Good Day to All,
Jerry,Craig,

just an odd point to state.I had a friend leave a
ficus.b with me.About 12 years old[originally
from a cutting in my yard.]and quite large/tall.
It was potted in the quarter of a black plastic
55 gal.[US] barrel.

The lowest branch developed a single root and
I allowed it to grow.When it had reached pencil
thickness I cut off the branch,leaving 2" of the
original branch with about twenty leaves.

The branch grew and continues to grow.The tree
died - huh.
Did the heart of the tree exist in the lowest branch?
Another nail in the Ficus coffin.
[I am a staunch member of what the %$#@&^% does
anyone do with a Ficus Club - I don't hate the tree,but
they are so difficult to give tree like presence.]

Ficus I believe is the tree of the Master/Experienced
Bonsai-ist,not the beginner.Too difficult to keep
trained because of it's peculiar habits.
Khaimraj Seepersad
West Indies/Caribbean,
Full moon and dry weather !!!


-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Meislik
To:
Date: 08 December 2003 14:38
Subject: [IBC] more aerial roots on ficus


Craig,
Yes, it will ground layer. Allow it to grow strogly after pinning it into
the ground. You do not need to scar it or to use hormones but it won't
hurt.
Allow the tip to grow out of the ground for about 6-12 months. Once roots
are certain you can cut off the branch leaving the root.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/
I've got a Burt Davy ficus and it's sprouting back after defoliating
when it came indoors for the winter. I'm interested in encouraging more
aerial roots--it's got a couple that are well-developed. One shoot is
growing on the underside of a main branch, approximately in the place
where I'd like an aerial root. Is it possible to train this downward
and basically ground layer it in the pot to make an aerial root, or am I
always going to have leaves and shoots growing out of it?

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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