Seaside Ficus~
One of the great things about working with Ficus species is what can be achieved in a short time. They grow so vigorously. I purchased this Ficus last spring for $12. It was just a little sprig of a thing with 3 branches. I planted it over this stone I collected on a trip to Florida. Less than a year later (top photo), I’ve had to trim it back several times, and lifted the stone up to level with the top of the pot. I also re-wired the trunk and a few branches to give them a lot more action.
One down side of how fast Ficus grow is your have to really keep an eye out for wire bite. I was checking on it. Everything was good and forgot it about it for awhile. The next time I took a careful look, wire bite. It’s not too bad, it will probably continue to fade as the tree grows. But obviously it would have been better to catch it earlier. I am wrapping any new wiring around the trunk the opposite way of the wire marks. I figure if I do get a bit more wire bite, it will be in the opposite direction and collectively give the trunk an old gnarled look.
