Will the Ficus backbud?
- Clicio
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Hello;
I have this mallsai Ficus which I have plans for the future; meanwhile I clip, prune and let it grow it wishes.
Some of the "branches to be" are leggy. I keep pruning them to the last two leaves closest to the trunk, but there is no visible buds below that point.
I need these branches to get thick, but I also need ramification.
So the questions are:
1-) If I cut on the red lines will the branches backbud or die?
2-) If I let them grow free they will thicken, but will it be possible to shorten them later and still have backbuding close to the trunk?
I
I have this mallsai Ficus which I have plans for the future; meanwhile I clip, prune and let it grow it wishes.
Some of the "branches to be" are leggy. I keep pruning them to the last two leaves closest to the trunk, but there is no visible buds below that point.
I need these branches to get thick, but I also need ramification.
So the questions are:
1-) If I cut on the red lines will the branches backbud or die?
2-) If I let them grow free they will thicken, but will it be possible to shorten them later and still have backbuding close to the trunk?
I
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by Clicio
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- leatherback
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Ficus does not backbud easily as long as there are leaves on a branch. So removing the leaves including the green growing tip, will cause them to backbud. I would however do this after a good strong growth of the plant. Plants will respond best when in optimal health. But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant, and as a result you will get very weak butting if you defoliate now.
So n short: Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back. (That is what I am doing in any case)
So n short: Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back. (That is what I am doing in any case)
by leatherback
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- Clicio
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Thanks, sounds like good advice. It's already cold around here, so I guess I'll let it do its own thing until springtime.leatherback wrote: But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant. Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back.
by Clicio
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Clicio wrote:
Thanks, sounds like good advice. It's already cold around here, so I guess I'll let it do its own thing until springtime.leatherback wrote: But continuously clipping back to two leaves, you are weakening the plant. Let it grow, let it thicken and every so often, trim back.
Cold? Ehr.. Suppose everyone has a different idea of cold

by leatherback
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- Clicio
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leatherback wrote: Cold? Ehr.. Suppose everyone has a different idea of cold
10 degrees last night, going down to 5 tonight.

by Clicio
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