two new small ficus plants. need help!

nirib001

i just got two small ficus plants from a larger one and they are pretty twiggy. i'd say that there thick enough to just have a layer of bark on them. anyways. can anyone tell me how i make the trunks thicker on them and if in a year or so, if i prune them down, will the trunk still thicken or should I just let it grow till it gets as thick as i want it for good?

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Mortalis

Let them grow.. no touchy. Then chopy chopy.. Its been said before and I cant say it any better so in the forum search "trunk chop".

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The darkness is the light.

I won't waste my hate on you, I'll keep it for myself..

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FOX7591

I have 2 ficuses as well and i am wanting to know when the best time to defoliate is, ive done it before when i was just starting and the tree died. im still new at this so i need a lot of help.

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Mortalis

Most any ficus other than Benjamina you should be able to defoliate when its starting into a growth period. That time depends on your location if your growing under lights, just in a window or placeing it outside ect... Ficus goes into "rest" periods where there is little growth then into bursts of strong growth.. do it when it just starts to grow after a rest.
To be on the safe side you can take all but a few leaves and get a similar effect to total defoliation.

On Benjamina leave 1/4 of the leaves unless its REALLY healthy.

I keep a very close eye on mine document every new leaf and you will get to know when your ficus enters its growth periods.

__________________
The darkness is the light.

I won't waste my hate on you, I'll keep it for myself..

-=Mortalis=-

FOX7591

Thanks for ur help, ill true not to screw up next time.

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...FOX7591...

Joanie

Defoliation is useful on a tree that is already trained. When you defoliate a tree, you slow down it's growth. So if you are trying to grow the tree out, to get a bigger trunk or better branches, you should not defoliate.

Benjaminas aren't keen on having all of their leaves removed.... it's more risky than doing it on some other ficus. Other trees are much better about defoliation, such as maples.

Joanie

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Mortalis

I defoliate myself sometimes.. Thats why I am bald.

__________________
The darkness is the light.

I won't waste my hate on you, I'll keep it for myself..

-=Mortalis=-

nirib001

so if i let it grow and chop the trunk, wll it get any thicker after that?