Rain tree and Fig Tree suggestions?

[remist17]

Rain tree and Fig Tree suggestions? Photos Updated

I picked up these two trees. They have grown a good bit. Can anyone advise trimming and wiring on these?

When do I need to stop or start trimming.

Add these photos. Sorry it was really early when I took them. I do not have the best camera.


Ones a Brazilian Rain Tree

Second one is a Ficus Burtt-Davy.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Can you get pictures against a plain background please? It all blends.

 

[remist17]

sorry
Will retake

 

[remist17]

updated photos

 

[treebeard55]

The updates photos aren't showing up for me, but I can see enough on the originals to offer a couple of thoughts.

First, have you decided how big you want these to be when finished? Even deciding on a size range (for example, "18-24 inches,") will help you make some decisions.

Second, your veldt fig (Ficus burtt-davyi) is quite tall for its girth. It also has that low branch. You could air-layer just above that branch and end up with two fig trees to play with. Most Ficus species air-layers easily.

 

[remist17]

sorry about the additional photos. I post below. I think the 12-16 inch range is what I am looking at.

How about the BRT?

 

[jason biggs]

hi there,i would wait for spring + cut your ficus right down.here are a few of my burtt davy-nothing special but here goes.They make awesome aerial roots...

 

[sammiboii]

The updates photos aren't showing up for me, but I can see enough on the originals to offer a couple of thoughts.

First, have you decided how big you want these to be when finished? Even deciding on a size range (for example, "18-24 inches,") will help you make some decisions.

Second, your veldt fig (Ficus burtt-davyi) is quite tall for its girth. It also has that low branch. You could air-layer just above that branch and end up with two fig trees to play with. Most Ficus species air-layers easily.

I second his opinion. Deciding on how big you want the tree will definitely tighten your options. I think raintrees are some of the best species for bonsai. You could do a Pierneef style tree or umbrella style tree, or you could do a tree like Budi Sulistyo did, which is kind of like an oak style, I guess one might call it that.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=budi+sulistyo+raintree&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&tbs=isz:l&tbm=isch&tbnid=GD57FYEjjD9vNM:&imgrefurl=http://budi-sulistyo.ofbonsai.org/2011/04/26/brazilian-rain-tree/&docid=9Et5cgldlqgTzM&w=2568&h=2036&ei=VeFnTrSgD8HZgQfc-f3JDA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=222&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=175&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=126&ty=56&biw=1440&bih=785

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t7670-pierneef-flat-top-rain-tree-discouragement