Staking a Ficus Tree

Supporting a Non-Support Plant

We all have entertained guests in our home at one time or another and somehow the plants did survive. This past week I received an email from one of our new subscribers concerning their Ficus.

They have had their variegated Ficus about 6 years and it’s doing well. Two years ago a nephew was visiting and “just tore off a branch”. The plant has survived and still looks good except for the ugly rotten knuckle on the trunk.

You’ll notice in the picture…

• An ugly rotten part of the trunk
• The area that has healed
• How the plant is leaning or growing off center

Ficus trees such as Benjamina, Midnight, Robusta, Nidita, and others that you’ll find available at your favorite nursery or garden center produce aerial roots when they get larger. Usually when planted in the ground. These roots once they come in contact with the ground can become just like a trunk.

That is almost what has occurred with this Ficus. The main trunk was able to hold on long enough for the wounded area to heal and begin to support the plant and its been able to survive. It is almost the same thing you’ll find with a braided ficus where the 3 or 4 trunks are braided and eventually fuse together.

What is in this plant’s future?

Well generally the wounded area isn’t very sturdy. It may be able to move water and nutrients but not support the upright growth and heavy foliage over a period of time. Many times these types of wounds although healed are very brittle. The trunk could easily snap.

Normally we wouldn’t think of staking or supporting a Ficus… they’re a tree!!! This plant could use some support in the form of a bamboo stake. A nice thumb size 4 - 5 foot bamboo stake plunged into the pot all the way down to the bottom of the pot and the trunk tied securely with some plastic tape would help out its future.

This situation may not be ideal and it certainly isn’t my idea of the perfect plant but… the plant has been around for the last 6 year’s and is in pretty good health. One of the biggest benefits is that the owners all ready know what makes this plant tick.

With a little support, who knows how long the plant will be around they just need to keep the plant away from the nephew…

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