Ficus retusa styling help

[Forsoothe!]

Boo Hiss. I count separate 6 trees. If you chopped all but one you would have to do something about the roots. You have a nice clump that you can make into any height clump you wish. I think the on taller side would fit nicely the thin trunks. If you attempt to remove the smaller trunks and their roots you will be left with a very ordinary trunk with lots of witness marks from the removed crossing roots. God only knows what that will look like, but whatever it looks like will pale in comparison to what you have. Decide upon a height, chop it in an arc a grow the canopy on via clip & grow. Your group looks like they belong together: they are in harmony with each other. Here are two trees with an united canopy...
And on your trunks?

A little too low, thick and overbearing, but you can mount a more delicate crown and open interior to match the trunks and open space that is there. Now, compare in your mind's eye the bulky base you would have sans the extra thin trunks and you would never be able to overcome the skinny pole sticking up out of the giant base, never mind the witness lines of roots past. IMHO

 

[Maiden69]

Boo Hiss. I count separate 6 trees. If you chopped all but one you would have to do something about the roots. You have a nice clump that you can make into any height clump you wish.

This... this was made by stacking a bunch of cuttings on top of each other, and you can still tell where they are as they have not fully fuse together. In a few years it will be less noticeable. I don't think it will look good as a single trunk tree unless you cut the rest really short and allow the single one to thicken enough to look decent as a trunk progression.

 

[Ugo]

Boo Hiss. I count separate 6 trees. If you chopped all but one you would have to do something about the roots. You have a nice clump that you can make into any height clump you wish. I think the on taller side would fit nicely the thin trunks. If you attempt to remove the smaller trunks and their roots you will be left with a very ordinary trunk with lots of witness marks from the removed crossing roots. God only knows what that will look like, but whatever it looks like will pale in comparison to what you have. Decide upon a height, chop it in an arc a grow the canopy on via clip & grow. Your group looks like they belong together: they are in harmony with each other. Here are two trees with an united canopy...View attachment 397423
And on your trunks?
View attachment 397430
A little too low, thick and overbearing, but you can mount a more delicate crown and open interior to match the trunks and open space that is there. Now, compare in your mind's eye the bulky base you would have sans the extra thin trunks and you would never be able to overcome the skinny pole sticking up out of the giant base, never mind the witness lines of roots past. IMHO

Hi!

Thanks for your answer.
I must admit the tree wont look bad as a clump. I guess Im not used to that style (even if the tree was styled unintentionally that way) and can see the tree with more proportions now.
With the picture you provided (Thanks for that, I can't do nothing with a computer) it helps me keep things in perspective.
I think its important to have a clear view of the future of the tree ( that can change sometimes depending on alot of factors) but as a beginner I find it hard sometimes. There is so much work and decisions to take depending on the desired styling and desired size that I want to look at different solution before beginning to work towards that decision.
Theses choices are also in relation with techniques and experience but I get better and better each day the good thing is there's still a really long and interresting road ahead.

So thanks for the picture! It gives me a better view.

@Maiden69
Hi!
No the 6 branches you see are simply 6 shoots that are there since 20 years.
The roots are aerial roots again untouched for 20yrs.
I knew nothing better than just let it grow.
When I got this tree I separated it from another bigger tree. It had no branches and looked like a thumb planted in inadequate substrate.
7-8 shoots emerged from that "bulb" and I kept 6. Getting more informed now I can see clump style trees mostly have unpair number of trunks...
The cutting mark you see close to a branch at the back was a medium size branch I removed years ago.

 

[Ugo]

As a side note I decided to invest in a growing tent for the tree.
Winter is long here and Spring season is too cold so the tree doesnt see enought proper growing conditions.
I don't plan on getting more tropical trees, the idea of training bonsai with trees from your zone is an easier way to enjoy the hobby.
This little tree was given to me by my mother 20ish years ago so there is no way I will replace it with money, I will keep this tree for life so transforming it to reflect my feelings is my goal.

On the other hand money can help me buy equiment to give the tree a better environment, so with time and proper techniques I think this is possible.

Thanks again for your opinion and advises guys.

 

[Maiden69]

Wow, that is one slow growing ficus. I'm working on a shohin tiger bark and I am struggling to keep it small.

 

[Ugo]

Hi!

I would like to share the small progression of my ficus.

