Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

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bonsai_beginner
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Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

Hey everyone,
Hope you're all having a great day.

I just got three Ficus Benjamina for dirt cheap. They are quite large and wild, and looks like they were once multiple trees but have formed into one.

I'll upload a few photos of each tree, I'm just curious if there is any potential with them. They have nice bases and trunks with lots of strong root growth.

Tree 1. Image base of tree 1

Image tree 1

Image tree 1

This is tree 2
Image base of tree 2

Image tree 2

Image tree 2

This is tree 3:
This tree is quite large and really root bound

Image base of tree 3

Image tree 3

Image tree 3

Image tree 3

Image this is what the tees look like


What do you guys think?
Potential for a bonsai in these trees?

Any opinion or advice is very much welcomed.
Thank you



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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by kcpoole »

They look quite similar to one i got a year or so ago. mine is only twin trunks tho.
Cut them Back now to forceback buds low down and then in a few weeks one it warms up, Repot and sort out the roots.
Maybe wire them to pull some space between the trunks too.

Ken
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by Bougy Fan »

Yep what he said :whistle: Get some movement in them as they grow back - most benjis look like telegraph l poles,
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by Andrew F »

I'd try and configure the roots so that you can make a forest/multi trunk banyan out of all three combined. Only because Im pretty keen to try it my self. :whistle:

I bought a similar benji and did this with it: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=953&hilit=benji&start=2745


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bonsai_beginner
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

Thanks heaps guys!

So it's okay to cut them back now? I live in Melbourne and I've been told not to do any major cuts till it's warmer. Is this correct?

I was pretty happy with the buy. All 3 for $24!!


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bonsai_beginner
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

I've just done a little draw with a black line as to where I think I might cut it back to.

Thoughts?

Tree 1:
I wanted to cut it above the section where it had grafted together but I'm not sure if it is too high up

Image

Tree 2:
Image

Tree 3:
This one is very messy with quite a few different trees in the one. I'm a little unsure what to do with this one and where to cut, but I've still drawn on the image as a possibility

Image


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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by Andrew F »

bonsai_beginner wrote:Thanks heaps guys!

So it's okay to cut them back now? I live in Melbourne and I've been told not to do any major cuts till it's warmer. Is this correct?

I was pretty happy with the buy. All 3 for $24!!


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Yeah I would pump the brakes on that till its warms up more. For now you can feed and water it accordingly to get the the trees as healthy as possible so they bounce right back when you prune them.
bonsai_beginner
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

Yeah think I'll hold off till it warms up before cutting.

Thanks guys



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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by mtarros »

Just be carful when cutting back Ficus Benjamin, always cut back to the lower leaves as they won't always back bud if you cut back to no leaves.

I lost a big one trying to trunk chop it then read something about not doing that.
bonsai_beginner
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

mtarros wrote:Just be carful when cutting back Ficus Benjamin, always cut back to the lower leaves as they won't always back bud if you cut back to no leaves.

I lost a big one trying to trunk chop it then read something about not doing that.
Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?




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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by Pearcy001 »

bonsai_beginner wrote:Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?
You may need to do it over a couple of seasons if you want to play it safe.

Chop to the lowest piece of foliage when it warms then wait for it to back bud lower. Then you can select the new lowest bud again for the new leader and chop again.

Rinse repeat until you got to the desired height.
Last edited by Pearcy001 on August 30th, 2015, 10:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
bonsai_beginner
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by bonsai_beginner »

Pearcy001 wrote:
bonsai_beginner wrote:Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?
You may need to do it over a couple of seasons if you want to play it safe.

Chop to the lowest piece of foliage when it warms then wait for it to back bud lower. Then you can select the new lowest bud again for the new leader and chop again.

Rinse repeat until you got to the desired height.
Thanks for the advice!! Very very helpful



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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by alpineart »

Mate if you want to play simply layer the tops of for instant clump / group banyan style tree's that are easily wired . The layer will have the same effect as a chop top and force back budding down the bases . An open pot layer is easily done and maintained and pre potted on removal , although with Figs make it a bigger than usual pot for the layer .

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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by Jarad »

If they are pot bound, it might also be a good idea to get them into some bigger pots to let the roots grow.
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Re: Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

Post by vtbao »

I think make a forest is a good idea. In summer, put them all in a big pot, chop them, and feed them well for few years.
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