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- Thread starter Starfox
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DurMan
Seedling
Heya folks! I'm brand new here and just starting my bonsai journey. How you ask? With a variegated ficus benjamina!
Now keep in mind I'm very new at this. If the following ends up killing the plant, then oh well, I learned NOT to do the following. Also note that this is all very much pre-bonsai work. Everything I have as of now needs gobs of work.
First things first I wanted to get it out of the pot it came in and into actual bonsai soil. I was pretty sure that the three trunks were separate trees and wanted to get them apart. This thing was EXTREMELY root bound.
Well it was actually TWO trees, not three. You can see just how root bound this thing was in the bottom image. The two trunked ficus on the left I split, leaving roots on either side. This may have been stupid, but if it wasn't then that's one more tree!
I ended up doing major trimming and root pruning to all three trunks. Most of the bigger roots were both TOO big and going in entirely the wrong directions.
Now they're all potted. This one I'm thinking of going for a sort of broom style with, hence the straight trunk. I also want this one on the tall side.
With this one I think it's lending itself to a leaning trunk. I might see about encouraging aerial roots at some stage, but that's pretty far down the line.
Finally is this one, which I may see about putting into a twin trunk style. Not 100% sure about that, though.
Also, here's my back-up plan. I took a mess of cuttings and will see if any of them will root. If they do I'll have a bunch more trees to butcher sometime in the distant future.
So, how did I do? Will all of my trees whither and die? Am I going to be swarmed with trees?
Now keep in mind I'm very new at this. If the following ends up killing the plant, then oh well, I learned NOT to do the following. Also note that this is all very much pre-bonsai work. Everything I have as of now needs gobs of work.
First things first I wanted to get it out of the pot it came in and into actual bonsai soil. I was pretty sure that the three trunks were separate trees and wanted to get them apart. This thing was EXTREMELY root bound.
Well it was actually TWO trees, not three. You can see just how root bound this thing was in the bottom image. The two trunked ficus on the left I split, leaving roots on either side. This may have been stupid, but if it wasn't then that's one more tree!
I ended up doing major trimming and root pruning to all three trunks. Most of the bigger roots were both TOO big and going in entirely the wrong directions.
Now they're all potted. This one I'm thinking of going for a sort of broom style with, hence the straight trunk. I also want this one on the tall side.
With this one I think it's lending itself to a leaning trunk. I might see about encouraging aerial roots at some stage, but that's pretty far down the line.
Finally is this one, which I may see about putting into a twin trunk style. Not 100% sure about that, though.
Also, here's my back-up plan. I took a mess of cuttings and will see if any of them will root. If they do I'll have a bunch more trees to butcher sometime in the distant future.
So, how did I do? Will all of my trees whither and die? Am I going to be swarmed with trees?
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
@AZbonsai ,
comment was made sometime around 2010, by Ms. Iris Cohen [ or Cohn ] I searched but couldn't
find her post on IBC. Apologies.
However, it was also known since the early 80's.
The idea is simple, observe how same size marbles touch each other in a glass.
Those spaces created by spheres, represent the optimum point for freely draining and O2 entry.
When the spheres are moisture absorbent, you add on moisture retention.
Using the idea, from a Danish lady on IBC, with the hydroponic balls as a soil.
The theory was Ficus might grow better or more efficiently.
So far, we have observed that ficus can live comfortably in 1" deep pot, with either 90 % inorganic
to 10 % inorganic [ by volume ] and with a 3' extension, will easily thicken the trunk.
Seen below is the worked example.
Hope this helps.
Good Day
Anthony
Grown only in this pot from a found pencil sized sapling ,
Soil is 90% 5 mm silica based gravel and 10% aged compost.
As a test. took about 5 years but we can do in 3 now, though the refining of branchlets will still take
up to 5 years more.
comment was made sometime around 2010, by Ms. Iris Cohen [ or Cohn ] I searched but couldn't
find her post on IBC. Apologies.
However, it was also known since the early 80's.
The idea is simple, observe how same size marbles touch each other in a glass.
