Ficus Fusion Project

[Redwood Ryan]

Ryan why don't you roll your cone out of the plastic hobby screen we use for screens on pots? It seems plenty stiff enough considering it will gain strength being rolled anyway, and it would not rot either.

ed

Thanks Ed, but I don't think it'd be nearly as sturdy as needed, even when rolled. This won't rot either, it's supposed to be suited for outdoor conditions.

Now I'm just afraid that I may have trimmed some of my other microcarpas and those cuttings wound up with the other cuttings, so that I've got cuttings from different trees all together. Uh oh.

 

[tmmason10]

Now I'm just afraid that I may have trimmed some of my other microcarpas and those cuttings wound up with the other cuttings, so that I've got cuttings from different trees all together. Uh oh.

Frankentree!

Didn't Al have a franken going? I wonder how its done...

 

[jkd2572]

I would not use the small pot screen as any internal roots that drop would eventually be choked out. I would use the cone. Carve out the interior and poke holes in it. I would think the internal ficus roots that would drop would eventually crush the foam.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I would not use the small pot screen as any internal roots that drop would eventually be choked out. I would use the cone. Carve out the interior and poke holes in it. I would think the internal ficus roots that would drop would eventually crush the foam.

I think I'll just stick with this...

 

[jkd2572]

I like it a lot holes look big enough.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I like it a lot holes look big enough.

Oh the holes won't be an issue.

 

[tmmason10]

I think I'll just stick with this...
View attachment 39202

Looks good, I knew you'd get it. Can you roll the ends of those wire ties into the middle of the cone?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Looks good, I knew you'd get it. Can you roll the ends of those wire ties into the middle of the cone?

Hmm I don't think so. They'll be there no matter what I do. Could probably use bread ties though.

 

[jkd2572]

You can always cut he ties out once everything takes hold.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

You can always cut he ties out once everything takes hold.

I dunno, it would probably just spring back outward.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

So it looks like I'll have to let the cuttings grow out and get taller before wrapping them, as this guy shows that the seedlings he used had no lower growth, it was all up top:
http://www.marinhomestead.com/bonsai/ficus-fusing-bonsai/

 

[jkd2572]

I dunno, it would probably just spring back outward.

Or simply tie together with the smallest bonsai wire you have.........

 

[marcosolo]

Cheaters.....

 

[Poink88]

If you cut the edge flush to the perpendicular wire end...you will have "hanging" wires...looking like E. You can bend those in to the overlap of the cone to secure it. Use a long nose fliers. No need for zip ties and much cleaner.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Cheaters.....

We've been over this. Stop commenting if all you're going to do is cry "cheaters."

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Made another cone, this one is a bit smaller though (one on the right). I've got another Willow Leaf '89 arriving next week, so it should give me plenty of cuttings to stick to this one....

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Since I've got some spare funnels now, I took the liberty to trim a couple of my natalensis. I then took the cuttings, potted them up, and stuck them in a little greenhouse indoors. I'll wait for them to grow long and strong, then fuse them together around a cone. While they didn't all come from the same tree, I took them from trees that started as cuttings from the same tree. So these are like grandchild cuttings. Picture time:

 

[marcosolo]

We've been over this. Stop commenting if all you're going to do is cry "cheaters."

I'm sorry, but when your tree is crushed after removing that conical form by falling debris or by the chance fall, I'll be right here.....

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I'm sorry, but when your tree is crushed after removing that cylindrical form by falling debris or by the chance fall, I'll be right here.....

Alright, except:

#1. I won't be removing it.
#2. Go tell Doug Philips how much of a failure he is for doing exactly what I'm doing. Did he fail? No. Oh, but the internet troll classifies him as a cheater.

 

[marcosolo]

Alright, except:

#1. I won't be removing it.
#2. Go tell Doug Philips how much of a failure he is for doing exactly what I'm doing. Did he fail? No. Oh, but the internet troll classifies him as a cheater.

You won"t be removing it?...So you saying your going to have a composition that is half-metal and half-living tree.....Yeah, that isn't cheating...Not trolling, I just don't like the idea of that much artificiality in a composition...People spend DECADES developing a trunk from nothing and you just run in and do it in a matter of a year or two.....I guess I just value the natural side of the art over speedy progress.....I really don't care what's been accomplished by this method, because once it is known that the method was used, most of the awe will have escaped from the piece due to it's blatant contrived manufacture.....