Air Layering Ficus?

ChrisM

can it be done successfully? i have little expierience with ficus and don't want to make a mistake that i will regret later. i have yet to purchase the tree because if i have no option to shorten its height then i would not want it. any advice will be helpful and appreciated.

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Travesty34

This should help : Bottom of page. Jerry's site is very helpful.

http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/info/FigPropagate.html

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ChrisM

funny thing, right after posting this i emailed jerry with the same question, lol! thanks.

chris

Jerry Meislik

Chris,
most Ficus are very easy to airlayer. Use the typical techiques and make sure the tree is actively growing.
It will take about 90-120 days to get a good root system.
Depending on the fics the bottom should sprout and give you a second tree to play with.
Jerry

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Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

thejimmyrigger

Hey Chris,
I was pondering the succes rate of a big ficus air layer myself. If your in the Danvers area, go down to Kane's Flowers on 114E. They've got some nice ficii (plural?) billowing with hundreds of little areal roots and all of them have atleast 3 inch wide trunks. The problem is the trunk is 3 feet from dirt to branch. I'm gonna be hittin' em up for one after rent day.
Jim

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Jimmyrigging is much like jerryrigging, just go a bit lighter on the duct tape and wire coat hangers, and hit said broken item more. Remember: if it isn't broke don't kick it.

Adam_MA

I have a ficus air-layer in progress right now. Actually I am getting ready to sever it here within the next week or 2. The bag has filled pretty well and is puffing up from being filled with roots. I took my time and some pictures when preparing for the air-layer and will post the process, and the results in one thread after I sever them.

I'll have to check out Kane's one of these days and see about one of those 3" trunk ficus trees!


Adam

ChrisM

3" trunks!!!! the tree i bought is about the same hieght but the trunk is only about 1 1/2". i have done the air layering and will let you know how it goes in a few months or so when it is ready to be cut from the parent tree.

chris

ChrisM

a question.... the air layering is in process for about a month now and i am getting new bud on a lot of the branches. the question i have is this, once the air layer is finished i also plan on pruning the top down to be proportional with the new height/width, can i prune the top now without effecting the air layer progress? i ask this because i am unsure if the roots that are forming will be damaged or detered by doing so, any help/advice appreciated.

chris

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A bonsai is like a good marriage.You commit, for better or for worse, till death do you part. I DO!!!

Jerry Meislik

No, do not prune until the layer is done. Any pruning will slow down the layer.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/

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Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/