[Michael T] Ficus rubiginosa 'Little Ruby'

[Michael T]

Little Ruby fig (b) Ht. 23 cm.jpg

Little Ruby fig (a) Ht. 23 cm.jpg

Species name: Ficus rubiginosa var. 'Little Ruby'
Original height of stock: 23 cm
Source: Home grown from cutting
Cost: Zero

It is still a little plant grown from a cutting a year or 2 ago. The stem is very flexible and easily wired to any shape. Whether it will develop into a nice bonsai is left to be seen, depending on how it grows. The growing period in ACT is relatively short compared to warmer areas up north. Even in areas like Sydney, the growing period is longer.

[Michael T]

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The main branch is wired to give it shape. The others are left alone to see how the growth pattern goes after winter.

[DustyRusty]

Michael, I'm really interested in this cultivar, but can't find much about it. Looks like a great species! Can you tell me: is the growth rate similar to the ordinary PJ? Does it have any disadvantages compared to the PJ? Sorry to hijack your comp thread but I'm interested in getting me a ruby I think...

[Ray M]

Michael, I'm really interested in this cultivar, but can't find much about it. Looks like a great species! Can you tell me: is the growth rate similar to the ordinary PJ? Does it have any disadvantages compared to the PJ? Sorry to hijack your comp thread but I'm interested in getting me a ruby I think...

Hi Dusty,
I have been growing these for over 20 years. They are much slower than ordinary Port Jackson's. I am not aware of any problems with them. You can reduce the foliage to quite small leave by defoliating. They grow well from cuttings and will air layer very well.

I hope you don't mine me replying here Michael.

Regards Ray

[DustyRusty]

Ray, thank you! They seem like they'd be great for shohin but require some patience for bigger trees. Thanks again.

[Michael T]

Michael, I'm really interested in this cultivar, but can't find much about it. Looks like a great species! Can you tell me: is the growth rate similar to the ordinary PJ? Does it have any disadvantages compared to the PJ? Sorry to hijack your comp thread but I'm interested in getting me a ruby I think...

Hi Dusty,
I have been growing these for over 20 years. They are much slower than ordinary Port Jackson's. I am not aware of any problems with them. You can reduce the foliage to quite small leave by defoliating. They grow well from cuttings and will air layer very well.

I hope you don't mine me replying here Michael.

Regards Ray

Hi Dusty and Ray,
Thanks Ray for helping out. I agree with all that you said. In addition I wish to add that the little ruby is relatively very tough. I left 4 or 5 cuttings in a small bucket of water and roots appeared. I left them outside under cover of the carport roof over the Canberra winter and they survived the cold. I potted them in late spring and they are growing very well now.

[DustyRusty]

Thanks Michael! That is tough! Sorry to complicate your comp thread. Looking forward to what you do with this one.

Another question for you both, have either of you ever grafted a little ruby onto an ordinary PJ rootstock? Was thinking that a neat thread graft could do it and then have the energy of a PJ with the foliage of a l ruby. Sorry to be talkative, these native figs get me rather excited, and my wife is sick to death of hearing about them...

[Michael T]

Thanks Michael! That is tough! Sorry to complicate your comp thread. Looking forward to what you do with this one.

Another question for you both, have either of you ever grafted a little ruby onto an ordinary PJ rootstock? Was thinking that a neat thread graft could do it and then have the energy of a PJ with the foliage of a l ruby. Sorry to be talkative, these native figs get me rather excited, and my wife is sick to death of hearing about them...

Hi Dusty,
I haven't done any grafting of ficus, but I see no reason why this little ruby cannot be grafted successful onto PJs. They are both of the same species except on is a dwarf. With different species it could be an unknown element. Give it a try with the PJs. I am certain it will work. Figs are so tough and adaptable.

[DustyRusty]

Thanks Michael. Ray suggested the same and it got deleted with the move. I will do it once spring hits. Will do 1 PJ, 1 PJ with ruby graft and 1 straight ruby. Ill start a thread to show results. Thanks for letting me divert your comp thread, much appreciated for the info.

[Michael T]

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Spring just started and only this week we got some warm weather. Had been having cold and windy days in winter. I have pruned off some branches, but it still has to show some movement. I'll see how it goes during September. Nights are still cold in Canberra.

[Michael T]

P1080119a.jpg

The new shoots are beginning to lengthen as the weather warms up during the day although the nights are still chilly. Hopefully we'll see more improvement in the shoots in the next few weeks.

[Michael T]

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Like all figs, this 'Little Ruby' is no exception when it comes to growing in summer especially when we had a hot summer this year. In fact this is the first time Canberra has experienced such a long hot summer. This ficus obviously loved it as it has grown quite a lot. I have not exactly styled it as the branches were not long enough and there were insufficient branches for styling. I shall try to style it in the next week or so before autumn sets in. Hopefully the temperature is sufficient for it to grow a bit more before it settles down for winter. After that it will have to go into a warm area i.e. not too cold an area, but not necessarily warm. At a temperature of -4 to -6 it can just survive, but lower than that I am not too sure.

[Michael T]

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It was good that we had a hot summer, even in Canberra. This allows the figs to grow profusely and elongates the branches as well. It will grow a little more in autumn, but not much as it is getting cold at night. However I am just hoping that whatever little that will be growing, that it will harden before winter sets in. This little ruby fig can stand a temperature of minus 4-5 degree Celsius, but below that it may not be wise to leave it outside.

[Michael T]

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When I styled it in April this year as shown by the April posting, I was very happy with the structure of the design. I can see it growing into a beautiful shohin in 3 years’ time. When winter arrived, it was kept in a room behind the garage with a nice big window that allowed sunlight to get through. It did well during that time and at the end of winter, it even started to shoot forth. It was taken outside in early spring under a covered pergola to receive the warm beautiful sunshine. It did well. Then came the very cold frosty nights as usual in Canberra when temperatures dipped below 0 degree Celsius for a few nights. The new leaves shrivelled up within a few days. The plant although retarded in its growth because of the cold winter has a number of healthy leaves and I am sure it will survive to be a beautiful bonsai as I hope it will. It is an informal upright and its future outlook will be a somewhat wide-spreading canopy with a relatively short main trunk like some of the very old fig trees in national parks and gardens or in open farm areas.

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