My ficus retusa has been growing prolifically since I bought it this
spring. I haven't gotten around to turning it so the back gets any sun,
and on the back of the trunk it has been putting out aerial roots. They
aren't dropping from the undersides of branches, just sprouting from the
trunk. Should I cut them off or encourage them to grow?

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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My ficus retusa has been growing prolifically since I bought it this
spring. I haven't gotten around to turning it so the back gets any sun,
and on the back of the trunk it has been putting out aerial roots. They
aren't dropping from the undersides of branches, just sprouting from the
trunk. Should I cut them off or encourage them to grow?

I'd say that entirely depends on you and if you like aerial roots or not :-)

Reiner would probably tell you to rub them off immediately. Others would
tell you to get them growing :-)

What do you want to achieve?

Nicolas
http://www.bmee.net
"A community that excludes even one of its members is no community at all"
- Dan Wilkins
"You must deal with me as I think of myself" J. Hockenberry

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

My ficus retusa has been growing prolifically since I bought
it this
spring. I haven't gotten around to turning it so the back
gets any sun,
and on the back of the trunk it has been putting out aerial
roots. They
aren't dropping from the undersides of branches, just
sprouting from the
trunk. Should I cut them off or encourage them to grow?

I'd say that entirely depends on you and if you like aerial
roots or not :-)

Reiner would probably tell you to rub them off immediately.
Others would
tell you to get them growing :-)

What do you want to achieve?


And, you now know how to generate aerial roots (at least on the
trunk), so if you turn it next spring, you may get roots on the
shady side by next fall.

I've seen ficus bonsai in which these trunk-roots were coiled
around the trunk. They looked OK -- especially as the roots
gained a little girth.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - The phrase
'sustainable growth' is an oxymoron. - Stephen Viederman

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Craig,
First do you want aerial roots on your tree. Second, if you do then the
aerial roots, as with any other tree part, will need to be consistent with
your overall design for the tree. Curved trunk and branches will usually
look best with curved aerials etc. Also the number and location of the
aerials will be dictated by how full you want your design to be.
Almost any style tree can be successful with aerials.
Just some random thoughts.
Why not post a picture?
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/
My ficus retusa has been growing prolifically since I bought it this
spring. I haven't gotten around to turning it so the back gets any sun,
and on the back of the trunk it has been putting out aerial roots. They
aren't dropping from the undersides of branches, just sprouting from the
trunk. Should I cut them off or encourage them to grow?

Craig Cowing

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

Jerry Meislik wrote:

Craig,
First do you want aerial roots on your tree.

Yep. This bad boy will work out to be a banyan style tree. The way the
branches have grown out points in that direction.

Second, if you do then the
aerial roots, as with any other tree part, will need to be consistent with
your overall design for the tree. Curved trunk and branches will usually
look best with curved aerials etc.

Good suggestion. This one has a very curvy trunk. The roots aren't straight
for the most part.

Also the number and location of the
aerials will be dictated by how full you want your design to be.
Almost any style tree can be successful with aerials.
Just some random thoughts.
Why not post a picture?

I'll do so as soon as I can get my newer computer rigged up to download pics
from my camera. The older computer crashed a couple of days ago ;0{


Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++