Lighting: | Not fussy about lighting, and will even grow in full shade. Full sun, however, will result in smaller leaves. |
Temperature: | This is a tropical tree, and temperatures below 59F should be avoided. |
Watering: | Water regularly, allowing the plant to dry somewhat between waterings, but never allowing the soil to dry out completely. Overwatering can cause leaf drop. Likes humidity, so misting or use of a moisture tray is recommended. |
Feeding: | Frequently during growth, but with a light strength fertilizer. A general purpose, balanced bonsai food is adequate - an occasional half-strength dose of Miracid will help to keep the soil acidic. Feed every 6 weeks in winter. |
Repotting: | Repot in warm weather, preferably in a porous, well drained, slightly acid mix, but will grow in almost anything. Can stand drastic root pruning (Tom says that ALL of the roots can be removed, and it will grow and entirely new set!) Roots grow rapidly, and F. salicifolia will need to be repotted frequently, perhaps even twice yearly. |
Styling: | Can be wired and pruned any time. Pinch as needed to maintain leaf size. Prune large side branches as they tend to weaken the trunk. If large branches are cut back hard the tree will bud back well, but small branches pruned beyond living leaves may suffer dieback. Will easily form air-roots. Can be shaped into almost any traditional style, in any size. |
Propagation: | From cuttings taken in summer. Roots VERY easily. Air-layering also works well. |
Pests etc.: | Spider mites, mealy bugs, scale. Sudden changes in light or temperature, or overwatering may cause leaf yellowing or drop. The plant also sometimes drops its leaves for no discernable reason. It should recover within 6-8 weeks, but watering must be restricted until the leaves regenerate. |
I need immediate help with my fig tree. It is approx. 5 ft tall with a spiraling trunk. Over the summer it was left without much water and the bottom half turned borwn and most of the leaves dropped off. The top still ahd green leaves, but it needs help and I'm just an amature. It is in a fairly large pot, the roots are bare. Would artificial light help??? Please help me. My email is (isc041@isc-queens.co.uk)
================================================================= From: TomZ50925@aol.com Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 09:48:22 -0400 Sabrina, You may be able to use some of the material in these which I wrote/edited for our Florida Bonsai Magazine. This post may be incorporated into the Tree Care FAQ to be republished for general distribution. Ficus salicifolia General Information: Ficus salicifolia, also known as ficus neriifolia regularis, willow leaf fig, and narrow leaf fig, amongst others, is an evergreen tropical specie of fig which originated in Indonesia. Its light to dark gray trunk thickens well and aerial roots develop from the trunk and branches in humid shady environments. The leaves are alternate, dark green, simple, lanceolate, one to three inches long and only a half inch to three quarters of an inch wide. New leaves are bronze to pinkish in color and usually curl to the right or to the left and straighten as they mature. Flowering and fruiting is insignificant. Sources: Available from general purpose nurseries in South Florida and from bonsai nurseries throughout the country. It is easily propagated by cuttings of about any size taken in the summer. Specimens with large trunks can be potted into very shallow containers because all of the roots can be removed. Shortly after potting it will develop an entirely new set of roots. Care: Ficus salicifolia is best repotted in the warm weather. Its roots grow so rapidly that it may need repotting twice a year. It will grow in almost any soil, but prefers a porous, well drained, and slightly acid mixture. Water regularly and never let the soil dry out completely. Feed frequently, but lightly, with a well balanced fertilizer year round. The ficus will grow in deep shade to full sun. For best results in reducing the leaf and internode size, grow in full or nearly full sun. Pruning and wiring can be done anytime and pinching must be constant throughout the year to maintainthe side branches have to be kept in check to avoid weakening the central leader. The tree is not cold hardy and must be protected from frost and freezing weather. It is subject to spider mites, mealy bugs and various scale insects. Interesting facts: Sudden changes in light or temperature may shock the ficus into shedding its leaves but new ones will develop shortly. During the interim, avoid over watering. Ficus salicifolia has been given many names over the years, however "Salicifolia" is he one which seems most universally accepted at present. But, by whatever name it is called, it is excellent material for nearly any style of bonsai. Bibliography: "Educational Forum", by Marian Borchers and Lynn Liggett, Florida Bonsai, VII, 3:35-37. "Ficus Neriifolia - also called Salicifolia", by Mayna Hutchinson, Florida Bonsai, XIII, 4:3-9. "Lucky 13th Convention Letter", by Jim Smith, Florida Bonsai, XIV, 4:3-4. ================================================================= From: RickBonsai@aol.com Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 20:34:16 -0400 My experience with this tree is all restricted to the Ficus nerifolia. What you have already posted pretty well covers everything. I would only add mealy bugs to the list of potential pests and mention that these trees can be grown in practically any traditional style and size. They can sometimes suffer some dieback if small branches are pruned beyond all foliage. However, large branches and trunks almost always bud back well if pruned in this manner. One last thing, nerifolia can completely defoliate itself for no apparent reason. This is in addition to when it is moved. I had this happen to several trees last year, freaked me out. However, just like when they lose their leaves following a move, as long as you don't overwater, they will recover. As always, this can be used in an FAQ. Rick S-most, Tx Return to the top of the page.
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Information Sources:
Information on Ficus salicifolia is taken from Lesniewicz's "Bonsai in Your Home," Jahn's "The Simon and Schuster Guide to Bonsai," Owen's "Bonsai Identifier," and posts by Tom Zane and Rick from Texas.
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