars and species. CALL AND ASK A PERSON. Can’t emphasize that enough. I’m pretty sure they’ll be helpful.

Wigert’s Bonsai – Specializing in the Art of Bonsai

 

[luvinthemountains]

The owner of that tree has previously posted on FB that they had the rough bark appear spontaneously on one out of a batch of f. microcarpa they grew from seed. If you can't get a cutting from that exact tree then your only hope seems to be planting a bunch of your own seeds and hoping for a similar mutation. That seems like a one-in-a-million shot, though!