Mallsai ginseng advice

[boguz]

Hi nuts. My friend gave me one of these mallsai(i think its ginseng w/ microcarpa graft). There is no taper also grafts are terrible, i dont like these plants but maybe i can try something on it. But there isnt any example in forums/youtube/web, or i couldnt find any.
So, what would you advise with that plant? I am planning cutting or air-layering from buttom.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Are those huge wire scars or machete strikes?

 

[Colorado]

I’d chop it back to the third branch!

 

[boguz]

Are those huge wire scars or machete strikes?

I think wire scars. Those scars are huge, i am not sure they can heal

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Are those huge wire scars or machete strikes?

Those are the marks of the stick they were tied, those comercial bonsais are several young Ficus microcarpa fused together then putted in the ground and tied around some bamboo sticks to give them the S shape, then grafted with a compact cultivar

 

[boguz]

Those are the marks of the stick they were tied, those comercial bonsais are several young Ficus microcarpa fused together then putted in the ground and tied around some bamboo sticks to give them the S shape, then grafted with a compact cultivar

Yes, it must be exactly i think its nice they are not ginseng. So, i can chop them hard in summer if they are ficus?

 

[Beanwagon]

If It were mine I would air layer it here

 

[Beanwagon]

You could get more layers if you wnted too aswell. Material like this is always fun to mess around with.

 

[19Mateo83]

You could get more layers if you wnted too aswell. Material like this is always fun to mess around with.


View attachment 441240

The lowest one you have marked would make an interesting tree.

 

[Beanwagon]

The lowest one you have marked would make an interesting tree.

Lots of options to play around with.

 

[boguz]

They all rooted.

 

[boguz]

Hey nuts.
It didnt go well and my 2 rooted plants died.
Now, i just have base. I wish i would chop taller.
I defolated as it yesterday. Lets see what will happen

 

[TimIAm]

Sorry to hear the cuttings didn't make it.

On a positive side you have a nice strong base and you will have a much more proportionate (taper) looking tree as it grows. You also won't have to deal with the large scars that were there.

You are likely going to have plenty of branches to wire in the future. Not sure how hard it is for you to order some bonsai wire, but might be something to consider. Good luck!