Ficus Differences: Willow-leaf v. the others

pootsie

G'day fellow bonsaiTALKers!

I have some experience working with a few ficus varieties: benjamina, "too little," microcarpa (and some "ficus of the future" which are not suited to bonsai, IMHO).

I acquired a willow-leaf ficus not too long ago (aka salicafolia, nerifolia, or salicaria). The willow-leaf seems to behave very differently from the varieties I'm used to.

The cuttings, I've learned, don't root in water like those I'm used to. It seems to be a lot slower in bouncing back from pruning, both root and branch. They also seem to have a greater variation in seasonal behavior, unlike the endless summer of the too-little.

Either that, or I'm killing my new tree slowly

Can anyone with knowledge of these differences tell me a little about the issue?

tanx!
pootsie

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Columbus Bonsai Society

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midwestbonsai

Pootsie,
I know that my little Salicifolia hates to be inside for any reason. Mine has lost most of its leaves durring the transition.
They also don't like to get as dry as benjamina between waterings. I have killed one because I watered it along with my other ficus.
They bounce back very quickley from being pruned in the summer, it seems that they cannot get enough sun.
Check out this article by Jim Smith
But remeber he lives in Florida and they act a little differently up here.
-Paul

Dale Cochoy

Paul,
I have quite a few nerifolia up here in Ohio that all come inside for the winter. I learned many years ago that I have the least transition problems in thefall if I bring them all in BEFORE I start heating the house. Actually, this is true of all the tropicals I have. I think this is just about as important as watching evening temps and frost. I used to really push it. No longer.
Dale

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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

midwestbonsai

Thanks Dale I shall try that this next time around.
-Paul

bmor

Hi all, FWIW, I have lots of nerif/salici/willo ficus and find them pretty easy to root in most mediums except water. Usually in early winter I take about thirty cuttings and i have about 100% success with them all taking root (i give lots away). I take them outdoors for the summer where their growth is really strong and bring them in late sept early oct and find little in terms of leaf loss. Their growth is slowed upon coming into my modest grow light system but still appreciable.

take care and good luck
b

Repotter

My Ficus Nerifolia which I have had for 17 years is a happy one and only loses a couple leaves during winter here in Michigan. However another Nerifolia that is 55 years old which I aquired in Florida and brought to Michigan has not liked the indoor Michigan treatment at all. It has defoliated each winter starting in late January and appears to be dormant for at least 8 weeks when it starts pushing new leaf buds.

These two trees are treated the same way indoors winter and outdoors summer, exactly the same but act totally different.

Hector

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Guest master Pedro Morales visit was a huge success.
Tellys Greenhouse, 3301 John R road, Troy Mi. 48083

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"Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.

pootsie

Hector:

How long have you had the fussy Floridian?

The one I got was undoubtedly raised down south, probably until early this summer.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Repotter

I have had that tree for a total of 7 years of which only two and a half years have been in Michigan.

I think that so many years in Florida has something to do with its inability to cope with the change to the reduced light and less humidity indoors. It's happy outdoors in summer.
Just a guess.

Hec

__________________
http://www.tellys.com

http://www.Fourseasonsbonsai.com
The original Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan.
Guest master Pedro Morales visit was a huge success.
Tellys Greenhouse, 3301 John R road, Troy Mi. 48083

Four Seasons Bonsai Club meetings monthly.
Troy, Michigan

"Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.

Jerry Meislik

Everybody seems to have a different idea on how to treat this plant. I too could suggest differrent ways to handle this plant.
In general I treat it the same as all Ficus, keep it warm but never too hot or cold, keep it moist but never too dyr or too soggy. In fact I call it the "Golidilocks fig" because it defolaite itself if condiition do not suit it.
It is great for bonsai once you figure out just the right way to keep it happy. PS it never defolliates completely indoors unless you have done something wrong.
It is one of the best bonsai for indoors once you learn its nature.
Good luck.
Jerry

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Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
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http://www.bonsaihunk.us/