Ficus Techniques : 49
Replacing the Whole Top of a Ficus
by Jose Orlando Rivera
This is a Ficus microcarpa 'Green Emerald' that I felt would look better as a shorter tree. Normally I would cut off the top and re-grow a whole new apex. The top could be air-layered or grown as a large cutting to create a second tree.
I chose instead to take off the whole top, remove the center section of the tree and then make the old top as the new top to a shorter tree. To make the process more likely to succeed, I layered the top of the tree wtih moss in January of 2010 to form a new root system.
In March 2010 the center section was cut out and the top of the tree was grafted to the base.
The top was inserted into the base by drilling out a properly sized hole in the base. A mortise and tenon type of joint was used to make the graft secure.
Moss was added around the graft point to keep the top air layer living while the graft took time to take and roots were grown into the ground. A clith wrap around the moss was used to keep it moist.
The tree with air layer in the top
Saw used to cut off the top below the air layer
The bottom of the tree
The top is in hand
Sawing off the middle section of the tree
Removing the mid section
Checking the fit
Creating the tenon joint with a knife
The top with the tenon joint
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Drill creating a hole in the base
Top being fitted to the base
Ficus with the top in position
Roots brought out of the moss
Close up of the joined sections
Ficus right after grafting
Cloth cover placed over the joined sections
Close-up view of the joined sections, June 2010
Rear view of the joined sections
Healthy new growth and new roots added to the nebari, Sept 2010
September 10, 2010
March 9, 2011
In summary, I was able to shorten a Ficus tree by removing a center section and grafting in the existing top. Air layering allowed the graft time to fuse successfully. Much time was saved in this process as contrasted to growing whole new top after a reduction cut.
Wiring will be done soon to fine tune and adjust all the branches.
***Thanks very much to Jose Orlando Rivera a dedicated and talented bonsai artist from Puerto Rico who has an active and informative website. Please click here to access his website.
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