You are right Jerry. It is much easier to get back budding on benjamina by
grafting. We used to drill a hole on the trunk and insert a thin branch in
it. It will gradually grow thicker and become the new branch. Just a safe
way of grafting.
Budi
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Meislik
To:
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 11:37 PM
Subject: [IBC] ficus benjamina


John,
Back budding on a benjamina is an iffy proposition.
Scoring the bark works sometimes.
Also allowing the tree full rampant growth and then de-budding and
defoliating the whole tree. It also helps to keep your fingers crossed.
Grafting is the surest was to get a branch where it is needed.
Culturally the benjamina is happiest in good strong light and allowed to
get
a bit dry before watering again.
Good luck.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/
For you folks in the warmer tropical climates, I have a question. Some
of our
growers of tropical bonsai here in the New England, USA area (zone 6ish)
have
asked me about inducing back budding on ficus benjamina. Seems we have
more
trouble getting plentiful budding along the branches and trunks than on,
say,
the Ficus Nerifolia which is an awesome plant for bonsai. With the
narrow
leaf ficus, we can score the bark in the spring and defoliate (before
putting
outside) and then new buds often emerge these these sites. This has
been
pretty successful. Not successful with the benjamina though. Any help
would
be appreciated (also any pertinent cultural care for this species).
thanks,
John Romano



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************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++

************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Mike Page ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++