Cut branch of a Ficus Benjamina will it survive?

23-Nov-2004	#1
HarryZaragoza bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Nov-2004 Country: Philippines Posts: 43	Cut branch of a Ficus Benjamina will it survive? HI Im just wonderin I saw a man cut the branches of the big tree ficus benjamina..so i get some of the branches (from 2 to 3 inches thick) and carried it home trying to make a new plant out of the branches they've cut.....I just cut them into 10 to 12 inches then plant them into the soil with mix decomposed rice skin(dontknow whats the name of it but all the nurseries here in the philippines are using it and they grow healthy) then i watered it and left it in the shade.... will it grow its new root...or do i have to put some root hormones in the branches first before i planted it.....hope some one could help me on this... Thanks

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23-Nov-2004	#2
Paul Phillis bonsaiTALK Craftsman Join Date: Nov-2004 Location: Rural NSW Country: Australia USDA Zone: medit. AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 50	Harry I've not done any benjamina cuttings, but it wouldn't surprise me if they throw out roots. You can optimise your chances by covering the cuttings with plastic and keeping them in the shade. Rice hulls kept moist would probably be OK for a potting mix, but regiular bonsai mix would also suffice. It is important to keep it moist but not wet. Rooting hormone may assist with root stricking but fig as a species is generally fairly easy to root. Keep it in the shade. Mist with hand spray once or twice a day. Wait for several months before giving up. Cheers Paul

23-Nov-2004	#3
HarryZaragoza bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Nov-2004 Country: Philippines Posts: 43	Thanks Paul.....I'll just do what you've said....I hope that it will grow some roots cause I know some how i could make a fig bonsai with a thicker trunk ... i potted 6 pcs of branches i hope that atleast 1 would have roots..... Thanks again....

23-Nov-2004	#4
pootsie The Cat's Apprentice *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: May-2004 Location: Columbus o-HI-o Country: USofA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 3,065	If you cover them with plastic (which is a good idea as Paul recommends), just make sure that you don't get mold. Let air circulate in there every day. pootsie __________________ p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master. Columbus Bonsai Society

23-Nov-2004

RonMartin(deceased)

Bonsai nare-do-well

Join Date: Jan-2003

Location: Summerville SC

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 8A

AHS Heat Zone: 8

Posts: 4,653

Quote:

Originally Posted by pootsie

If you cover them with plastic (which is a good idea as Paul recommends), just make sure that you don't get mold. Let air circulate in there every day.

pootsie

Slow up here a bit.
The reason to cover the cuttings up with plastic is to help keep the humidity level up. Harry lives in the Philippines. Trust me he will no have any problem at all with the humidity level there. It is always high ;o) If he raises it at all fungus will be a major problem.
Shade is a good idea and the rooting hormone is also a good idea. Keeping the cuttings in the shade is also a great idea. An occasional misting of the leaves will also help.
The growing conditions for ficus are just about as perfect as one can get. I wouldn't be surprised if some, maybe all, of his cuttings survive. The only thing working against him is the size of the cuttings. Smaller would have been better. Branches as big as he is talking about are usually best done by air-layering.

23-Nov-2004	#6
RonMartin(deceased) Bonsai nare-do-well Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Summerville SC Country: USA USDA Zone: 8A AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 4,653	Just went back and re-read my last post. Kind of sounded like a snooty response. It wasn't. Just could have been put a bit better. Sorry, next time I will try to do better

24-Nov-2004	#7
HarryZaragoza bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Nov-2004 Country: Philippines Posts: 43	by the way how will i use root hormone? should use it like a watering a plant..or i should dip the trunk into it before planting it?

24-Nov-2004	#8
Paul Phillis bonsaiTALK Craftsman Join Date: Nov-2004 Location: Rural NSW Country: Australia USDA Zone: medit. AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 50	Ron I see where you are coming from with the humidity question. And I thought about it in my first response. The reason I suggested it was that Harry is using thick branches that will have to throw out new leaves (my supposition, as benjimina usually have there leaves on thin twigs) These new leaves will consume stored moisture in the branch, so a plastic cover would prevent rapid dehydration. I felt that this dehydration would happen even in the Phillipines. Harry, I would use powdered hormone, you can wet the ends of the branches and dip them into the powder, or make a paste with some water and paint it on. The hormones come in different strengths, I'm not sure which would be best, I would use the strongest (usually about 8,000ppm here in Aust). Cheers Paul

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