AusBonsai

Found a nice Natal Fig (hope that spelling and species is correct) needs some thickening but might make something in a few years maybe. Probably plant it out for 2 years or so. Does anybody have expierience with growing this species, its my first.
Peter

has a very nice stance on it peter im sure in your hands it will come up trumps.

Very graceful movement in the trunk, I'm looking forwards to seeing progress shots of this beauty! Where did you find it?
S.

Ficus for the Temperate climate by Hoy leong Kwong on Pages 61- 132- 154-182. Ficus natalensis.
Quite a fast growing fig develop quickly , with the right techniques. Gross feeders. I do not like the upward habit of growth. Got rid of mine.

AusBonsai wrote:Very graceful movement in the trunk, I'm looking forwards to seeing progress shots of this beauty! Where did you find it?
S.

I got it at Bonsai Northside Nursery at Morayfield Steven. I am going to put it in the ground for a year or two first.
Peter

Hi Peter.
It might be better (more controlable) growing in a foam box or 1/2 44gallon drum if what Pup says abut fast growth.
Penny.

mudlarkpottery wrote:Hi Peter.
It might be better (more controlable) growing in a foam box or 1/2 44gallon drum if what Pup says abut fast growth.
Penny.

Yes maybe Penny, most figs have got a fast growth habit though. I feed mine fortnightly as well as leave a few pellets of Dynamic lifter on the surface and slow release in the mix, so all of mine grow very quickly anyway. If this species grows quicker, yipee...i will have a nicer tree sooner!
Peter

Hi Peter, A google search does not seem to bring up much info on this species and I have never worked on one. I remember that there was a good article in one of the Bonsai Today issues done by a South African guy who raved about them and had quite a few in his collection. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Jon

Jon Chown wrote:Hi Peter, A google search does not seem to bring up much info on this species and I have never worked on one. I remember that there was a good article in one of the Bonsai Today issues done by a South African guy who raved about them and had quite a few in his collection. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Jon

Thanks Jon, i havent had much time to look into them yet, thanks very much for that Jon
Regards
Peter

Speaking of diging it up, Peter, you are a glutton for punishment if you put that one in the ground.
Penny.

mudlarkpottery wrote:Speaking of diging it up, Peter, you are a glutton for punishment if you put that one in the ground.
Penny.

It hasnt got enough size in the trunk for the height of the tree and i dont want to turn it into another wee little tree....i am in no great hurry with any of my trees and i think that a few years in the ground would make for a much better proportioned tree in the long term. However i do agree with you....i am a glutton for punishment! I keep saying that i want to reduce the number of larger trees i have and increase the number of small trees.....however they BOTH keep increasing....dont figure...

I was going to buy one a few years ago and two professional bonsai growers said the same thing to me: "Be careful of them. They have a nasty habit of throwing away brances for no apparent reason."

I heeded that advice. Still don't have one.

Hector Johnson wrote:I was going to buy one a few years ago and two professional bonsai growers said the same thing to me: "Be careful of them. They have a nasty habit of throwing away brances for no apparent reason."

I heeded that advice. Still don't have one.

I looked into why they do this recently. The reason i was given is you must repot them every year or they will drop branches.
Peter

That makes sense, Peter.

Try growing it in a 45litre bag/pot on a couple of bricks. If the roots get into the ground then a sabre saw makes short work of them when it's time to repot.

PeterW wrote: I looked into why they do this recently. The reason i was given is you must repot them every year or they will drop branches.
Peter

That's not a reason, its a solution. Did they tell you why they drop if you don't repot every two years?