Shriveling Leaves on Ficus Salicaria

[anb5231]

I am re-posting this here from the "new to bonsai thread" as this seems more appropriate:

I purchased this Ficus Salicaria from a nursery about a month ago as a pre-bonsai. I am hoping to thicken up the trunk before selecting and wiring branches.

I potted it in 2/3 growers mix (pine bark, sphagnum, peanut hulls) and 1/3 Vermiculite. It had/has dense vigorous growth but the newest budding leaves look brown, tiny and shriveled. I am wondering if this is normal or if there is something I can pro-actively do to improve the health of the tree.

Immediately after re-potting it was watered with a 20-20-20 fertilizer(1 tsp/gallon)

Two pictures are attached.

Any advice on care or future styling is greatly appreciated.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

That looks pretty healthy to me. New growth emerges red (and a little contorted) when the tree is receiving good amounts of light and is considered a sign of health.

 

[anb5231]

Thanks!

Thanks! I thought I might have been being dramatic but wanted to check just in case.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

As far as styling, I like to clip and grow with these guys over wiring. My plan would be to trim all of the growth from past the first two branches up past the bend in the trunk. This will help strengthen the bottom two branches for your future mother tree. Some where well past the bend, you can start to style the child tree connected for a year or two and then taken as a cutting. Since you have full control of where the roots emerge you can often capture complex movement near the base as well as enhancing the taper and even the radius of the trunk by encouraging roots at the right angle.

Post your zone or location for care advice.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Those new leaves are exactly what you want them to look like. Like Mr FancyPlants said, you can just cut the top off down the road and root it. Right below the bend near the top would give cool movement to the second tree's base.

It would be helpful if you filled out your location/USDA zone, so we could advise you better in the future.

 

[anb5231]

Thanks for the tips

I am climate zone 7a Philadelphia, PA.

So are you guys suggesting leaving the first two very low branches then root grafting the top farther down than the road?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Yes I agree, right below the bend for the second tree. No need to graft roots these are pretty bulletproof as cuttings. What I do is cut the second section off beow where you want your roots and then sharpen the stick like you are making a marshmellow stick carving off the bark until where you want your roots. Then you can use the pointy stick to help anchor the tree in place while the roots form. Check out my http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?9586-Ficus-b-(too-ugly)&highlight=ugly thread for an example.

 

[anb5231]

Styling Question

Thanks for the forum on rooting cuttings

Alright I understand the idea now.

I was allowing it grow tall just to thicken the trunk before chopping. But styling the top and then salvaging it for a second tree after the chop sounds fun.

I am having trouble picturing the lowest branch as part of a more developed tree though. Is the suggestion to leave it as a sacrifice to increase taper or use it in the styled tree. Here's a closer up picture of the potential mother tree..