Figs are adapted to survivng a dry season, so I'm
confident yours will be fine with the treatment you're
giving it- just don't give it much water until you see
leaves sprouting.
Of all bonsai, figs can take being brought indoors the
best, so there'd be no harm in bringing it inside for
the colder months, then returning it outside when it
warms up again. Give it plenty of light.
Hope it survives-
--- Paul
********************************************************************************
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John
> Bevans++++
********************************************************************************
Nina Shishkoff
Frederick MD
__________________________________________________
If it were my tree. I would build an ICU. Any box with clear plastic sides large enough to place your tree inside. Do not let the branches touch any of the sides, which means build the box large enough! It should be plastic all around top and bottom, with one opening plastic door that can be opened on a daily basis for 15 to 30 minutes. Once a day open the door so that there can be a change of air (this helps eliminate fungus growth). I used plastic shipping tape to make a door hinge. The basic idea is that you are creating a mini greenhouse. I would water the tree well and place it in the ICU. Within 30 days the tree should show the beginning of leaf growth. As the tree puts out more leaves you may open the door for a longer period. Eventually moving the tree out of the ICU.
Caution: Do not put the ICU where it will recieve sunlight or you will cook your tree.
Good luck,
Carl L. Rosner
PS: I even used this method to revive a Buttonwood!
Paul
I need some help on how to revive a dying bonsai. It is a ficus
macrophylla about 40 cm tall. It doesn't look good. It has no leaves but
the scratch test reveals that the trunk and most major branches are
still green.
A friend of mine left it in a garage where it got only a little light
and almost no water for over a month. This is when all the leaves went
brown but stayed attached. The last 3 weeks I have been watering it
correctly (watering till the water soaks and runs through only when the
soil is dry) and have moved it outside to a sunny position (seeing as I
read OUTSIDE is best and it likes the sun).
I read that this variety doesn't like temperatures below 15C, and am
worried because winter is starting here in Sydney and the temperature at
night is 13C and only gonna get colder.
I have been searching forums on the net for over a week now and haven't
really found definite answers to the following questions...
They are:
Should I leave it outside or inside near a window?
Should I trim off the dead branches now or wait? (and if I wait then
wait for... new growth? spring?)
Should I remove the wiring on the branches?
Or should I just take it to a professional seeing as it used to be a
very nice looking plant!?
Any help from someone more experienced than myself would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks,
Lee and Paul
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
Arteacher3725@yahoo.com
www.carlrosner.com
http://www.yessy.com/arteacher3725
In a message dated 5/24/2006 12:58:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,
acrasis@YAHOO.COM writes:
> Should I leave it outside or inside near a window?
At 50 F or above outside, below F 50 inside
> Should I trim off the dead branches now or wait? (and if I wait then wait
for... new growth? spring?)
If they are dead and shriveled, cut them off
> Should I remove the wiring on the branches?
Yes
> Or should I just take it to a professional seeing as it used to be a very
nice looking plant!?
Nothing a pro could do that you can't. This isn't about Bonsai it is
about plant care.
You do need to be careful with watering and only water as needed to keep
it moist, as someone suggested without leaves it doesn't use much water and
too much water can lead to root rot which will kill the tree.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast
I need some help on how to revive a dying bonsai. It is a ficus
macrophylla about 40 cm tall. It doesn't look good. It has no leaves but
the scratch test reveals that the trunk and most major branches are
still green.
A friend of mine left it in a garage where it got only a little light
and almost no water for over a month. This is when all the leaves went
brown but stayed attached. The last 3 weeks I have been watering it
correctly (watering till the water soaks and runs through only when the
soil is dry) and have moved it outside to a sunny position (seeing as I
read OUTSIDE is best and it likes the sun).
I read that this variety doesn't like temperatures below 15C, and am
worried because winter is starting here in Sydney and the temperature at
night is 13C and only gonna get colder.
I have been searching forums on the net for over a week now and haven't
really found definite answers to the following questions...
They are:
Should I leave it outside or inside near a window?
Should I trim off the dead branches now or wait? (and if I wait then
wait for... new growth? spring?)
Should I remove the wiring on the branches?
Or should I just take it to a professional seeing as it used to be a
very nice looking plant!?
Any help from someone more experienced than myself would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks,
Lee and Paul
Paul, I am no expert but I believe Ficus defoliate as a response to
dryness. I mean, at least some species, go through a dry season, drop
their leaves, and go dormant.
If it begins to grow again (a month is rather long), gradually
re-introduce it to bright light, and keep it inside for the winter.
I'm not sure, but I think most Ficus are tropical or semi-tropical
plants.
As far as reviving it, it sounds like you're doing what I would do.
Just move it inside before you start getting frost. If you decide to
remove the wire (if it's not too tight, why bother?) cut it do not
unwind. I wouldn't do it now unless it was really necessary.
As for cutting dead branches - if you are sure they're dead, then go
ahead. Otherwise wait for new growth.
And finally, relax. Just like it takes time for plants to show stress,
it takes time for them to recover from it.
I think raising the relative humidity around the tree would help too.
I wouldn't feed it until you see new growth.
Hope this helps!
Bob Campoli
Paul wrote:
Paul Wrote:
Hi Paul, Perhaps you already know, Ficus Macrophylla is the Moreton Bay
Fig. As such, yes, they do like the sun, but knowing the Sydney winters
( I moved from Sydney, after living there for ten years, to Qld three
years ago) it may be advisable to give it some protection from frost
etc. I used to keep my 'frost sensitive' trees under a perspex sheet
(top of one of my Bonsai tables). The Moreton Bay is a very tough tree
- nearly bullet proof, but considering the treatment this one got I'm
not surprised it has lost its leaves and suffered some die-back. Might
be prudent to check whether the soil has become water repellent through
being dried out so much. If you can, dunk it in water and leave it in
there for an hour or two to thoroughly soak the soil. Watering from the
top only doesn't mean that the soil is getting properly moistened. Also,
mix some Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulphate) with the water - it is a good
'reviver' of sick plants, and is also useful after root-pruning and
re-potting.
If you are not able to protect it outside, then sure take it inside -
but put it in a sunny but draught free position. Don't prune off any
dead stuff yet - wait till spring and see where the new leaves shoot
from. If the branches have wire on them, yes, take it all off. If you
really think you need some professional advice then try contacting one
of the Sydney based Bonsai clubs, or if you PM me (with your suburb), I
can give you a few addresses of some very experienced Bonsai people that
would be only too pleased to give you some assistance.
Hope your tree recovers - Figs are great to work with. As an aside,
While I lived in Darwin a magnificent Ficus Macrophylla won Champion
Bonsai in 1991 - the leaves had reduced to about 15mm in length!
--
TinanaTaffy
