Return to the House Plants Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
Posted by gellfex 6 NJ (My Page) on Thu, Nov 5, 09 at 15:57
| I've got a ficus with a 1 1/4" trunk that's been in the same 12" pot for over a decade, and done okay with benign neglect and occasional pruning. It's as big as we'd want it to be for the room. Now it's dropping leaves and the soil smells moldy. It's soil has obviously collapsed at least 25% since the last repotting.
I'm pretty afraid that trying to change the soil completely will kill it. I've seen references to simply layering on more soil on top, which appeals as easy and least traumatic for the plant. Or do I prune the roots, shake off some of the soil and repot it hoping for the best?
As for soil, can anyone recommend which of the home center bags would be best for this plant. I'm really not up to custom mixing right now, but damn the whole soil topic is confusing, and I've studied it several times over the years for my outdoor containers. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 5, 09 at 16:48
| I'm not saying this to be nasty or sarcastic, but after reading your post and trying to think of an analogy, I came up with the question: If you see a person on a road that leads to nowhere, should you help him to his destination? If I was you, I think I would be thinking "emergency repot", including root-pruning, (even in consideration of the fact it would be out-of-season) into an appropriate soil ...... after removing all the old offending soil. Al |
RE: repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
| Thanks Al, I know you consider this plant abuse (I did read a number of your posts before posting) but it worked for a long time. My usual focus is more outdoor growing. Forgive my ignorance, but do you mean prune and also remove ALL the soil to leave it bare rooted and then repotting? Does your "analogy" mean you think the ficus is doomed? |
RE: repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 5, 09 at 17:22
| I don't pass judgments about how plants get 'treated'. I know we all have different priorities and skill sets; plus, it's none of my business. I usually only speak up when someone suggests 'something' is good for a plant, and I know it's not and can't be supported. There was nothing like that in your post at all. I just figured that w/o some sort of intervention and a fair amount of effort on your end, that the decline would continue no matter what I could think of to suggest. Normally, I would suggest repotting a Ficus in June where you live, but it sounds like you're about to lose the plant due to an inappropriate soil, though I can't be sure w/o seeing it. If you know how to do the repot from reading other threads, I would suggest that as the best choice. If you don't know how, and want to, I'll help however I can. If you're just going to add some more soil to what you have, I don't think my advice will have any sway in reversing the decline, so I would just respectfully bow out of the conversation. It's difficult for you to know that I'm 'speaking' in a kindly way (mainly my first post), but I am. Thanks for not taking offense. Al |
RE: repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
| No problems Al, I recently had a lesson in why not to be thin skinned! If you wouldn't mind, a primer in how to do this would be appreciated. I actually know very little about repotting, most of my containers are annuals, and the ones that aren't like the strawberries are my problems. |
RE: repotting a ficus with collapsed soil?
| | |
- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 5, 09 at 18:36
| You'll find a primer at the link below. If you skip the second paragraph, you'll have a good overview of how to treat your plant @ repot time. After you read through it, I'll try to answer any lingering questions you have. Al |
Here is a link that might be useful: How to prune roots
|
|
|
|
