I just thought it time that I do some follow up on my epiphytic Ficus project which can be seen in the Article section: “Creation of an Epiphytic Style Ficus”.
Creation of an Epiphytic Style Ficus - vBadvanced Dynamics
This whole project was carried out just about one year ago and the Sphagnum moss has always remained in place from that time. I was very confident that there would be an abundance of aerial roots but I was not at all sure if the 13 cuttings that I placed on the host tree would have fused to each other much less fusing with the host tree itself.
It took well over an hour to
gently remove the moss from amongst all the fine aerial roots that had amassed in one year’s time with a long tweezers and a small two forked “olive picker” that I absconded with some years ago for such tedious jobs? (my other half has no idea where it went!)
I was not only greatly pleased with the numerous amount of aerial roots and the fusing of the cuttings to each other but was also amazed at how the cuttings had fused with the dead host tree.
From the pictures I have enclosed you will notice that the heads of the nails have been immersed/over grown into the cuttings. In other words….you can no longer see the heads of the nails. In one picture I’ve circled a nail that has not yet become overgrown and “enclosed” by one of the cuttings but I’m sure it will be gone in about six to eight more months. You can also see from one of the pictures a very strong aerial root that has firmly planted itself into the soil. The host tree is actually becoming over taken and
strangled by all of the aerial roots.
The base of the tree with the bonded/fused cuttings measures just over six inches. As you can see from the pictures of the entire tree that it is in dire need of pruning but I don’t feel that as of yet this would be the proper time to do so. I wish the tree to grow rampant and in good health so as to give it strength in giving nourishment to the cuttings. I may however give some pruning to the top so that I can see what I have to work with and with that I could easily get about twelve more cuttings which I’ll propagate for the rest of the summer and over the winter. It looks like one big monstrous growth right now with no styling whatsoever but that will probably come about this time next year. As for now I have a bit more work in placing the heavy growth of branches closer/intertwining to the host tree and a bit more nailing and also covering that with yet more Sphagnum moss and some wrap.
When I get the time I’ll add this into the article.
~Phil