I bought a grow tent and the tree is in this controled environment since the middle of September.

After reading alot of informations I think I settle everything correctly.
The temperature inside bounce between 26.5 to 28.5C when the exhaust fan kick-in to decrease inside temp.
Humidity stays between 65 to 72% using a ultrasonic humidifier.
Lights are on for 14hrs a day.
There is also a small 6in fan running 24/7 for continuous air circulation.

The tree almost stop growing new leafs until now but grown alot of aerial roots since the humidity is alot higher Inside the tent.
As you can see Im doing a little expriment...
Im trying to grown moss on top of the substrate and making it part of the substrate instead of simply addind a layer of moss on top.
This is a mix of 50% sifted moss and 50% sifted Sphagnum Moss.
The moss start growing now and I think it will help keep moisture during the hot summer days.



The tree just started growing new leaves 2 days ago!

I dont plan keeping all the aerial roots but I want to see where this is going.
If the roots could fill some gaps around the trunk, keeping in mind the idea of reducing the height in a few years this tree could be interresting.

 

[Michael P]

Those new aerial roots are impressive. I know this is totally off the walls, but you could design with the aerial roots to a mangrove style:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/302656037446028135/

 

[Maiden69]

just an FYI in case you don't know. Once those roots touch down, they will increase the size of whatever is above them. So if you don't want something to get thicker than the part below it I would suggest trimming them. You could also wrap them close to the trunk and re-direct them to the nebari, that way once they thicken they will fuse with the lower portion of the tree helping it thicken as well.

 

[sorce]

I like the idea of cutting it back to that shorter frame on page 1.

But first...

I'd utilize what is growing now to change your trunk thicknesses.
Keeping the thinnest one thinned to 1/5.
The largest as full as it is and allowed to grow 5/5.
And try to 2/5, 3/5, 4/5 the others...
Ditching the one tweener that is most similar in the end.

This way you have different trunk sizes.

Then cut it back to a short frame.

Sorce

 

[Ugo]

just an FYI in case you don't know. Once those roots touch down, they will increase the size of whatever is above them. So if you don't want something to get thicker than the part below it I would suggest trimming them. You could also wrap them close to the trunk and re-direct them to the nebari, that way once they thicken they will fuse with the lower portion of the tree helping it thicken as well.

Hi!
To be honest Im here to share what I can but Im also here for thoses "FYI in case you don't know" comments, thank you for the information!

I decided to follow your advise and remove the roots that were too high and in places were I didnt want the trunk to increase in size.
On the other hand I kept some of the roots and guide them close to the trunk.
I used cut paste to stick them to the trunk until they fuse.
I couldn't think about another solution to precisely attach the roots without damaging the tree.
2 roots still have to be removed but I want to see if they can fuse lower down so I can cut the upper part, perfect example in the first picture.






I also had a little surprise while working on the tree. The roots are escaping from the bottom of the pot.


Thanks
Ugo

 

[luvinthemountains]

Hi!
To be honest Im here to share what I can but Im also here for thoses "FYI in case you don't know" comments, thank you for the information!

I decided to follow your advise and remove the roots that were too high and in places were I didnt want the trunk to increase in size.
On the other hand I kept some of the roots and guide them close to the trunk.
I used cut paste to stick them to the trunk until they fuse.
I couldn't think about another solution to precisely attach the roots without damaging the tree.
2 roots still have to be removed but I want to see if they can fuse lower down so I can cut the upper part, perfect example in the first picture.

Interesting idea...tell us how it works out. Something I have done is wait until the roots begin to harden but are still flexible, then repot the tree and reposition the roots. A zip tie works to hold them against the trunk.. For more delicate roots, I wonder if wrapping them with moist sphagnum would do it? Kind of like a root over rock. Speaking of that, one user here described draping roots over a rock, then wrapping them and pressing them against the rock with sand. Kind of genius.

 

[Michael P]

Vinyl grafting tape works well for doing this type of fusion. Others have used "vet wrap", a type of stretchy non-adhesive bandage.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Vinyl grafting tape works well for doing this type of fusion.

Good point! I should have thought of that, but sometimes all you have is a hammer...

