I.D it

[d 2the aNieL]

Is this tree in my front yard a ficus benjamina, or weeping fig, im thinking of cutting a branch of and planting it. If it is how would i go by planting the brnach, just sticking it in soil?

Thanks

 

[Billyjack187]

My experience with Bonsai will aid you on this one. You gotta air layer one of the branches. Here we go....you will need a sharp utility knife, a small plastic plant pot you can cut a slit in, dirt and duct tape.This will take place ON the tree until roots grow!
1. Slice down the side of the plastic pot and make a hole in the bottom so the other part of the branch can remain on the tree...it takes a few weeks for roots to grow.
2. Remove the outer bark from the selected branch, 2-3 inches in fine.
3.Slide on the plastic pot, and pack it with dirt, and duct tape it in place.
4.Wait and monitor root growth, a month is long enough, hacksaw below the pot and place in pot. Make sure to add a stick to support the new growth! Hope this helps, its how all the nice bonsai are made!

 

[d 2the aNieL]

Nice, but im curious on if its a ficus benjamina

 

[Billyjack187]

That I couldnt tell ya..head to a nursery who has em....snag a leaf take home and compare!

 

[Dankmeleon]

alright here is the scoop

it is a ficus benjamina which i believe is a weeping fig or a rubber tree please correct me if i'm wrong but it looks exactly like a benji bush

this plant is a little harder to take cutting of, however, now is the perfect time of the season to do so guessing your in this hemisphere

cuttings of this plant have a mediocre at best rooting rate so that means you'll want to take a lot of cuttings.

what to look for in the cutting:

you will need a razor and rooting hormone along with a tray with your starter medium of choice, soil rockwool rapid rooters ezclone etc etc

fresh green growth tips with a lil bit of woodiness towards the bottom

these will be at the top, you will want to get 3-4 nodes of the shoot on this plant.

when you take the cutting, use a steril razor and make a 45 degree slit right where the fresh green gets a little tougher, not quite woody but branchy

dip in hormone, sprinkle in dirt, and plant

care for these while they root over a couple weeks or so is indirect lighting(very sensitive to light until they start to take root, as they won't have a root system the plant would be able to handle the growth, hydration photosynthesis etc etc until its rooted some and becomes stronger

you'll want to keep it very moist and may even consider a dome lid with holes in it.

remember indirect light only at this point which means shade pretty much.

after that they will benefit from a veg fertilizor at 1/4 the recommended lite dosage.

and remember to take a lot as most peoples success rates are poopy until they get the technique, and sterileness of it, and then again you have people who get 100 percent rates with rusty razor blades its like indians that can grow corn and i don't really know what i mean by that but it just sounds true, in my heart