Pruning Ficus Ginseng
- TeamCooper
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Hello,
I have a Ficus Ginseng which is now around 30 years old but I have not been good on pruning and it has gone a little 'wild'.
I would like to prune it back to create a fuller, compact look but I am concerned it will be very bare for a long period of time.
I have attached a picture, would really appreciate your views.
Many thanks
Darren
I have a Ficus Ginseng which is now around 30 years old but I have not been good on pruning and it has gone a little 'wild'.
I would like to prune it back to create a fuller, compact look but I am concerned it will be very bare for a long period of time.
I have attached a picture, would really appreciate your views.
Many thanks
Darren
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by TeamCooper
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- Tropfrog
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30 years old ficus ginseng, wow! I did not even knew they have been in production that long. The first ones here showed up some 15-20 years ago.
Ficus in this health is strong plants and can take a lot of pruning. Even to the point when all leafs are gone, back to a basic structure. Obviously it takes a while to fill in after.
Your other option is to start cutting new growth off a few times a year. That will stimulate backbudding and new more compact branches. After a wile one can start removing unproportional branches.
It is more or less two ways to reach similar goals. A more proportional , compact and ramified tree. The first option is bigger risk, looks ugly meanwhile and takes longer time, but have potential to grow a much better tree.
The second option will be faster, look better meantime but risk to be a slightly lower quality tree.
This is the debate we all have inside. Building a fairly good tree in least amount of time or a fantastic one in a distant future?
Ficus in this health is strong plants and can take a lot of pruning. Even to the point when all leafs are gone, back to a basic structure. Obviously it takes a while to fill in after.
Your other option is to start cutting new growth off a few times a year. That will stimulate backbudding and new more compact branches. After a wile one can start removing unproportional branches.
It is more or less two ways to reach similar goals. A more proportional , compact and ramified tree. The first option is bigger risk, looks ugly meanwhile and takes longer time, but have potential to grow a much better tree.
The second option will be faster, look better meantime but risk to be a slightly lower quality tree.
This is the debate we all have inside. Building a fairly good tree in least amount of time or a fantastic one in a distant future?
Last Edit:4 months 3 weeks ago
by Tropfrog
Last edit: 4 months 3 weeks ago by Tropfrog.
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- TeamCooper
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Thanks very much for your help. I am not sure ow old my tree is, but I have had it for 15 years and when I bought it, it was quite large (i.e. 20cm high with a good trunk, so I guess it was another 10-15 years old when I purchased it.... could be wrong).
I think I will try and trim it right back and leave a few leaves on the branches to hopefully stimulate good growth for the future. Assume if I trim a branch below the leaf line, it will still produce leaves in the future? I guess not guaranteed though...
Really appreciate your views.
I think I will try and trim it right back and leave a few leaves on the branches to hopefully stimulate good growth for the future. Assume if I trim a branch below the leaf line, it will still produce leaves in the future? I guess not guaranteed though...
Really appreciate your views.
by TeamCooper
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- Tropfrog
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I think I will try and trim it right back and leave a few leaves on the branches to hopefully stimulate good growth for the future. Assume if I trim a branch below the leaf line, it will still produce leaves in the future? I guess not guaranteed though...
Excactly. I do not guarantee anything and bear no responsibility for any harm done to your tree following my advices
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by Tropfrog
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