Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!

[Andrew F]

Sweet, look forward to seeing it repotted.

[Jerry Meislik]

Good work.
Keep us posted.
Jerry

[kvan64]

Thanks to the recent rains, this one grow so fast that it is in full leaves again. I'm not so happy with the leaf size so I've decided to defoliate the tree again. This is a big tree so with the current leaf size may not be a problem but this will help with ramification too.
Edit: I couldn't find a suitable bonsai pot for it so it went to a timber grow box instead. Will find a proper pot when it has developed better ramification.

[Andrew F]

Thanks to the recent rains, this one grow so fast that it is in full leaves again. I'm not so happy with the leaf size so I've decided to defoliate the tree again. This is a big tree so with the current leaf size may not be a problem but this will help with ramification too.
Edit: I couldn't find a suitable bonsai pot for it so it went to a timber grow box instead. Will find a proper pot when it has developed better ramification.

Love the trunk lines Kvan. Keen to see it ramified.

[NathanM]

Looking really good DK. Really like where it's going.
I have never had a great deal of success with leaf reduction on these though

[kvan64]

Thanks guys. The big trunk on the right still seems a bit too tall for me. I may need to cut it down a bit.
Nathan, I've been experimenting with constant defoliation with a couple smaller trees. Their leaves did reduce a fair bit every time. However the result is not uniform. Some of the leaves are really small (1 or 2 cm) but some are still big (5-6cm). The smallest and largest on this one being 2 and 7cm long. Maybe someone here may have some suggestions or solution for this?

[Craig]

Great work mate

[MattA]

I really like where this tree is going & so glad you didn't chop that 3rd trunk. For me the height in the main trunk is good but the other 2 are almost the same height & my eye keeps getting drawn to that. I would either increase the height of the second or reduce the height of the 3rd (personally I would go with the later).

While a tree is in development theres not much need to worry about leaf size but when you get to that stage... The first leaf on any shoot is usually the smallest & as the branch elongates the leaves increase in size, if you pinch out the growing tips once it has 2 leaves you will slowly end up with a tree of small even sized leaves.

Can't wait to see what pot you end up getting for it, this is going to be an absolute cracker in no time.

Matt

Ed: spelling

[Alan Peck]

Love this project, but for me you have now got the main trunk too vertical at the top.
The whole composition is right to left so I would shorten the main trunk with some left hand movement. If you then shorten the left trunk lower than the rear it should improve the flow.

[kvan64]

Thanks guys for your inputs. I have incorporate your suggestion in the correction. The right big trunk just got shorten a bit and I also put some movement in it. It actually look more 3D and have more movement than in the picture. Any suggestion for the pot? I know it still a long way to go before I put it in a bonsai pot. Just to know what you think. I was thinking of a round pot as it may have more than 1 front.

[NathanM]

Looks great dude, really really great
I think a nice, reaosnably shallow, unglazed oval pot.

[anttal63]

i really like this clump, nice work Kev !

[kvan64]

Thanks Antt and Nathan. I'm happy that I've converted this clump from nothing to something in relatively short time. If I can keep this grow rate, I will be able to achieve ramification real quick. My aim is to have good ramification and reduce leaf size + further root work in the next 3 to 5 years. To achieve this, I think I will need to obtain Leong's ficus book (from Bonsaisouth).
Nathan, thanks for the pot suggestion. Not sure about oval but definitely shallow and unglazed.
DK

[Andrew F]

If I can keep this grow rate, I will be able to achieve ramification real quick. My aim is to have good ramification and reduce leaf size + further root work in the next 3 to 5 years. To achieve this, I think I will need to obtain Leong's ficus book (from Bonsaisouth).

This is one of those threads that ill follow carefully, i have a familiar project in mind. Thank you for sharing.

[sharemyblessings]

Collected this biggy last year. Did the usual chop and let it grow for one season. Stripped down the lateral roots to form the base. selected the branches and did the first wiring today. Will carve it soon. Any suggestion is welcome.
Cheers
DK

You got a nice specimen. BTW, what specie of ficus is this? Looking forward for the new development.