here are a few of my ficus benj. They are shown recently cut back and repotted.
the first has several arieal roots. the local nursery man kept these tree in relatively low light and watered them almost every other day. they where in a 100 % peat moss which was severely degraded. my new soil mix is around 80 % pea gravel and 20 percent bark
[img]https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2717/dsc03549t.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3051/dsc03550e.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7319/dsc03552r.jpg[/img]
notice the large crossing aerial roots, hoping they will melt together over time
[img]https://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3250/dsc03553v.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img832.imageshack.us/img832/2148/dsc03558r.jpg[/img]
I figured I'd try the straw method to kinda guide the aerial roots to their final position
[img]https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5661/dsc03559j.jpg[/img]
my hopes for this tree is a nice double trunk design. with a mother protecting or guarding the daughter tree. yes
[img]https://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6481/dsc03561n.jpg[/img]
this last one has the thickes trunk but is rather plain and straight.. I am atempting to use some sphagnum moss to encourage more roots into a greather nebari... perhaps I should turn the tree and employ a sever trunck chop and use the lowest branchas the new apex, then build from there
[img]https://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1685/dsc03562a.jpg[/img]
I just received some knob and concave cutters in the mail today, going to try and clean up the wounds.
design recommendations are surely welcomed!
I like what you've done. The only thing I can think of is they should grow faster outdoors semi-shaded or part sun location. Understand the TX sun can scorch the leaves, something to watchout for too.
Up here in Joysey, I give them direct morning sun and filtered sun by shade cloth until early afternoon.
Up here in Joysey, I give them direct morning sun and filtered sun by shade cloth until early afternoon.
I'm sorry, I've moved to St louie and now live in the city. alas! and apartment with a balcony is too expencive for my budget.
I've had to leave all my conifers in Texas with my parents.
but, there are so many more conifer species up here, and I cant grow any right now.. but everntually I've but a flat with a porch or a yard!!
for now, my collect consist of a few ficus and 2 scheffs.. I figure id leave my j. procumbens and 2 crape myrtles, and a few other in tex... yes they will grow faster in texas with the heat and such.
any way my apt is south facing, but on the 13th floor. I'm wondering about the pors and cons to leaving the windows open during the year when its not too cold out. it gets pretty windy and some of my plant( fern, begonias) dry out a little fast. although the ficus and scheffs seem to be just fine.
I've had to leave all my conifers in Texas with my parents.
but, there are so many more conifer species up here, and I cant grow any right now.. but everntually I've but a flat with a porch or a yard!!
for now, my collect consist of a few ficus and 2 scheffs.. I figure id leave my j. procumbens and 2 crape myrtles, and a few other in tex... yes they will grow faster in texas with the heat and such.
any way my apt is south facing, but on the 13th floor. I'm wondering about the pors and cons to leaving the windows open during the year when its not too cold out. it gets pretty windy and some of my plant( fern, begonias) dry out a little fast. although the ficus and scheffs seem to be just fine.