AusBonsai

Ficus benjamina
Height 300mm
Air layered from a stock tree
Cost = $0.00

I have repotted at a different angle, fed and chopped off some extra bits. Not sure if it will stay at this angle atm - just thinking about it still. I have taken a knob cutter to the branches I cut off - I really like the way benjis callous over wounds even though it takes a while

I have been feeding this fig and it is showing

OK this is starting to take shape now - will leave it to grow on a little while longer before repotting into a bonsai pot

A bit happier with this one - will let it grow until August then I will cut it back and put it into a bonsai pot

Still haven't got as much growth as I had planned. It may do better once it goes into a bonsai pot in a diatomite/zeolite mix. That will be in about 6 weeks I think - depending on the weather.

Still no going as well as I would expect from a fig . . . . . . .

This fig is finally starting to do something - this afternoon I will pot it into a bonsai pot and give it a good trim

This fig looked very poor at the end of the comp.

Current height is 250mm

I am finding while I love Benji's they are very slow growers and reluctant back budders. I love the leaves and the texture of the bark so I will persevere. There doesn't seem to be much progress over the last update.

Very disappointing growth from this one - I know it's in a bonsai pot but I still feel it should be doing better

Still a year to go, I assume a recent repot? if so it will start to move soon. Mine are growing well here

Ken

Not much movement on this one - I may have put it into a bonsai pot a little early. It suffered from a little rot on the trunk - I sealed it with some acrylic wound sealant.

Not sure what is happening with this one - it just doesn't seem to be acting very fig like

Knowing that ficus B does not like to be left without a leaf at the end, I just pinch at the end after 1-2 internodes...the branches thicken and it ramifys fast and very well.
Some time I let it grow a bit long and cut the branches to 1-2 internodes. I had very good results with this technique.
Just to show you a year progression of FB with this method...and the leaves reduce tremendously. Trunk chopped 4 times in one year. Hope it helps, since the most important part of this competition for me is to learn.
Oct 2012 Dec 2012 October 2013 before and after.