 

[Ugo]

Interesting idea...tell us how it works out. Something I have done is wait until the roots begin to harden but are still flexible, then repot the tree and reposition the roots. A zip tie works to hold them against the trunk.. For more delicate roots, I wonder if wrapping them with moist sphagnum would do it? Kind of like a root over rock. Speaking of that, one user here described draping roots over a rock, then wrapping them and pressing them against the rock with sand. Kind of genius.

Hi!

Just to give an answer to your question it seems that holding the roots with cutting paste works just fine.
After about 2 weeks I now removed some extra cutting paste as the roots are set in place.

One interresting thing is alot of new aerial roots have grown from the trunk , through the roots held on the trunk and through the paste.
I guess its because humidity got trapped under the paste.

Some section of 1 or 2 roots will be removed as thebpoint was to make them fuse lower down on the trunk. I still want to know if a root is fully fused along the trunk what happen if you remove a section from its origin point to the fused part? A good example is the section on the left in the first picture starting from higher up. I would like to remove the origin point before the trunk swell but keep it there long enought so the lower fused part stay alive.




Left side



Right Side

 

[Ugo]

Hi!

I hope everyone is doing well.
I just want to discuss a bit more about desing of the tree.

Im not in a bonsai club, I dont follow online courses online (yet) so this forum is about the only place where I can write and read about bonsai so I hope I dont bother anyone with my "updates" and my novice English writing.

That aside, I think, with your help, I finally had a "vision" of the tree.
My small collection, except for my ficus, is now experiencing winter, outside in a cold shelter.
I did the best I knew for them, but they now have to survive pretty much by their own until late winter.
It leaves me time to think, plan, and learn more while still hoping they will all survive!

My ficus, is on the other hand easily accessible so I can enjoy the progression all year long.

As I am starting to have more experience and what I can call for now basic knowledge, I think I just understood something that Im sure is obvious for some people but wasnt for me until recently.
You have to have a clear idea of the tree in the future.

Im sure there is beautiful results that can come from working on trees without a desing in mind but Im now conviced that a desing help you apply the techniques you learned towards a goal and it also give you the ability to understand exactly why you apply the technique.
As a self-taught beginner, I started reading in the middle of the book....
Bonsai universe is very large, with infinite possibilities so a "starting" point is pretty much impossible to find.

I think I tried to learn techniques without really knowing the real reason of why I was using them.
I learned about tools, I learned and still learn about the good timing to apply theses techniques and more subjects but I think the first step in bonsai journey, appart form knowing your zone and some interresting species around you, would be knowing that a tree possibilites are infinite in some given parameters.
In term of desing take one of theses possibilites and stick to it as much as possible.
A tree for me is now a fractal, not a complex desing but it multiply itself over and over while taking expansion but as bonsai artist we can influence and maintain, as mother nature would do, the overall look of that shape.

To make a long story short I finally made a "drawing" of my ficus, a desing I want to work towards.
Im defenately not a drawing artist but having a visual ,even a basic one, helps me more than I first tought.


Thanks for reading
Ugo

 

[Ugo]

Hi

I just want to share a little progression.
I decided to wire one of the biggest branches and work towards the desing idea.
For now I used what I already had to see the final lenght as it is.
I might encourage some back budding and cut that branche closer to the trunk cause I find it too long but for now I wanted to see what it would look like.
I might even Jin a part of that branch when I will cut the tip during next growing season.

The other branches will also have to be reworked but I had to do more work on this one so I decided to start with it.

I used 5mm wires, rafia and guy wire to make the bend.

 

[Ugo]

The tree wired

I think I will take more time to decide if I chop theses branches lower down or not as I think the tree could look good with this styling.
View attachment 414540

 

[Ugo]

Hi!

I just realise that I didnt include any pictures in my last post...

Here's the tree now.
Not much changes except the wiring to work towards the new style.

Unfortunately not every branches are at the same stage but I tried to focus on placing the new growing branches horizontal and towards the exterior of the canopy.

As Im trying to learn more on bonsai aesthetic I was wondering what are the major flaws you can observe on this tree.

Thanks for your help.

Just to give you a idea of the advancement:

April 2021


Actual front


Left Side


Right side


Closer view top right side


Back


Tertiary ramification





Nebari without roots work

 

[19Mateo83]

I gotta say I enjoy this tree. Once those aerial roots you stuck to the trunk thicken up the trunk is going to look very natural.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Looks like it is coming along nicely. I know you are already working it with that guy wire, but the rightmost trunk probably needs to come down farther.