First Ficus
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
First Ficus
Hi all,
Today I acquired my first Ficus, it's labelled as a Ficus Retusa and 10 y.o.
Sorry about the pic, I can upload more and better ones tomorrow if needed but on first impressions that is the most aesthetically pleasing angle to me at least.
Anyway as it is winter here I guess there is not a lot to be done just yet but any advice for now or the future would be greatly appreciated. My plan is to bring it in at night as long as it is dropping below 10°c and put back out in the day and other than that just keep an eye on watering and misting the air roots(whole plant really) as needed.
Does that sound about right or is there much else I could be doing?
Thanks for looking.
Today I acquired my first Ficus, it's labelled as a Ficus Retusa and 10 y.o.
Sorry about the pic, I can upload more and better ones tomorrow if needed but on first impressions that is the most aesthetically pleasing angle to me at least.
Anyway as it is winter here I guess there is not a lot to be done just yet but any advice for now or the future would be greatly appreciated. My plan is to bring it in at night as long as it is dropping below 10°c and put back out in the day and other than that just keep an eye on watering and misting the air roots(whole plant really) as needed.
Does that sound about right or is there much else I could be doing?
Thanks for looking.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Rintar
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 570
- Joined: April 11th, 2012, 11:22 pm
- Favorite Species: all mostly natives
- Bonsai Age: 6
- Bonsai Club: Newcastle (paid but not regular)
- Location: Newcastle
- Has thanked: 93 times
- Been thanked: 39 times
- Contact:
Re: First Ficus
You could wire as you see fit.
Regards Jason
Not yet a Novice but keen to be one
https://www.instagram.com/backyardbonsaiaustralia/
WARNING: I suffer from ideaphoria. This post may contain untested ideas, errors, and excessive enthusiasm.
Not yet a Novice but keen to be one
https://www.instagram.com/backyardbonsaiaustralia/
WARNING: I suffer from ideaphoria. This post may contain untested ideas, errors, and excessive enthusiasm.
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: First Ficus
That is my thoughts, it will be my first wiring job too.
The more I look at it the more I want to wire it and I have some wire ordered and on the way.
Also want to re-orientate it in the pot too when I re-pot it but not sure if I should do that this year
The more I look at it the more I want to wire it and I have some wire ordered and on the way.
Also want to re-orientate it in the pot too when I re-pot it but not sure if I should do that this year
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 7671
- Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
- Favorite Species: trident maple
- Bonsai Age: 41
- Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
- Location: Yackandandah
- Has thanked: 67 times
- Been thanked: 1416 times
- Contact:
Re: First Ficus
Hi Starfox. You need to know that it is best to repot ficus in summer. Tropical plants don't like having roots cut when it is cold.
You can start feeding it a little now, especially if you are taking it inside at night. Ficus love fertiliser.
Pruning is also important but it is probably not growing too fast at the moment. Ficus shoots just get longer and longer and do not branch out unless you cut them. Let shoots grow to 3-5 leaves then cut back to 2 or 3 leaves and you will get new buds from each leaf that is left. More buds = better ramification = better bonsai.
You can start feeding it a little now, especially if you are taking it inside at night. Ficus love fertiliser.
Pruning is also important but it is probably not growing too fast at the moment. Ficus shoots just get longer and longer and do not branch out unless you cut them. Let shoots grow to 3-5 leaves then cut back to 2 or 3 leaves and you will get new buds from each leaf that is left. More buds = better ramification = better bonsai.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: First Ficus
Hi Shibui,
Thanks for the reply and advice.
I do know winter isn't the time to do any repotting and that suits me fine, I like to give the tree some time to acclimatise as it is plus it gives me some time to ponder it over.
I did give it a touch of fertiliser, not much but I'll see how it goes.
Thanks for the pruning tips too, again I'll give it a bit of time and work out just what my approach will be.
Thanks for the reply and advice.
I do know winter isn't the time to do any repotting and that suits me fine, I like to give the tree some time to acclimatise as it is plus it gives me some time to ponder it over.
I did give it a touch of fertiliser, not much but I'll see how it goes.
Thanks for the pruning tips too, again I'll give it a bit of time and work out just what my approach will be.
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: First Ficus
I had almost forgot about this, anyway an update of sorts.
This Ficus is the sole survivor from my first lot of trees. I think mainly because I did very little to it aside from a repot and then pretty much left it alone for the next year.
Anyway this is what it was like last week.
Not a fan of the terracotta pot myself but the tree seems to like it, I will repot it into something nicer next year.
I never really had an idea going forward with this so I defoliated it to take a better look, trimmed it back and put a bit of wire on it.
At the same time I took some cuttings so am hoping they will strike and then maybe when I repot next year I can try and attach a couple to fuse to the trunk and give more root structure and cover up a bit of that mess.
This Ficus is the sole survivor from my first lot of trees. I think mainly because I did very little to it aside from a repot and then pretty much left it alone for the next year.
Anyway this is what it was like last week.
Not a fan of the terracotta pot myself but the tree seems to like it, I will repot it into something nicer next year.
I never really had an idea going forward with this so I defoliated it to take a better look, trimmed it back and put a bit of wire on it.
At the same time I took some cuttings so am hoping they will strike and then maybe when I repot next year I can try and attach a couple to fuse to the trunk and give more root structure and cover up a bit of that mess.
Last edited by Starfox on May 8th, 2017, 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- melbrackstone
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 3461
- Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
- Favorite Species: the ones that live
- Bonsai Age: 28
- Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1210 times
- Been thanked: 738 times
- Contact:
Re: First Ficus
It's had a couple of easy years, here's what I'd do to it....
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 241
- Joined: November 12th, 2015, 11:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniper
- Bonsai Age: 20
- Location: Jakarta
Re: First Ficus
Unexpected for sure, thought you where on a good way, well your choice, let see where you go.
- Starfox
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 349
- Joined: November 4th, 2015, 3:59 am
- Favorite Species: Eucalyptus
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Location: Costa Blanca, Spain, Zone4 Aust, 10bUSDA
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: First Ficus
It's a snail!melbrackstone wrote:It's had a couple of easy years, here's what I'd do to it....
I did consider a big cut back like that and I know it isn't the purtiest of mallsai around, I may even cut it back in a couple of years and say why didn't i do that sooner but as it is my first one I'm going to use it as a practice tree and see how it responds, apply some of the pruning Shibui mentioned and watch and learn.
- Tambrand
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 121
- Joined: September 24th, 2010, 10:25 pm
- Favorite Species: Tamarind
- Bonsai Age: 37
- Bonsai Club: Lives in the West Indies
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: First Ficus
Starfox,
don't chop ------------ re-arrange.
Will send an image via Anthony [ Bnut ]
Laters.
Tambrand [K ]
don't chop ------------ re-arrange.
Will send an image via Anthony [ Bnut ]
Laters.
Tambrand [K ]
"We grow our Bonsai for Beauty, not for produce or lumber."
- melbrackstone
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 3461
- Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
- Favorite Species: the ones that live
- Bonsai Age: 28
- Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1210 times
- Been thanked: 738 times
- Contact:
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: May 10th, 2017, 12:48 pm
- Favorite Species: ficus-mini unbrella-jade-natives
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Location: Frazer coast qld
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: May 10th, 2017, 12:48 pm
- Favorite Species: ficus-mini unbrella-jade-natives
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Location: Frazer coast qld