Details available:
Cost to Date about 6$ [US]
Stock: 1G Ficus benjamina from lowes greenhouse 5 to 8 trunks in a pot 18 to 24" high w/ trunk caliper between 1/4" and 5/8".
After being seperated out of the 1G bucket that they came in they were rootpruned and repotted individually into bonsai soil to spend the summer outside.
Another non-typical mix, This holds moisture too long for outside IMO but requires less attention indoors. [It's a tradeoff]
This is in a mostly organic mix about 65-Pine bark/35 Arcillite/Sharp sand, both sifted and the fines removed.
Mid August 2005: Time to impart some trunk movement, I wired the five trunks together and bent them
They were bent more after the picture, But I still had alot of rebound..:shrug:
I then repotted the whole mess, This was left this way for about six weeks.
[img]https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2092/fusedficus813050002lo9.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8884/fusedficus813050001js1.jpg[/img]
I don't know if you can tell, I staggered the heights of the five whips I used to impart some taper.
Here is a [Very lame] graphic to help illustrate: [url=https://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=terriblefusedvirtan1.jpg][img]https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4967/terriblefusedvirtan1.th.jpg[/img][/url]
I know I said 'two' were wired as branches, It was at least that many.
A picture of the trunk[s]:
[img]https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6441/fusedficustrunk813050001ao0.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7412/fusedficustrunk813050002po3.jpg[/img]
After six weeks or so I removed the wire and taped tightly around the trunk using light colored tape sticky side out so as not to damage the bark.
It was not a complete success, I discovered later there was some bark damage anyway.
Mid December 05:
[img]https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4188/fusedficus121205ji4.jpg[/img]
October 06:
Fast forward to today, The trunks are well on their way to being fused.
Here is the nebari now:
[img]https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7220/ficusfusednebari0005yw2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/3536/ficusfusednebari0001ze8.jpg[/img] Sorry the second one is so blurry I will try to replace that one.
A closeup of the trunk fusion:
[img]https://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3138/ficusfusedtrunk1006vx6.jpg[/img]
Here is the tree before it had its haircut today: [img]https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/76/fusedficus1021060002pf5.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/novusordo1/Ficus/Fused%20Trunk%20Ficus/fusedficus1021060001mo6.jpg[/img]
To me, One of those is the obvious choice for the front.
If anyone has any thoughts on why one should be the front over the other please voice them.
I am interested in why you feel that way though.
I chopped this top back pretty hard for two main reasons.
1. I want to promote growth lower in the tree to get the lower branches to thicken up. The bottom branches were getting quite shaded out and a bit leggy also IMO. [I did prune the terminal buds on the lower branches to encourage backbudding [which left unchecked will help increase the girth of the lower branches]
2. This is coming inside to live under the lights soon and that will give me nice short internodes on top as well as good ramification.
After his haircut:
[img]https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3774/fusedficus102106toppruned0004pa0.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1673/fusedficus102106toppruned0005se2.jpg[/img]
Retaped [The [blue] inside layer is stickey side out.] and ready to go.
[img]https://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1223/fusedficus102106retaped0009ok0.jpg[/img]
Currently 12" high.
Questions, Comments, and Cash are all welcome.
ynot
5 Into 1 Ficus Trunk Fusing Project
Last edited by ynot on Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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now thats cool! I've seen lowe's and home depot carry ficus', but I always think to myself that their trunks are not thick enough for me. Now I know you can fuse like that.
Did you shave any bark off touching trunks or did you just stick em together with the bark on?
I've been trying to find a nice peice of driftwood to fuse a plant to (I need to find a sutible one of those too). I've done a bit a research on that, and I know you have to shave the bark off the parts that will touch so it will fuse. I would think that fusing trunks is the same, right?
Instead of tape, could one use pruning compound with some sort of tie (tape)?
Did you shave any bark off touching trunks or did you just stick em together with the bark on?
I've been trying to find a nice peice of driftwood to fuse a plant to (I need to find a sutible one of those too). I've done a bit a research on that, and I know you have to shave the bark off the parts that will touch so it will fuse. I would think that fusing trunks is the same, right?
Instead of tape, could one use pruning compound with some sort of tie (tape)?
Hey BM,
Thanks for checking this out .
A Tanuki eh, [Also called a Phoenix Graft]. If you have the tools [and inclination] you may want to consider using a [url=https://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/tool-category.htm?H=188091]dremel tool[/url] to carve a channel into the driftwood. You can then nestle the trunk into the channel and as the trunk girth increases it fuses right into the channel. Just an idea .
People do use all sorts of things though with varying degrees of effectiveness..
Thanks again for checking this out and commenting .
Keep posting,
ynot
Thanks for checking this out .
Thanks! It takes a while but it is coming along pretty good.Bonsaimatt wrote:now thats cool! I've seen lowe's and home depot carry ficus', but I always think to myself that their trunks are not thick enough for me. Now I know you can fuse like that.
No shaving required [In fact I know 4 or 5 other people fusing ficus also and nobody else shaved either..]Did you shave any bark off touching trunks or did you just stick em together with the bark on?
I've been trying to find a nice peice of driftwood to fuse a plant to (I need to find a sutible one of those too). I've done a bit a research on that, and I know you have to shave the bark off the parts that will touch so it will fuse. I would think that fusing trunks is the same, right?
A Tanuki eh, [Also called a Phoenix Graft]. If you have the tools [and inclination] you may want to consider using a [url=https://www.dremel.com/en-us/tools/tool-category.htm?H=188091]dremel tool[/url] to carve a channel into the driftwood. You can then nestle the trunk into the channel and as the trunk girth increases it fuses right into the channel. Just an idea .
No need for the wound paste at all, I and others have found that electrical tape [In groovy colors if you prefer ] is a good bet due to its 'stretchiness' and the fact that is is not overly sticky and will not tear or wound the bark upon removal. [My first layer of tape is inside out-Just in case..]Instead of tape, could one use pruning compound with some sort of tie (tape)?
People do use all sorts of things though with varying degrees of effectiveness..
Thanks again for checking this out and commenting .
Keep posting,
ynot
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BM,
That's what I did with the Ficus b 'pandora' [This variety has smaller slightly curly leaves.] See the work in progress here: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3561
Here is another: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3379&highlight=ficus+shohin
Comments are welcome
I have often suggested them for beginners as well as adventurous types who can't resist experimenting with chopping, Fusing, Grafting,.. etc.
I have no problem confessing that I love [img]https://www.mainzelahr.de/smile/cool/yo.gif[/img] the 7$ bucket of ficus from 'low-depot' they are cheap, Grow fast, and are tougher than a 2$ steak. [img]https://www.mainzelahr.de/smile/cool/cowboy.gif[/img]
I look forward to seeing what you get up to with them...
ynot
I forgot to mention that another option is to chop them until the trunks seem massive [Or at least sizeable] compared to their height.I've seen lowe's and home depot carry ficus', but I always think to myself that their trunks are not thick enough for me. Now I know you can fuse like that.
That's what I did with the Ficus b 'pandora' [This variety has smaller slightly curly leaves.] See the work in progress here: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3561
Here is another: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3379&highlight=ficus+shohin
Comments are welcome
I have often suggested them for beginners as well as adventurous types who can't resist experimenting with chopping, Fusing, Grafting,.. etc.
I have no problem confessing that I love [img]https://www.mainzelahr.de/smile/cool/yo.gif[/img] the 7$ bucket of ficus from 'low-depot' they are cheap, Grow fast, and are tougher than a 2$ steak. [img]https://www.mainzelahr.de/smile/cool/cowboy.gif[/img]
I look forward to seeing what you get up to with them...
ynot
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