Building Branches...Your method?

[DustyRusty]

Hi Everyone,

Despite my 'bonsai age' I still feel very new and so this is a very basic question. I'd like to know the best method of building new branches. Attached is a photo of the PJ fig. It has a developed trunk, but nearly all the branches are this season growth (it was unhealthy when i bought it in winter of this year). I'd like to know, is it best for me to let it just grow out the season for the wood to harden up and then next year wire everything into place? Or would you defoliate (in order to view branch structure) and then wire now? It seems some people build branches like a trunk (let grow until right thickness then chop for taper and ramification), and others simply wire into place and work on taper/ramification over the years.

In terms of styling I have some ideas, but certainly open to suggestions from different and more experienced eyes...

[Isitangus]

Hi dusty being another newbie take what I say with a grain of salt but this is what I do:
Defoliate (for me this is the right time of year)
Wire selected branches
Then remove unwanted
I have learnt the hard way that when I remove branches first then wire the potential for breakage with no replacement is not a good outcome.
I then trim back (to build ramification and back bud)
Then feed like buggery.
Like I said I'm still a newbie but this was the method I was taught.

[kcpoole]

I wire early to give shape, Defoliate if you have to but I prefer not.
Let them grow to thicken a little then cut back by 2/3,
Allow new shoots to grow then repeat.

Build both ramification and taper.

Wire , and remove exess branches as neede to achieve the shape required.

Ken

[DustyRusty]

Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

[Shane Martin]

Dusty, as these branches are all this seasons growth, I would definitely not defoliate, but you certainly could do some prelim wiring or guy wiring to lower branches to horizontal depending on the style you are going for. The new growth looks nice n healthy, so keep feeding over summer and you will have plenty of options for the future. My priority at this stage of development is growing the new branches off the trunk at the right angle first,... grow out to the correct thickness then cut back and regrow and so on to achieve nice taper and movement.... along the way you can start to lay your secondary branches flat, and continually keep cutting back to 2 leaves, once they've hardened off. This will keep your internodes nice n short, which in turn will develop great ramification longterm. You can certainly use wire to create movement, we all do, you just don't always get quite as good a result as the clip n grow which is obviously a lot slower. The choice is yours.

[DustyRusty]

Thanks Shane! And especially for the tip about not defoliating on new growth. I presume that would overly weaken the tree?

By the way this is my currently styling plan. Maybe with a slightly larger canopy. Open to thoughts, criticisms and new ideas though. I tend to like natural-ish figs so semi-cascade or canopy style tend to be what i would want to go with.

Thanks again everyone!

[Shane Martin]

Hi Dusty,
Regarding your virt....forgive me for saying, but it looks like an upright tree has been put in a cascade style pot and the tree has fallen over. Pardon my brutal remarks, but I don't mean them to insult you, just help you learn. Here is my virt using your intended idea. You will see the sturdy trunk looks very stable and the foliage has been balanced with the direction of the tree.
Without seeing any other pics of your trees branch structure, this could be a very nice direction to go. You have the trees health and vigor back on track now, and I'm sure it's going to make a really nice little tree. Keep us posted with its progress.

Dusty's Semi Cascade fig.jpg

[DustyRusty]

Shane thank you. No I love the criticism. Not offended in the slightest. The more colourful the more useful.

I like your virt better than mine too, so thank you for spending the time on it! It does look better balanced. My only hesitation is how refined it looks. Very idealistic. But I'm thinking if I go with that basic shape and then work the canopy so it has some ruggedness it could be convincing...

Thank you again!

[Shane Martin]

All good Dusty.... I know it looks refined but it was more about showing correct balance if you know what I mean. How you end up is totally your call as you own the tree and you will get to direct its future your way.
cheers
Shane