The starter Ficus repository!

Just cut every branch on one of my tigers back to two leaves again. Only 2 Months And Interior Was Getting Too Shaded out.

Styling wise not sure what the hell this tree wants to be. Nothing has 'clicked' in my head yet. It's an odd tree and I like it though it's not textbook.

Before

20170707_202711.jpg


After

20170708_070902.jpg
 
Decide what you want --------

[1] Radial Roots and thick trunk

or

[2] Decorative aerial roots and a trunk.

If you draw, I would suggest drawing an idea or two,
Plan ahead.

Being a ficus you might be able to grow extension branches of 3 feet and get
the trunk to thicken in the present pot. One branch extended a year, until you understand
what you are trying to achieve,
This is where the drawing helps the memory. Lightens the memory load and
the mind can focus on other aspects.
Good Day
Anthony

* I believe this is a green hat and beautiful roots/trunk type.
See Penjing [ youtube ]
 
Anthony said:
Decide what you want --------

[1] Radial Roots and thick trunk

or

[2] Decorative aerial roots and a trunk.

If you draw, I would suggest drawing an idea or two,
Plan ahead.

Being a ficus you might be able to grow extension branches of 3 feet and get
the trunk to thicken in the present pot. One branch extended a year, until you understand
what you are trying to achieve,
This is where the drawing helps the memory. Lightens the memory load and
the mind can focus on other aspects.
Good Day
Anthony

* I believe this is a green hat and beautiful roots/trunk type.
See Penjing [ youtube ]
Click to expand...


I too am thinking roots/trunk tree on this one also. I've gotten 2 aerials to grow and reach the ground on it so far. There are a few more starting.

The two branches below I was considering removing. They both add to the canopy, however with the branch on the right for example, if removed I would bring the canopy lower by bringing the other branches down.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

ficus.jpg
 
Trunk comes out of the ground too straight. Try tilting the pot with some blocks to the viewers right and a little towards the viewer.
Chop above the third branch from the bottom and make your tree out of those three lower branches.
A hard chop in your climate, ( imagine you have plenty of time now), should give plenty of time for back budding to build a couple more branches.
If you want to style with some aerial roots, at least make sure they come straight down into the soil if you don't end up trying to wrap them around the trunk.
Just some suggestions from the cold north.....I've got six years into a couple figs and up here it's PAINFULLY slow process!!!!!:(:(:(:(
 
LanceMac10 said:
Trunk comes out of the ground too straight. Try tilting the pot with some blocks to the viewers right and a little towards the viewer.
Chop above the third branch from the bottom and make your tree out of those three lower branches.
A hard chop in your climate, ( imagine you have plenty of time now), should give plenty of time for back budding to build a couple more branches.
If you want to style with some aerial roots, at least make sure they come straight down into the soil if you don't end up trying to wrap them around the trunk.
Just some suggestions from the cold north.....I've got six years into a couple figs and up here it's PAINFULLY slow process!!!!!:(:(:(:(
Click to expand...


Thanks Lance, that isn't a bad idea :) I was thinking chopping it above the 2nd branch but didn't because it just didn't seem right, but above the 3rd branch..........now that I like lol

Give me about 10 min , gonna tile the pot and post an updated pic!

I love them, but yes they are tedious. I never had ficus when I lived up north in NY, I'm not into the whole bring trees inside deal, too much work and I'm lazy haha. But I an imagine they slowness you have with them.
 
@StoneCloud ,

okay, suggestion ---------------- use thickening of first branch to heal the wound.
Ficus wood rots very easily, and I am not sure how it would work as a hollow trunk tree.

We have a Ficus natasha that decayed back to just the bark and is now regrowing.
But I am not sure if that makes any sense for you.
Good Day
Anthony
 
Anthony said:
@StoneCloud ,

okay, suggestion ---------------- use thickening of first branch to heal the wound.
Ficus wood rots very easily, and I am not sure how it would work as a hollow trunk tree.

We have a Ficus natasha that decayed back to just the bark and is now regrowing.
But I am not sure if that makes any sense for you.
Good Day
Anthony
Click to expand...

Thank you. Yes the rot is quick here too. Other than rain I avoid wetting the trunk. But it doesn't help much lol

Hollow trunk is odd on a ficus. Though it may be doable. :-) not this one I don't think though
 
Anthony said:
Seriously one day you guys have to explain to me this fascination with the Ficus ????????????????????????

Much rather have a Sageretia t or a Fukien tea or a Tamarind or a Pine or a Gmelina.
Good Day
Anthony
Click to expand...



The trees you mentioned grow like crap in my climate. Ficus only marginally better!:(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
Anthony said:
Seriously one day you guys have to explain to me this fascination with the Ficus ????????????????????????

Much rather have a Sageretia t or a Fukien tea or a Tamarind or a Pine or a Gmelina.
Good Day
Anthony
Click to expand...

Anthony, I guess the reason I started his thread is because the Ficus is often many peoples introduction to bonsai as they are very common as Mallsai(I deliberately left that word from the thread title) and they are often received as gifts and such so I wanted a place where people can post and show just what can be done with them or ask advice and just because they may not seem the most desirable species people shouldn't get disillusioned by them.

As it turns out it quite a few of us enjoy playing with them, which I think is pretty cool.
I think the truth is many mallsai ficus can do with 5 years of growth before mucking about with them but at the same time they are a good species to cut ones teeth on, at least that is what I'm finding. They are tough, can put up with mistakes and have growing patterns that are easy to spot.

I think I'm also inspired by those who share some of the more advanced material too, I enjoy seeing that.

I agree with you though on the last part, for me I would much rather have Australian native plants(could be a communal thread on that too :D ) but here that is a slow process that I either have to start from seed or develop from a limited selection of nursery stock. At least the ficus is a great time filler in the interim with the added bonus they are hard to kill.

This is my thoughts at least.
 
Anthony said:
Seriously one day you guys have to explain to me this fascination with the Ficus ????????????????????????

Much rather have a Sageretia t or a Fukien tea or a Tamarind or a Pine or a Gmelina.
Good Day
Anthony
Click to expand...

A ficus was the first tree I purchased. I went to the Bonsai Garden, and the lady showed me some junipers for $30 that didn't look like a Bonsai at all. She explained a great deal to me in a short time much of which I just went right over my head as I smiled and nodded.

Then we went into the greenhouse and it was March. She had this massive ficus she called big daddy. I swear the base of the trunk was as round as a soccer ball, it curved and turned and I could just stare at it in amazement. She said it was about 50 years old ( probably older :rolleyes: after my online research) I just imagined having a tree like this in my man cave watching football on Sundays.

Then she showed me a small one and it was tiger bark.... TIGER BARK!!!!

The thought of this royally magnificent tree in tiger bark along with LSU and New Orleans Saints football was just perfect for me envisioning myself as an old man.

THEN SHE SAID IT WAS ONLY $15!! She threw in bonsai 101 essential tips by harry Tomlinson... I only had $25 so I said SOLD!!!

Had I known the difference between deciduous and conifers and inside and outside I may have went a different way.... but it's sentimental to me as my first tree. It is loved and means more to me than all the others lol It gets the royal treatment. :D
 
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