AusBonsai

I picked up this Ficus Nerifolia from Bonsai South a few weeks back,
I have cut it back hard and repotted it looking to achieve a cubby little bonsai over the coming years.

Nice work! Looks really cool and burly already.

If you wanted to smooth out that bulge on the left in the long-term, you could try thread grafting some of the whips you get out of it this spring, emerging out just under the middle of the dip. But it already has a beefy burly character to it already, so it's entirely optional!

3 months ago i did shoot selection and initial branch placement,
I have been concentrating on thickening up the lower branches and holding back the growth of the top section.
Hopefully this will help with the overall balance of the branches and the overall tree.

The only drama i had was i snapped off an important lower rear branch during its second wiring.... i was not happy and i think the whole suburb heard it.
The great news is a new shoot has emerged from the same location and the plan is to let it grow freely over the next session to catch up to the rest of the tree.

overall i am happy with the progress its made in a relatively short time.

Hello Iliya,

The tree is looking very good, your plan is progressing well.
What was it the whole neighbour heard?
Surely you didn't say

Thanks for posting the update.
Kevin

Fantastic progress in such a short time. Nice tree

I defoliated this one 4 weeks ago and potted it this weekend.

Im pleased its pushing new buds in the area i snapped an important back branch during a rewire early this year.

Overall im happy with its development considering its only been about 12 months.

What a transformation in a little over 1 year
If you don't mind me asking what are the dimensions?

As it sits now it's 32cm tall 28cm wide

just an update on this one

Very uniform and fairly epic!
Nice.

Good trunk chop and nice wiring.

Now find some pictures of mature nerifolias and see how yours matches and consider moving to a more naturalistic style..
Only conifers have a typical triangular shape and horizontal branches all the way up, not other species.

Naka said your bonsai should look like a tree; your tree should not look like a bonsai.

One can see why the Bonsai scene does not flourish with such negative comments and some will not use this forum for that reason. Its obvious Iliya knows what he's doing and I'm sure he has other trees in a "naturalistic" style in his collection. People need to be less critical and more constructive, or maybe refrain.Nice tree Iliya I like it Cheers Peter

Absolutely Peter.

The old adage that Bonsai is Art and all up to personal tastes...

While it may not look like a fig in nature I do appreciate the skill level he has to get it to this level in such a short time . Also if you look at a lot of the large Vietnamese microcarpa figs they are styled in a very simular shape. Leon at bonsai south has many great examples. Each to there own and if Iliya likes the way its heading that's all that matters but I do realize if you put a tree up for comment on a public forum you gonna get just that.

I like it, it cuts an impressive silhouette.

Steve did just say that it was his 2 cents so no biggie.

I definitely think there is room for a bit of both in bonsai.