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  1. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Retusa Bonsai Pruning (new to bonsai)

    Current status.
  2. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Retusa Bonsai Pruning (new to bonsai)

    Long time since an update on this Ficus. Here are 5 pics showing work from this past weekend. Pics show it in full summer growth, then followed by a pic after defoliating, lastly followed by 3 pics after wiring. I still have the large black rock to fit the bend in the trunk, but have removed...
  3. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Now that I have a bunch of new buds below the chops...do I chop off the last big branch that I originally left? Or do i leave it for now? The branch in question is in red in the firat two pics.
  4. Boise_Guy

    My First Fukien Tree...Hitting the Styling Wall

    Thx for the replies all! Im not singularly attached to the serpentine, but I also havent been in bonsai long enough to build up the deep seeded displeasure or dismissal of this style as so many of you have come to have...give me time though! I defintely can't plant it in the ground in my...
  5. Boise_Guy

    My First Fukien Tree...Hitting the Styling Wall

    I've had this tree almost a year now. Its been pretty healthy, but it had some styling issues Ive worked to try and overcome. I am starting to feel like by trying to fix the tree's problems, that I am styling myself right out of a tree. I got the tree while i still had a lot of learning to...
  6. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Three weeks post chop and this is the budding Im seeing. Most of it is on the trunk with the nice branch at its apex. However, there are two small buds on the other two trunks as seen on the first pic below... one is barely visible on the middle trunk and one noticable one on a fused portion...
  7. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Why of course I do! I've even got the google sheet documentation records and amazon cloud drive album to boot if you like! At the risk of confusing things, I'll just put the info here in this thread, but note that this post is regarding a different tree than all the other pics I've posted...
  8. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Yours is nicer than mine methinx. As per Sorce's suggestion, I'd at least consider trying to fuse the trunks (if thats what you are going for) prior to the chop. I'm doing that to another, smaller cluster of Ficus Benjamina now too. I used raffia to bring all the trunks together...then hurry...
  9. Boise_Guy

    Tree Identification

    @sorce I was just giving you a hard time about "hounding" me I know you were really just encouraging! Thx for the tip too. Hows this?
  10. Boise_Guy

    Tree Identification

    I took a swing at styling it. I'm not sure it's good enough, but it took so long to do it that eventually I had to call it good at some point. Opinions welcome, but keep in mind I'm a noob! I had wired it some awhile back and the wiring is a bit of a mess...I know I crossed some wires here or...
  11. Boise_Guy

    Species recommendation?

    I've been finding a lot of my ficus on Craigslist...often big ones that people don't want anymore because they are taking over the entry way of their house, or because they don't want to move it back inside in the fall. Most of these would require chopping. I haven't gone collecting yet much...
  12. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    I have several of these that I used last winter. My wife and I have even decided we like the pink light they give off as a light in the evening. When you walk past my house at night it probably seems suspicious as other may assume I might be growing something else....I have 4 south facing...
  13. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    I have some buds down on the trunk that has a branch at the top. The other two trunks are essentially branchless and nothing on them yet.
  14. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Root Base Spread & Chop Project

    I don't do just tropicals, although I do like them since as I'm starting out (1 year into crazy) and they are forgiving, grow fast, and give me something to do in winter. Here's a brief list of my other trees, virtually all of them in terra cotta pots and in various stages of training. I can...
  15. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Root Base Spread & Chop Project

    Good stuff Hemmy, thanks for sharing. This is the sort of thing I was looking for. Your estimation was right on-- I typically would take my Ficus in sometime in September when lows start getting below 50. I use LED grow lights to supplement some nice window locations that are S/SE window...
  16. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Root Base Spread & Chop Project

    I've got myself another big ficus! Benjamina I believe. I've only just recently chopped my first one and now it's time to start messing with this one :) Its 8 feet tall from bottom of pot to top of branches. Was potted just last year by previous owner, but he is using potting soil. I'm...
  17. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    ...and post chop pics. The biggest trunk had a knob on it that I decided to cut below, so its shorter than the other two trunks by a bit. This may be just fine though im thinking since the single large branch at the top is opposite the larger/shorter trunk -- so if i bend up this branch as a...
  18. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Two pics just prior to today's chop.
  19. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    See my post just above...but I should note, I would cut an inch or two higher than I marked...planning for die back. I wouldn't cut "right" above that branch.
  20. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Benjamina Chop

    Haven't chopped yet...trying to be patient and let those feeder roots grow a lot. It was pretty unstable in the pot after major tap root cutting in the fall so i used large rocks for stability. Its been outside about 5 weeks after being inside with grow light since fall. Its much less wobbly...
  21. Boise_Guy

    Tree Identification

    Its on a south facing bench where it gets full sun all day, practically from sunrise to sunset. Too much sun maybe...esp with the heat we can get here (90's F)? Thanks for all the replies everyone.
  22. Boise_Guy

    Tree Identification

    Anyone know what species this is? It was collected by someone in our local Bonsai Society years ago and has changed hands a couple times now. Also, ideas on pinching and/or pruning so that I can try to prevent this browning on the inner growth? Thanks for any advice in advance. - Boise_Guy
  23. Boise_Guy

    General Leaf Dropping Questions

    In general, when it comes to trees dropping leaves, I have a few questions for the more experienced folks: 1. If a tree's leaves are as starting to fall, should I encourage the weak leaves to drop sooner rather than later? If they are going to drop anyways, is the tree going to waste energy...
  24. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Retusa Bonsai Pruning (new to bonsai)

    Thanks for the advice CoffeeGirl. I never intended to get rid of it, I always really liked the base of this guy as well and I relished the challenge to transform it into something better, while also trying to alleviate some of the issues with the tree that other more experienced folks pointed...
  25. Boise_Guy

    Ficus Retusa Bonsai Pruning (new to bonsai)

    Thanks Sorce :) Yea, watering more often. Now its about twice a week. I've finally trained myself to trust in the chopstick (or bamboo skewer) method and I've got the hang of it now. I just didn't feel comfortable gauging it at first for some reason. This tree used to be in a much smaller...
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