Those spaces created by spheres, represent the optimum point for freely draining and O2 entry.
When the spheres are moisture absorbent, you add on moisture retention.
Using the idea, from a Danish lady on IBC, with the hydroponic balls as a soil.
The theory was Ficus might grow better or more efficiently.
So far, we have observed that ficus can live comfortably in 1" deep pot, with either 90 % inorganic
to 10 % inorganic [ by volume ] and with a 3' extension, will easily thicken the trunk.
Seen below is the worked example.
Hope this helps.
Good Day
Anthony
Grown only in this pot from a found pencil sized sapling ,
Soil is 90% 5 mm silica based gravel and 10% aged compost.
As a test. took about 5 years but we can do in 3 now, though the refining of branchlets will still take
up to 5 years more.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Usually you gotta make your own thread for a "Welcome", but There are exceptions for special circumstances.
This is one.
For....
I have never seen a tree in a paper bag...
And....
You know what they say about paper bags.....and where they belong....
Their...."other" use.....to cover ugly...
Put it back in the bag!
Lol...Just Playing!
Welcome to Crazy!
Sorce
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Starfox
Masterpiece
The bag got me too.
Cool start though, guess now it is wait and see time. I'm guessing the Texas weather is warm enough to put them outside now.
DurMan
Seedling
To be fair there was a plastic pot inside the bagThe bag got me too.
That's the plan, but I've got a bench to build first. The only spot I have with full sun is in the middle of the yard, so that's where it's going! That said, I'm not gonna just sit these trees on the ground!
That is impressive! Thanks for the tutorial I appreciate it. Often wondered why bonsai folks do not use more hydroton in their pots. Now I know some do.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Some cuttings from my OG Bulbass Walmart Ficus.
Finally grew well last year....after 5!
In The ground. I want to see how big this root can get before it....or If it ever, breaks my basket. It's already almost 3 times bigger than the hole.
Anew!
Sorce
Finally grew well last year....after 5!
In The ground. I want to see how big this root can get before it....or If it ever, breaks my basket. It's already almost 3 times bigger than the hole.
Anew!
Sorce
Tentakelaertje
Omono
I did some stuff today:
Thinking of shortening everything. I hope I get back budding down low on the skywards pointing sticks.
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Guys,
my stupid suggestion ---------- please --------------- get some form of an Elm / Zelkova / Celtis.
Grow them alongside your ficus attempts.
As you grow them, my suggestion will become transparent.
Good Day
Anthony
my stupid suggestion ---------- please --------------- get some form of an Elm / Zelkova / Celtis.
Grow them alongside your ficus attempts.
As you grow them, my suggestion will become transparent.
Good Day
Anthony
Victorim
Omono
First couple of leaves opening and new buds on the tiger. Gently soil changed to inorganic and defoliated to outside two weeks ago. Feels alot more stable now too.. good sign 
StoneCloud
Omono
Victorim
Omono
Katsura bench buddy.
StoneCloud
Omono
Did you make the bench? If so that is awesome and hard work!
Then again so is making the $$$ to buy one lol
Victorim
Omono
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/tree-house.26587/
Wasn't expensive. Some modified shelf units with space saving in mind.
StoneCloud
Omono
How did I miss that thread lol nice!!
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
Took awhile to find this thread again......new to bonsai gets buried......
time for some work and a "restyle"...
I'll embrace the ugly and try to sort out some kind of apex. I'll update at some point. Any thoughts?
time for some work and a "restyle"...
I'll embrace the ugly and try to sort out some kind of apex. I'll update at some point. Any thoughts?
StoneCloud
Omono
@LanceMac10 Nice little, difficult tree 
The first thing I thought of when I saw the first pic was this (for what it's worth, I am no genius):
The first thing I thought of when I saw the first pic was this (for what it's worth, I am no genius):
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
@LanceMac10 Nice little, difficult tree
The first thing I thought of when I saw the first pic was this (for what it's worth, I am no genius):
View attachment 148132
Nooo way, don't cover that trunk. It's interesting, but I would NOT cover it up.
