Early ficus development

[lackhand]

This was air layered from the tree in my front yard last fall, and has been growing quite well since then. It needs lots of branch development and help with taper, but I think it will be pretty cool in 5-10 years. For now, it's time to start directing the growth a little bit to set things up for the future.

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It has two large branches on the right, which could become an interesting feature (I've even thought about laying it over and making a raft), but it might be better to chop one off now. The branch on the left needs lots of girth, but I want to get started on an apex too. Lots of choices, so I'm hoping for some input from all you ficus pros, so I can get this one started right.

[lackhand]

Decided to take a look at the roots, and they were quite good. And just about the right size for the pot I had, so in it went. Sadly, since I was not actually planning the repot, I didn't get any photos of the roots.

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I've decided it needs a heavy chop. I'm leaning towards taking off the second heavy branch on the right, cutting the lowest branch back to about 1/3 the current length, and then chopping the main trunk around where the second heavy branch is currently. There is a back branch that could be wired up as a new leader heading towards the left. The alternative is to cut off everything above the main low branch, which would then leave a semi-cascade, or a chance to just see what comes as a new leader for the future. Thoughts? Virts?

It also has these black spots on the leaves over the past few days, any idea what's going on with that? Nothing else seems to have them, and I don't see any bugs. Looks like something fungal?

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[Bougy Fan]

Could the leaf problem be thrip Karl ? Do the leaves have lots of spots and are the leaves curling up ? I think your plan for the trunk and branches sounds good. Anyway it's a fig so it will always grow back

[lackhand]

Thanks Tony, I did some looking online about thrips and I don't think that's it. I've got these spots, but no curling at all. Here is a closer photo of an effected leaf. Some just seem to turn black and curl from the edges, and some get these spots all over them.

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I plan to hit it with some fungicide I have sitting around and see if that helps. I've already sprayed Confidor this spring. I had a hornbeam hit pretty hard by spider mites, but everything else seems to be fine, except for this ficus.

[kcpoole]

chop hard and let grow and see what you end up with:-)

Ken

[Neli]

Just one more option to consider.

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[lackhand]

Not a bad idea, Neli. Unfortunately the roots are all wrong for that right now. But maybe in the future. I think I'm going to chop it almost that low anyways, so it may end up that way depending on how it grows. Nice virt!

[Andrew Legg]

Looks like scale to me. I may be mistaken but it seems to be moving across the leaf and causing little paths. I'd whack it with a systemic insecticide if I were you.