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Ficus Benjamina root bound

katiescottkatiescott Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I've inherited the care of a large and old Ficus Benjamina. Yesterday I repotted it and found how insanely root bound it is. I've read they're fussy with change, so I wasn't confident to cut away any root ball. The ball is so so tight there is no way of teasing any roots apart or loosening it, it would have to be cutting off chunks of matted root. I just potted it as-is into a new bigger pot, but perhaps that was the wrong move? Does anyone know if it can handle quite hard root pruning, and would that be a better thing to do?

It has sentimental value so I'm quite anxious about keeping it alive!

Posts

  • katiescottkatiescott Posts: 2
    I feel like this photo doesn't do justice to how solid the thing is!

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Rather than chop roots away you could stand the whole root ball in a large bucket of water for an hour or so to soften them and then try and untangle them with a hand fork.

    Left as they are they will have real trouble branching out of their spirals and into the fresh compost.

    I find my ficus benjamina - 35 yrs old now - enjoys an occasional shower to rinse the foliage and get rid of dust and I've just put it outside for its summer hols, tucked up against a wall so protected from beastly easterlies and no direct sun to burn the leaves. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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