Apathetik

I am new to the ficus and was wondering:

A) If anyone knows of a good ficus "how-to" that talks in depth about the idiosyncrasies of the ficus bonsai and,

2) Is defoliation common, or conversely, detrimental to the ficus.

__________________

anttal63

1. jerry meislik has a book on ficus and is very good.
2. they love to be defoliated and if it is hot enough for long enough in your area they like it more than once even up to 3 times in a growing season.

__________________
Antonio......
__________

Prowler

I had an old Ficus, a huge nebari, it was under special lights, so i thought it would be okay, did a defoliate, dead as a do-do.
I would advise you to try a couple of branches just to see what happens, some of them can take a while to recover, so as this is your first time just go easy, you don't want a 700 buck disaster like i had. Cheers.

__________________
Its hell out there, give them hell back.

Apathetik

Is it possible that it was timing? I have two ficus's, one for about 4mo and another for 9mo. I noticed a definate dormancy in the ficus's up till the end of february or begining of march. I doubt that defoliation in the dormancy is a terribly good idea...or perhaps it has more to do with humidity...I do know that humidity is important to the growth of fig trees.

__________________

Phil

"Ficus The Exotic Bonsai" by Jerry Meislik. ISBN 0-9749524-0-0
www.bonsaihunk.8m.com

Great guy and is also a member here.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

subnet_rx

Why do you want to defoliate?

anttal63

you never defoliate in dormancy thats for sure. rule of thumb for me is as the days are getting longer and the nights are not dropping under 12.c. this is a tip i got from pup and it has worked a pearler. mind you it will need less water with no foliage. i cant comment on light growing but outdoor if your conditions are right there should be no prob, just compensate for the tree being bare (water : protection) 3-4 weeks buds everywhere. we have hit fall and i am now just partially defoling the larger leaves sitting on top of newer shoots.it is loving it. the nights are colder so i bring them in.

__________________
Antonio......
__________

Egroup

There is no NEED to defoliate a ficus unless it is 100% healthy and growing really vigorously, it is "finished" growing out and you know you want it to now be refined and begin leaf reduction/ increase ramification, AND it is in the middle of the growing season. If you cannot say yes to all three criteria above you just might kill it if you defoliate completely. Even then some species of Ficus may die if you defoliate. There are dozens of different species of Ficus and unless you know for 100% certain what type you have and you are sure it is in the stage where defoliation would be prudent, you should just let it grow, keep it warm and happy and watch it turn into a tree you can be proud of!
As already stated: Jerry is one of the best ficus guys in the biz and he tends to visit this site from time to time. Read his site, try to find a book written by him and learn all you can before taking on a task like defoliation. defoliation of trees like Maple, Elm... is much easier to do without detriment than with a tropical species that does not normally lose its leaves. the normal response to defoliation from a tree like Maple or Elm is to mimic a dormancy period in the middle of the summer, thus giving two years worth of growth in one season. If you do it to a tree that does not normally lose its leaves during dormancy you run the risk of the tree kicking the bucket. It CAN be done, but I would not recommend it unless you KNOW that is what your tree needs.

Ml_work

I am lost, I was not aware that ficus went into dormancy? My first tree was a gift, which I thought was ficus and I purchased 3 more wal-mart wanna bees. Removed the glue and rocks and potting soil. Put back in the same pot with good bonsai mix, leave outside till winter and then bring inside. They do not have as many new leaves, but did not lose the existing ones. I could be incorrect, I may not have ficus at all. I am just learning. Here is a link that I found useful.
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/ficusforum/FicusForum.html
Just yesterday I did cut all the leaves from one of the small ones, the leaves looked dull and I wanted to give it a try. It may be a on the way out. It is still indoors, I will know in a few days-weeks.
ML

Opps!
After posting this I see the link Phil has is the same, stating at home page.

anttal63

im not too sure where you get your info but im under the impression it is far more stressful on your deciduous than it is a tropical. maybe you should read jerry's book too. maybe i will read it again as well.

__________________
Antonio......
__________