bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - new growth for banyan fig and fukien tea

Hi, Laura. I'm surprised your supplier wasn't more careful in their shipping methods. If your Ficus does die, I think they owe you a free replacement.

As has been mentioned, Ficus are tough little buggers. There may be hope yet.

One suggestion. Mix a tablespoon of beer in a gallon of water, and use that as a foliar feed. Yes, beer. Some of the products in the beer are already broken down enough that the plants can use them directly: very useful when there are no leaves to produce carbohydrates.

I got this idea from Kathy Shaner, and have used it with good results. As Kathy added, you can use the last bit left in the bottle the next morning; it makes no difference to them. (No need to give them the Guiness!)

Best of luck!

8-Mar-2008	#8
treebeard55 Transplanted Jungle Rat Join Date: Aug-2007 Location: north-central IN Country: USA USDA Zone: 5b AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 230	Hi, Laura. I'm surprised your supplier wasn't more careful in their shipping methods. If your Ficus does die, I think they owe you a free replacement. As has been mentioned, Ficus are tough little buggers. There may be hope yet. One suggestion. Mix a tablespoon of beer in a gallon of water, and use that as a foliar feed. Yes, beer. Some of the products in the beer are already broken down enough that the plants can use them directly: very useful when there are no leaves to produce carbohydrates. I got this idea from Kathy Shaner, and have used it with good results. As Kathy added, you can use the last bit left in the bottle the next morning; it makes no difference to them. (No need to give them the Guiness!) Best of luck! __________________ Treebeard 55 "To do bunjin is easy. However, to do a bunjin masterpiece is difficult." -- Susumu Nakamura, at MBS '07