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[IBC] Banyan style Ficus
I have a couple of Ficus trees that I'd really like to develop into banyan
style (with air roots), but for the life of me I can't seem to get any started. I've read that you can get them by 1) Keeping humidity high, 2) Keeping light low, 3) Combination of 1 & 2, 4) Feeding with Super Thrive. Now that summer is almost over here, I'm looking to set up my grow room and I'd like to optimize at least one area for the Ficus trees. I realize I'd do much better by moving to a tropical area and growing them, but let's pretend that's not a option. What can I do with a combination of outside in a very short summer and inside during the rest of the year? Any help here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jeff Isom Cleveland, OH / Sunset Zone 39 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Banyan style Ficus
Jeff,
One the trees need to be old enough to form aerials. Two, I would suggest setting up a plastic enclosed area to keep the humidity high. Open the tent every few days to keep fungal problems down, but seal it back in an hour or two. Or three, pack moistened sphagnum moss around the trunks and branches that you would like to sprout some aerials. Wrap this in plastic and keep it moist at all times. One of these two should work for you. Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/ I have a couple of Ficus trees that I'd really like to develop into banyan style (with air roots), but for the life of me I can't seem to get any started. I've read that you can get them by 1) Keeping humidity high, 2) Keeping light low, 3) Combination of 1 & 2, 4) Feeding with Super Thrive. Now that summer is almost over here, I'm looking to set up my grow room and I'd like to optimize at least one area for the Ficus trees. I realize I'd do much better by moving to a tropical area and growing them, but let's pretend that's not a option. What can I do with a combination of outside in a very short summer and inside during the rest of the year? Any help here would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jeff Isom Cleveland, OH / Sunset Zone 39 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Banyan style Ficus
Jerry,
In your suggestions on developing aerial roots for ficus you mentioned:" ...pack moistened sphagnum moss around the trunks and branches that you would like to sprout some aerials. Wrap this in plastic and keep it moist at all times." What would be a good source of plastic? Cut apart zip-lock freezer bags? Or is a small mil plastic better? Would plastic kitchen wrap be OK? Is there a better source? Also I imagine I need to wrap each branch and truck separately rather than in mass.Is thi s correct? should I wrap the trunk and each branch separately? Should the moss be "live" spag. moss? Since I am in zone 7 is this a summer project or will I also get results in the house under lights? Thanks, Randi Sharp Richmond, VA --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Banyan style Ficus
Randi,
Any plastic bag will work. I have not used kitchen wrap but a cleaners bag or any baggie would work. I wrap everything that you would like to have an aerial in sphagnum. It does not matter if you do it separately or not. Live or dried sphagnum is OK. Do not put this in the sun. Use dappled shade or in the house under lights. In 60 days or so you should see roots through the plastic. Keeping temperatures in the 60-90šs will be best. Jerry Meislik Whitefish Montana USA Zone 4-5 http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/ Jerry, In your suggestions on developing aerial roots for ficus you mentioned:" ...pack moistened sphagnum moss around the trunks and branches that you would like to sprout some aerials. Wrap this in plastic and keep it moist at all times." What would be a good source of plastic? Cut apart zip-lock freezer bags? Or is a small mil plastic better? Would plastic kitchen wrap be OK? Is there a better source? Also I imagine I need to wrap each branch and truck separately rather than in mass.Is this correct? should I wrap the trunk and each branch separately? Should the moss be "live" spag. moss? Since I am in zone 7 is this a summer project or will I also get results in the house under lights? Thanks, Randi Sharp ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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