Training Ficus Petiolaris

[Keys6505]

I'm in Houston now but will be moving to Tampa-ish area next year.  Going to be buying a bigger property for more room to play and one of my ultimate long-term projects will be to train a Ficus Petiolaris to grow over a boulder like the one pictured (not my photo).  My question is, is this something I should start working on now?  I was thinking about getting a small plant and starting it now by planting in a large pot with a slightly smaller pot upside down inside of it.  This would essentially only leave the soil around the outer edges of the pot forcing the tree to start growing it's roots in the general shape I'll need to train it over a boulder.  Make sense or waste of time?

[Silas_Sancona]

3 hours ago, Keys6505 said:

I'm in Houston now but will be moving to Tampa-ish area next year.  Going to be buying a bigger property for more room to play and one of my ultimate long-term projects will be to train a Ficus Petiolaris to grow over a boulder like the one pictured (not my photo).  My question is, is this something I should start working on now?  I was thinking about getting a small plant and starting it now by planting in a large pot with a slightly smaller pot upside down inside of it.  This would essentially only leave the soil around the outer edges of the pot forcing the tree to start growing it's roots in the general shape I'll need to train it over a boulder.  Make sense or waste of time?

You might contact either Bob / Toni at Aridlands, or Gene Joseph at Plants For The Southwest and see how they train the specimens they offer on rocks.  Have one that i need to plant, or start training myself. Pretty quick grower for me, even kind of tortured, lol.

Imagine it will go gaga in FL.  Not something you see there either.  Spectacular when big ( Great specimen in Scottsdale ) V. palmeri will also " flow " over large boulders.  Biggest difference between the two? Reddish new leaves / Veins in the leaves, = petiolaris. Green new leaves / plain jane white-ish veins, w a little fuzz on them? = palmeri.

** I should add:  Where in Tampa do you anticipate finding boulders of that size? ..  Kidding of course..  Know a few great places for large " 'Raahks " there.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Silas_Sancona
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