Prowler

I think a Ficus would be very happy in a basket, they can grow in fresh air.
If you look at some pics. in their natural surroundings, they grow over buildings and even grow down other trees.
A few years ago i purchased a Ficus, the roots were growing out of the drain holes, so i cut them off for a repot, this was when i found out it was in a net bag. !!
To say this caused me a bit of work would be an understatement, the whole thing was intertwined through that bag.
The only reason that i could think of was, whoever ordered these plants they must of cut corners for weight, no pots, no compost.
The point is, the biggest killer of a Ficus is, over watering, lack of heat and humidity. Cheers.

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Atula Siriwardane

What is a Pond Basket?

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centaura

http://www.storeoborealis.com/shoppi...e+ACL77054.htm

Its a plastic mesh planter that's used to plant aquatic things under water. Like water lilies. They plant is put in the basket and its sunk into a pond.

-Centaura

Atula Siriwardane

In that case I am not so sure about the Ficus type I grow.. Peepal... because no roots grow when they were in water. I have one now in water and I'll keep it and see.
Atula

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Prowler

The strange thing is you can grow a Ficus in just a glass with water no compost.
I have one that was just a cutting, i change the water every couple of day's.
It has not put a lot of growth on it, but it has survived a few years, i have never fed it, ain't to sure how much feed to give it.
The main point is, not a lot of trees like sitting in a pot of mud, no oxygen to survive, even a glass of water can supply that. Cheers.

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Its hell out there, give them hell back.

centaura

Sorry for the confusion Atula. I was explaining what a pond basket was, not how I use a pond basket for bonsai. They are designed for plants living underwater, and at pond supply stores is where you find them. When I use them as a bonsai training pot, I am using them just like any other bonsai pot - I am not submerging my bonsai underwater. They sit on my benches like everything else I have. I included the link to show you a picture of one.

I like to use them because they have a very good airflow. Often when I am collecting something from the wild, I don't wash off all the original soil if I fear that it will damage fine feeder roots. If I use a pond basket for a pot, it gets more airflow to help compensate for some non-bonsai soil being in the mix, and I don't get root rot. It works for me, and is a nice cheap training pot for a first potting.

-Centaura

JTGJr25

Here is a link that shows how pines can be grown in them. http://www.bonsaikc.com/seedlings2.htm
I plan on putting my pine in one next year as well.

Tom

Prowler

I often need a smaller pot for seedlings, so as i have a coal fire i simply shove a poker into it untill red hot, then i simply burn holes all the way around a plastic pot.
A garden centre about 15 miles from me has all those little pots for growing plant's from seeds or cuttings, instead of throwing them out they put them in a large box, all you have to do is put a few bucks in a jar for cancer and help yourself.
I also have the see through pots, clear plastic, orchids seem to like them, they get the same treatement as well.
Ficus just dont like wet feet in compost, plenty fresh air is what they need. Cheers.

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Its hell out there, give them hell back.

JTGJr25

Well its not looking so good. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the pot its in it just has to be the conditions indoors. More of the leaves have died off and so have a couple branches. Some of the leaves are a little droopy and you can see the veins in them. The leaves are light green and the veins are darker. I think it may need to be fertilized but isn't it too soon since the repot?

Anyone have any ideas to get this tree healthy until i can put it outside?

Tom

subnet_rx

So, this is in bonsai soil in this basket?