Ficus rubiginosa - Whats a good mix

[archie1979]

Hey everyone,
I was just wondering what all the experts on here use to get some size in there figs.
I was thinking of throwing mine into a grow box for a season with a mix of diatomite, some organic bonsai mix, some scoria. Once all this is mixed in and potted I am wondering on a fertilizing or feeding schedule to really get this thing going. Its quite an old fig and has never had any attention now is time to turn it into a masterpiece.

Any info or help would be great, I have read Leong's book on Ficus in the temperate zone and have got some great info out of it. I went and bought this last week from Bonsai South and met him, what a nice bloke.

Anyway help me get my fig massive and I will post a progression series on here, lets see what we can come up with.

Archie

[Regan]

Straight diatomite mate, they love it

[Jamie]

gday mate

good stuff on getting into figs!! i love em, got a pic orr two for us? as for your mix all good, only thing is i wouldnt bother with the scoria, the diatomite with some organic will be excellent for drainage yet retentative for feeding, my grow on trees get fed all year round but i got pretty much a whole year round grow season too. and my cool period is pretty much over so we are back onto growing, my feed regime is every 5 days powerfeed or miracle gro, every 7 days seasol and a dash of superthrive, and it has slow release in the mix and dynamic lifter on top, it has worked a treat for me, i water every day aswell.

jamie

[archie1979]

Wow sounds like they get alot of food. I think I will have to get together a little shopping list for my fig

[Jamie]

yea i pump in the food mate, it is a balance i have worked out that they love up here, you will have to play with yours to find the right mix

dont step it up in one go either, do it slowly over a period of time letting the days get a bit closer. this is what i done, i stepped mine up over a period of 5-6 weeks.

[archie1979]

Thanks for the info Jamie,
I luv this forum so much info on here and its great to meet people that are willing to help.

Archie

[Jamie]

my pleasure mate now lets see some pics!!

[archie1979]

Hey again,
Sorry no pictures tonight I will post em tomorrow once I've sorted out my grow box

[Mojo Moyogi]

Archie, a bit of advice. Don't put a one year time frame on it, use a desired level of quality as deadline on the tree. Grow the tree like this until you are happy with the result.

For figs I have been using 50% of 2-7mm diatomite, 25% of 1/4 minus and 25% of 5mm scoria. Growing them in sieves or aquatic baskets works well and you can easily go straight into a bonsai pot afterwards. Lots of water, weekly doses of Charlie Carp and Dynamic Lifter. Chop, wire, grow, chop, wire, grow. Once you are satisfied with the trunk, back off the feed and use Dynamic Lifter only and continually remove the largest leaves as you build branches.

Enjoy the journey.

Cheers
Mojo Moyogi

[dayne]

this time of year im about to try a balanced fert but add a cap full of liquid potash this will up the p and k which will put on the massive growth as trres in autumn will fattern and store energy to make it through the winter

[archie1979]

Okay here are my efforts at this stage.

New very large round growing pot.

IMG00003-20100426-1628.jpg

Fig placed into the new mix awaiting a little bit of a trunk chop.

IMG00006-20100426-1638.jpg

Now to the Virtuals

Now this is my first stage plan for this fat fig.

Ficus-PJ-Tein-Trunk.jpg

Not too sure about this one maybe a twin trunk style but who knows it might work, they are all just trials so far.

Ficus-PJ-single-trunk.jpg

Single trunk I think this one is my favorite.

Now Im not too sure which I will pick as the new leader.

possibilities ??

Fig-New-leaders.jpg

Please feel free to comment on my progress, I am looking at turning this into somethin special.

like this

Insperation fig.jpg

Go Ausbonsai I luv this place