AusBonsai

Beano wrote:

The Ficus Guy wrote:And one more:

What kind of fig is this one? Does the bark stay this nice dark colour with white spots?

Sorry the pics didn't quote. The fig in post 176

This is a microcarpa. I believe the bark does stay this color for the most part, but it may lighten and the spots become less visible, with age.

Thanks, I'll look around for some.

Two more:

Excellent Tutorial! Is there a way I can print out the pages for easy reference?

HeatherMay wrote:Excellent Tutorial! Is there a way I can print out the pages for easy reference?

Not easily
Forums are supposed to be read online rather than printed. You can Bookmark the thread so you can return again.

Ken

I decided to try this with a Mallsai pot bellied fig. I had been looking for one of those figs with the dark bark and white spots and found one in a supermarket. It didn't have the glued on rocks at least and didn't look too bad, lots of leaves.

No photos of the original tree unfortunately, but I got the two above ground ugly bulbous roots, split them and used them as cuttings. They were slow to do anything, until I eventually followed the rules and made a coke bottle glass house for them, then finally the leaf bud opened and now its sending out more leaves, and aerial roots. I did shorten one of the cuttings so the chop was flush with the new leader I had chosen.

Here is an update of one of mine after a styling today:

Beano wrote:I decided to try this with a Mallsai pot bellied fig. I had been looking for one of those figs with the dark bark and white spots and found one in a supermarket. It didn't have the glued on rocks at least and didn't look too bad, lots of leaves.

I "inherited" a Mallsai pot bellied fig that had survived on an office desk then in a kitchen for years but was dying back on one side and was given another Mallsai pot bellied fig pair (complete with glued in gravel!) over the holiday period.

I've not had figs before, (the Southern Tablelands isn't their ideal natural habitat) but the givers have faith so I feel that I have to do "something" with them. So glad that I found this thread, reading it has inspired me to give them a go.
For the moment I've potted them on, including the struggling end of the fat root on the "dead" plant that had some fine live roots, and put them in my fish tank/humid house to gain health and vigour so I can try a chop - the shock might be too much for them without a bit of TLC first.

How have yours responded, Beano?

Jan.

I did the 2nd root check today. They're both pretty much the same so I only took photos of one. The roots are doing well, though starting to cross over and tangle so I can see how you wouldn't want to leave them too long in the early stages!



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They're getting bigger. Bit slow, and got some black spots on the leaves. Thrips were sucking the life out of these for a while but I've finally gotten rid of them.



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I decided to push the November root check forward as I wasn't happy with the mix my cuttings were in and it's been lovely and warm and humid up here lately.

Nice work beano looking great!

I'm hoping they'll boom along now they're in better mix. I had to break the "don't prune the top growth rule" because when I moved up here they wouldn't fit in the car.

Great info. Thanks to the author

Hey guys, I'm really new to all this, but I am wondering if it would be okay to cut the top off one of these figs to do this method? Or does it only work for branches?





Would it be okay to cut the tops off like this? Will the initial tree still grow strong? Or does it only work for branches and less this?

Thanks guys


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