AusBonsai

• Species name: Ficus nerifolia
• Current height: 120mm
• Origin: Cutting taken from a rubbish tree
• Cost: $0
Like my other Nerifolia, this one was a cutting taken in September 2012. I repotted in December and screwed a disk of plastic to the bottom to help create a nice spread of roots.

Regards,
Steven

I intended to only select the branches to keep but when I was assessing the root spread I got carried away.
I'll now keep it in a warm sunny spot for as long as I can. Next work will be to shorten the first branch and shape the leader to form an apex.

Regards,
Steven

Thanks Steven, that's a great idea to actually screw the plastic cap into the base to encourage basal flare, not just the tree on top. Will give that a go for the Port Jackson fig I entered, when I get to it. Cheers Shane

Not a lot of growth from this one over the cooler months. I can see some buds swelling though.

It's been growing but I haven't done any work on it. Best get started I think!

How's the basal flare on this fig coming along, as a result of the cap screwed underneath, Steven?

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

It's hard to tell Shane. I've potted it a bit low in the pot and don't want to disturb it so I can maintain maximum growth. We will have to wait until the end of the comp to see.

Regards,
Steven

Still haven't gotten around to working on this one...

2 years later and I still haven't done any work to this one!!
Currently 210mm tall.

Still haven't touched it... just waiting for the first L branch to thicken up a bit then I'll cut it back and start shaping the rest.

Finally got around to doing some work on this one last night. The branch at the back is just to thicken the base even more (cause we love fat bases )

I cut off the sacrifice branch at the back of the tree and have wired a few branches into position.
The photo makes it look taperless but in real life it's actually pretty good. I'll have to try to address this somehow.
Regards,
Steven

Your work with this species inspired me from the start. Love how this is developing!

I removed some branches to try to show more of the taper. The base is spreading nicely
Regards,
Steven

Looking forward to getting this one into a bonsai pot.