Schefflera advice

[SubJeezy]

I'm looking for some advice on turning this 5 branched Scheff into a small Forrest bonsai. I've got a handful of of questions, and any and all input would be appreciated.

Firstly, propagation and replanting. I know propagation is fairly straightforward on Scheffs. The first question is: should I defoliate the branches before put them in water, or is leaving the leaves a better option?

The second is about replanting in the same pot as the original trunk. Do I need to do a hefty root trim on the existing roots in the pot before I put fresh soil? Or will the added trunks roots intermingle well with the existing root structure in the pot? It was recently repoted due to its original being in very bad shape when it came to me.

The third is: How would you arrange them? There's 5 branches not including the existing trunk. New to the bonsai forest method, and any insight would be appreciated.

I'm not looking to make it some crazy intermingled mess of Ariel roots like some of the masterpieces floating around here. Unfortunately living in 5b-6a doesn't lend itself to that. I just wanna get some practice in the method. Planning on repoting it the same pot for a while while it establishes the new growth after propagation

 

[Shibui]

Very easy to root cuttings. Strip off lower leaves but leave 2 or 3 top leaves to help feed the stem while it makes new roots. If the remaining leaves are real big cut some lobes off to reduce leaf mass or trim all leaf blades by half to achieve the same. Cuttings can be rooted in water or straight into potting soil. Keep soil moist but not soaking wet except right after watering. A cover (plastic bag, chopped plastic bottle, etc helps maintain humidity in dry locations.

Rooted cuttings will do better if you reduce the main plant's roots when you add the new ones in. I would pot the new rooted cuttings into separate pots for a few months at least to get them growing strong before adding to the main tree.

The third is: How would you arrange them? There's 5 branches not including the existing trunk. New to the bonsai forest method, and any insight would be appreciated.

Just need to clarify what your idea of forest planting is? Are you aiming to chop all the branches, root them then use the 5 new plants with the original trunk?

 

[SubJeezy]

Just need to clarify what your idea of forest planting is? Are you aiming to chop all the branches, root them then use the 5 new plants with the original trunk

I appreciate the input on the first two questions, and yea, most likely. I haven't 100%decided on it yet, but I was probably going to cut all the branches, leave the trunk and take a 4inch cutting off the top of the trunk, just to try to keep them roughly the same length. Having 5 or 6 new trunks to work on getting that wide canopy cover.

 

[Shibui]

OK. That tallies with my concept too.
Just a couple of minor things for group style bonsai:
Trunks should have different thickness and different height to look natural. Thickest trunk is usually the tallest and close to middle of the group. I guess that will be the existing trunk so leave it a bit taller than any cuttings so there is some difference when it's put together.
Make sure that trunk placement is 'random' Different spacing is easier said than done. You will find yourself spacing the new trunks evenly if you are not really focussing on random spacings. A couple planted real close as a twin trunk looks good and helps with the random spacing look.

With smaller numbers of trunks odd numbers look better so 5 or 7 trunks will be easier to arrange.

Summer is the ideal time to repot schefflera and other tropicals. Your cuttings may be ready in time to do it this summer but if they are slow, pot up the cuttings in separate pots until next year.

 

[SubJeezy]

Awesome. I appreciate the insight! It all makes a lot of sense. We're unfortunately having a ridiculously cloudy and wet spring here. I'll chop them here soon for propagation and see how things go. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out!

 

[Weaponman]

Awesome. I appreciate the insight! It all makes a lot of sense. We're unfortunately having a ridiculously cloudy and wet spring here. I'll chop them here soon for propagation and see how things go. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out!

If the fun of cuttings and propagation doesn’t come out so good, You also might want to think about doing a forest group straight from big box nursery stock. This is because normally scheffleras are already a multi stemmed group in a pot, and their root masses separate very easily.