Ficus forest

[wattynine]

Thought I would post this for critique.
The pot is a Hebel pot I made myself.

CIMG3102.JPG

The selection of trees to choose from

CIMG3105.JPG

roughly put in the pot to get a composition, finished up using all the trees

CIMG3108.JPG

then actually planted in

CIMG3109.JPG

defoliated and wired

CIMG3115.JPG

now just have to wait for the re-foliation to happen
hope you enjoy
Watty

[kez]

Nice,

Straight out of a jungle, going to look awesome when it comes back into leaf, and as it progresses

Cheers for posting,

Kerin

[Duckbed]

Nice Idea. can't wait to see the development on this... Particularly the root over head!

Keep us updated.

Rick

[Bush bunny]

Very nice, I love the pot? And stones too.

[Bush bunny]

No disrespect to anyone, but that is one of the most interesting bonsai groups I have seen. I was wondering what to do with my two ficus, and I have a pot not unlike yours, I might buy another from Bunnings to make a trio. Thanks for sharing.

luv

[Bush bunny]

Hi again, pesky aren't I? What soil mix did you use? They like well drained don't they with more sharp grit than other species?

[wattynine]

Hey BB, thanks for the positive feedback.
My soil mix isn't a big secret and similar to a lot I have seen on this site and others.
approx. 1/3 pine bark, 1/3 5mm scoria, 1/3 Diatomite, I keep it soaked with Seasol for about three months in garbage bins to assist in the decomposition of the pine bark. I do a PH test and adjust if necessary.
I hope you fine this of assistance
PS. this medium mix is used for everything, not just my figs

[Bush bunny]

Thanks Watti, I don't use d but I'll adjust. I was really impressed. Thanks.

[bonsaiboy50]

Great work , I know some of the purest on this site might dismiss it as not being pure bonsai but I just love it. Great work on the pot and I just love the root over head I have done a large fig forest myself ( pic attatched), now I am thinking of a redesign. Love to see it when its in leaf.

[Rory]

No disrespect to anyone, but that is one of the most interesting bonsai groups I have seen. I was wondering what to do with my two ficus, and I have a pot not unlike yours, I might buy another from Bunnings to make a trio. Thanks for sharing.

luv

My suggestion would be to give bunnings the flick, even though I do have shares in Wesfarmers, but they are not a great source for plant stock. Just place or review the sale sections here on ausbonsai, and you can always get some great bargains for low prices.

[wattynine]

Thanks all for the positive responses.
If I may bonsaiboy, yours also is a fantastic composition of trees but that pot is to overbearing, just to big and chunky, think you could go down to a shallow one?
Thanks all
Watty

[bonsaiboy50]

As for pots, I just have to use what I can get. Pots of this size are very expensive and the range is very limited where I live.

Thanks all for the positive responses.
If I may bonsaiboy, yours also is a fantastic composition of trees but that pot is to overbearing, just to big and chunky, think you could go down to a shallow one?
Thanks all
Watty

[SLR5000]

Hi Watty,
Could you please let me know, how did you go about colouring your hebel pot.
Lance

[wattynine]

Bonsaiboy, I feel your pot pain, same here, get what you can.
That's why I began making my own and I can customise them to whatever I want.
SLR, one thing I did find Bunnings useful for, it,s just a concrete colouring additive but I used three different layers of colors to get the texture right, experiment.
Hope this helps
Watty

[Bush bunny]

I was inspired by your ficus forest and pot, so I rang Bunnings and asked them did they have anymore ficus. (I have bought three from them, one died from environment change, the other two are still acclimatising in my aquarium hospital tank.) She said, 'No Ficus don't sell well so we haven't any'? I told her 'that was because they are tropicals coming from Sydney, and have to be cared for well in winter or cold springs in Armidale). They may be learning?

So I will have to have my two on their own right now, but I will think of something.
I love your pot.