My first bonsai- Ficus rubiginosa

[Ash]

I have attached a series of 4 photographs showing the early development of my first humble little bonsai started sixteen years ago. It is a Ficus rubiginosa that began its bonsai career in 1994 (i was in year eight at school). I wired it in 1995 and then saved up and bought its first bonsai pot that year. It was replanted into its current pot in 2006.

Fig1.jpg

Fig2.jpg

Fig3.jpg

Fig4.jpg

Fig5.jpg

have fun
Ash

[anttal63]

Nice one Ash, slowly but surely it has come a long way.

[Ash]

Thanks Ant- yes this one has been slowly catchee monkey and I have never decided to change its original shape or size. I finally ran out of my original 15 year old big stash of copper wire a few days ago so in response have discovered aluminum wire for the first time which appears to be nice and soft and good for small trees. So the top of these tree is next on the list when the shoots are ready.
cheers
Ash

[AgnesK]

Thanks for sharing Ash. I have yet to start my first bonsai, and want to read and learn more first.
I have a feeling my first will be a FIcus Rubiginosa! Glad to see how well yours developed

[Jerry Meislik]

Ash,
Great work!
Jerry

[MelaQuin]

Lovely tree, it has beautiful movement and will only improve over the years. You have done good work with this one.

[Ash]

My humble little first Ficus rubigonisa after defoliation. I rarely defoliate this tree as I am happy with the leaf size achieved from regular trimming - but after seeing the effect of a cohort of fresh leaves in BonsaiBoys recent post on his lovely big figs (which must take all day to defoliate!) I decided to defoliate this one for a change. Made wiring easier too!

Ficus rubiginosa.jpg

I think its time for another round of updated pics of your first bonsai.

cheers
Ash

[Steven]

Looking great Ash
Out of curiosity, what do you think the 'ball park' figure would be for the amount of time you have put into this fig over the years?

Regards,
Steven

[Ash]

That is an interesting question Steven. I suppose the only way to work it out is to add up the individual activities. I water it every day which would have to average about 1 minute per tree (time it takes me to water each day / number of trees) including set up, turning once per week, twisting off stipules once per week (I do this weekly on all of my F. rubiginosa and F. obliqua regardless of whether I intend to trim the shoots), that's 6205 minutes. I dilute liquid fertilize once per fortnight alternating between aerial drench with one full watering can per tree (until I invested in a tank and pump which makes things so much quicker!) or dunk drench in the bonsai tub, that's another 952 minutes. I trim and wire it three times per year at about an hour per time (most of which is just lazing around and tree appreciation), that's another 3,060 minutes. Finally I have repotted it nine times since I first brought it home in 1994, it probably takes me about an hour from sourcing and preparing the mix to setting repotted tree back on the bench, that's another 540 minutes. Overall that adds up to 10,757 minutes or nearly 180 hours which sounds impossible even if you cut the times in half or in thirds. You'd expect a better tree for that amount of time!

regards
Ash

[EdwardH]

Hi Ash, 180 hrs seems a lot but like everything, when you love what you're doing the time spent is a joy. It doesn't seem like "work". Great tree by the way.

[matlea]

great looking tree! good to see the progression shots.
....and yep much easier to wire with no leaves!