Ive never worked with ficus, but couldn't you do a thread graft? A HREF="http://www.riverbendgardens.com/Japanese%20Maples.htm"Japanese
Maples/A, that is a link. the name is misleading, it is actually all about
thread grafting but on Japanese Maples. it should still be accurate when
used on ficus. Could this help?

Sam

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In a message dated 3/6/2003 7:07:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Do I need to keep pruning the tip and new leader until there is some
backbudding on a lower portion of the trunk?
You could try pruning the leader as short as possible. But, depending
upon where you live it might be early to worry about a lack of backbudding
lower on the trunk.

Or

Do I have to graft new branches at the preferred locations?
You could try that.

Any other suggestions? What is the common method of developing branches on a
Ficus?
You could try the razor blade method. Made a fairly deep cut in the
bark with a razor blade just above where you want a branch. The cut should
result in a major flow of latex.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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