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[IBC] Ficus in Winter
In a message dated 10/7/05 12:01:50 AM, Ethan writes:
I recently picked up a couple Ficus benjamina 'Kiki' from our local club. This person with the ultra healthy Ficus keeps them outside in Ohio until all the leaves fall off. According to him this is well into November, and you can bet these trees see frost. She then brings them in without leaves and puts them in the corner of her living room to rest until spring. It was my assumption that since they are true tropical they can grow all year long no problem. As others have surmised, the Ficus belonging to the person in Ohio are undoubtedly F. carica, the edible fig, which is a temperate species. Ficus benjamina & the other species grown for bonsai are tropicals. I bring them indoors in the fall when night temperatures go below 45 F, & put them out in May after danger of frost (at that point in Central NY, night temperatures go up pretty fast). I have found that tropical figs can stand occasional excursions into the thirties, but too much will weaken them. I visited a bonsai grower in Israel (probably Zone 9) who did not have any indoor winter facilities. He was growing F. benjamina and occasionally had frost. It did not kill the tree, but caused leaf drop & some branch dieback. See my previous message on what to do with 'Kiki' during the winter. I am impressed with this cultivar. Has anyone had real experience with it? Iris ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
In a message dated 10/7/2005 12:12:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, writes: See my previous message on what to do with 'Kiki' during the winter. I am impressed with this cultivar. Has anyone had real experience with it? Iris This is a F. Ben. clone and should be treated as such. The growth can be hard to control and frequent pruning and thinning in the growing season is required. I think it is apical dominant but being a Fb buds back well. It will develop multiple sprouts from cuts. Billy on the Florida Space Coast ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
I've got a couple of forests grown from cuttings. They are quite
easy- apically dominant, but bud back fairly well, as Craig & Billy point out. The only thing I don't like is that they grow large storage roots which need to be pruned away. I've had trouble putting my forest back together properly after root pruning them - I end up cutting away so much that there are hardly any roots left. It doesn't seem to faze the trees a bit- they are pretty tough, but it's hard to position & secure them in the pot. Jay Sinclair On Oct 7, 2005, at 9:14 AM, wrote: snip See my previous message on what to do with 'Kiki' during the winter. I am impressed with this cultivar. Has anyone had real experience with it? Iris ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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