In April of 2021 I combined three cuttings taken the previous fall and winter from a larger willow-leaf ficus into a small forest planting (see https://beginbonsai.net/2020/09/07/willow-leaf-ficus-ficus-salicifolia-defoliated/ and https://beginbonsai.net/2020/05/18/willow-leaf-ficus-ficus-salicifolia/ for previous posts about the mother plant). The forest has filled out since it was created but I plan to keep it small.
The tree today
The forest when first posted on beginBonsai
The largest of the trees when it was removed as a trunk from its parent.
Defoliated.
Secured the rootless trunk in a pot with wire.
Pruned the branches back to give the tree a chance to establish roots.
Three new clippings removed from the mother plant. One of these died during the winter.
Each clipping was dipped in rooting hormone before planting.
The smaller clippings potted up.
The large trunk this morning. Only one root has formed, so I scarified the base and added rooting hormone to the wounds before replanting.
Arranging the trees in their new pot. The two surviving smaller cuttings grew more and established better roots than the trunk, although it remains the largest of the trees in the forest.
The back side of the forest. I added a small mound of soil from my worm bin to promote growth. I expect all three trees to survive.
Bonus posting – The mother tree today.
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