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Ficus Carica 'icecrystal'

flaxos
16 years ago

Hello guys. I have only one question, if anyone has some experiencies with Ficus Carica var. icecrystal which can be purchased here: http://www.esveld.nl/~laur/index.php?lan=eng&s=plant&q=product_details_pl&id=6283

I think that it's not Ficus Carica but it's Ficus Afghanistanica. What's your opinion?

Comments (12)

  • gorgi
    16 years ago

    Definitely Ficus Afghanistanica leaf shape.
    The leaves do tend to get that silvery/white/green look.

  • svanessa
    16 years ago

    I emailed them and asked. Here's their answer:
    It is Ficus afghanica.
    Sue

  • flaxos
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Thank you very much for that information! I have got some Ficus Afghanistanica cuttings this week and I'm very curious how it will be compared to Sal's, HC, EBT etc. in cold hardiness.

    Here is a link that might be useful: FIKOVNIKY.COM

  • gorgi
    16 years ago

    Ficus afghanistanica is more hardy than any Ficus carica.
    Do not know exactly how much. Twigs start much thinner.
    Also, have not seen a ripened fruit yet.

  • loslunasfarms
    16 years ago

    This was linked after doing some googlage.. See the dog and the figs.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFyx1JOJEY

  • flaxos
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Yes, I know that video - it's very funny. It's the reason why I don't have any dog. ;) I try to gather all infromations about ficus afghanistanica and I got infromations that it can survive wintera with -17C max. -23C. So it's the same hardiness like Brown Turkey, Sal's etc. I hear that Ficus Afghanistanica has big problem with spring frost because it is very easily awakened from dormancy. So it often freeze in spring.

  • loslunasfarms
    16 years ago

    Flax, send me an email.

  • gorgi
    16 years ago

    Guess that you meant that -17*C (max) = 14*F...
    I have also read that F.a is a very close (relative)
    to the F.c. Some may consider them as the same species,
    but I do not think so (but than again who am I to judge!).
    Also heard about the F.a 'early' spring awaking problem.

  • elder
    16 years ago

    I found it interesting to finally see a fig from F.a, and the fact that they seem to grow at leaf nodes like F.c, and not just from the main branch like in the Sycamore fig.
    Now, to just taste one. Do we know if this fig requires fertilization?
    I'll vouch for the early spring problem. This Winter I covered my F.a with dry leaves, and so far it has not leafed out, despite some warm days.

  • palmfan
    16 years ago

    Just dug my Afghan fig out of the ground. It got about 6 or 7 feet tall, and then got stunted in its growth. I got suspicious that it had RKN. Sure enough, it was LOADED with galls on the roots! Did it arrive from the southern nursery infested, or did it get it from my soil? I am trying to root some cuttings which are now leafing out under an overturned fish tank. By the way it is likely NOT the same species as Ficus carica. It is clearly very distinct. It does produce some of that unique fig "perfume", however. I believe it to be at least as hardy as Brown Turkey and Desert King, perhaps more so.

  • gorgi
    16 years ago

    >>> Did it arrive from the southern nursery infested,
    >>> or did it get it from my soil?

    Only you can determine that! Did you have any RKN anywhere
    before? If no, you may have just acquired a very serious
    fig root problem! If so, I recommend to start the very
    difficult to contain/'eradicate?' the problem. Start
    with NOT planting anything other than RKN trapping
    marigold (flowers), possibly with some expensive
    'good' nematodes in that area and/or soil solarization.

    Do a search in this forum with the keyword 'RKN'.

  • gorgi
    16 years ago

    RE: RKN, I forgot to mention a couple of significant points.

    Do not use any contaminated soil, for anything else.

    If you think that the problem is localized in a that one
    small area, remove as much roots (left from the uprooted
    tree) as possible, sooner better than later. Dispose/burn
    the roots. I do not remember the exact life cycle of the
    buggers, and temps still being on the cool side, probably
    they have not reproduced (eggs?) yet, this spring.

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