Ficus microcarpa 'Retusa' [White Bark Retusa]

[Steven]

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate your feedback.
If you are interested, we have put together a 360 of this one too. CLICK HERE to view it.
Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

Here is an update picture taken today.

2010 December 7.jpg

Now that it has foliage again, I think I might need to bend the main branches down a bit a bit. What do you think?

Regards,
Steven

[Glenda]

I agree, Steven. JMHO

Glenda

[NeilW]

Hi Steven
I'm noticing from the pic the lowest branch looks like its growing very strong and powerful, as they say, too good, looking head I can see reverse taper issues here, my thinking is remove that branch, bring down next branches on both sides to balance, with a little bit more height given overall to the tree it would balance it again. Your tree would still have nice movement, yes a scar unfortunately, but as you no, they weld over reasonably quick. Other than that, cuttings grafted in under its armpit, aerials I would think wishful. Anyway Steven sorry to put a damper on your tree, maybe something to look at down the track. As I have just caught up with your thread, maybe just maybe Pup was thinking this in relationship to turning it around,don't no. Anyway mate see what you think...cheers.

[Beaumatsu]

G'day,

Sorry for the delay in responding.

...having a look at this nice little tree, I think the right side might make a better front.

Hi Pup, the base and roots are nicer from that angle but the trunk and leader movement (away then towards viewer) make it awkward. It's always hard to judge by photos.

...I think you need to try and get some movement into the new leader and the branches, then shorten everything. Never be in too much of a hurry to get to the eventual branch length, each time you cut and regrow you get that little kink in the branches/twigs which makes trees look older and interesting. This is a great little tree with beautiful bark.

That is VERY good advice Craig! Thanks! I did end up cutting back but probably not as much as I should have. I'm a slow learner.

...i like the front you have chosen but i would make the leader the one going off to the left and chop the one going straight up off. It would create much more movement in my opinion.

You are right Diederik, it would make for a much more dynamic tree in the long run but I have a lot of trunks in pots waiting for 'the long run'. I can always chop it back later if I'm not happy with the current incarnation.

the trunk after the big chop could do with being a lot thicker. Maybe focus on that, and build design later.

Cheers Gavin, it is unnatural at the moment despite doubling in thickness since January. I'm guessing it should only take 2 growing seasons to look more in tune.

Well, here is how it looks after some bending;

October 2010 after - front.jpg

October 2010 after - left.jpg

October 2010 after - back.jpg

October 2010 after - right.jpg

What would you have done? Would you have bent the branches so they angled downwards? Chopped it back to the first branch?

Regards,
Steven

hey steven love the trees i might go and shape some of my figs like yours but i was just wondering what you are growing them in

thank you Beaumatsu

[Taffy]

I do like this tree!

I have to agree though, that lower left branch looks too strong - and if allowed to grow unchecked might cause some real problems later on down the track. My opinion though is that I wouldn't be removing it. It balances the rest of the tree. Without it, the first branch would be too high up. I think that might look ok on a Juniper or something where you could bring a branch down quite dramatically - and make it look good, but not on a broad-leaf tree like your fig.

I've just had a 'play' with your tree. I've rotated that left lower branch by 23 degrees. I also rotated the next left branch -including that part of the trunk up to the apex by about 18 degrees, and the lower right one by about the same. Then I trimmed the top foliage a bit. The major part of the trunk hasn't been played with at all.

If you bring both images up in your graphics programme side by side, you can compare the differences in the two renderings.

I don't think you could bring that left lower branch down with wire - it looks too thick. So my suggestions would be either, cut a wedge out where I put the blue arrow, or do what I did with my Retusa, and drill a hole in the underside of the branch - at either of the red arrows. If it doesn't come down enough with one hole, drill another at the other red arrow.

If you do decide to do this, be very careful you don't drill all the way through the heart wood or right through the branch. If that happens, there is a very high likelihood of the branch snapping from the top. Measure the diameter of the branch at the spot where you are going to drill and only go in a maximum of 3/4 of that measurement and drill at 90 degrees to the branch. That will ensure there is enough heartwood to take the strain of the bend instead of the outer bark. Keep removing the drill and measure the depth of the hole. The drill size required would depend on the thickness of that branch at the bend point. The one I did on my Retusa was a 3/8inch (10mm) drill in a 1 inch (25mm) branch.

At this stage, the roots don't look strong enough to take the strain of a tourniquet, so I'd suggest you go through a drain hole in the pot. If you use a steel rod or piece of thick (4mm+) bonsai wire across the underside of the drain hole, you could then run a wire through the drain hole, round the rod and back up over the branch. The branch would need a bit of protection with a bit of plastic tube or styrene or whatever you have at hand as well. When tightening the tourniquet, gently does it - a bit at a time. When you see small white dots of sap oozing out the top of the branch on the bend, stop for a while, then do a bit more. Go at it like a bull at a gate, and the end result would most probably be a tree in one hand, a branch in the other - and a big OOPS!!

Hope this gives you some food for thought. There might be other suggestions of how you could do it, but if it was mine, this is the way I'd take up the challenge.

2010 December 7.jpg

2010 December 7a.jpg

[GavinG]

Sorry, the left branch is fine, but the trunk after the left branch is too thin. Grow it to balance the base. GROW BIG, CUT HARD!

That's just what I think. Me and a Little Creatures Pale Ale (Ahhhhhh!)

Gavin

[Steven]

G'day,

Following is the progression of this Retusa over the last year or so;

It grew happily over the summer of 2010/2011 and grew plenty more foliage but the overall shape wasn't very nice.

2011 January.JPG

During winter it dropped lots of leaves and was looking really messy.

2011 August.jpg

When the weather warmed up it was fed heavily and began to resemble a shrub in a pot.

2011 November.JPG

After Christmas I defoliated and repotted t into a shallower training pot. I trimmed the roots pretty hard but perhaps not hard enough?

2011 December.jpg

2011 December b.jpg

By mid January it was throwing out new growth and I decided to shorten the first (controversial) branch on the left.

2012 January a.jpg

2012 January b.jpg

Earlier this week I rewired and restyled it. Rather than the upward growth of the last style, I've bent the branches down which I think suites it much better.

2012 February.jpg

So, what are your thoughts? What would you be doing if it were yours?

Regards,
Steven

[deepeetee]

Much Better.
I much prefer the lower branches of figs heading downwards.

[kcpoole]

Nice steven
Do you think there is any way to reduce "Bulkiness" of the trunk around the first branch?
To me it seems like it as too heavy around this area, almost like a bad dose of reverse taper.

Ken

[emi93m]

When you look at the transition from the first pic to the last this tree has truelly become a beautifull bonsai..... yes i am a bit partial to Figs But this one ticks all the boxes. Great job mate and I think the only thing that needs to be done now is for you to sit back and enjoy this great fig you have created ......... if it aint broke dont fix it love the tree mate!

Regards Mick

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Ken, I see what you mean and think I might be able to carve some of the deadwood where the large chop was done. I'll give it a go. Cheers!

Regards,
Steven

[Jerry Meislik]

How about tilting the tree to the left?
That brings the left branch down and the apex up.
Comments?
Jerry

[emi93m]

How about tilting the tree to the left?
That brings the left branch down and the apex up.
Comments?
Jerry

Is this Jerry the author of " FICUS The Exotic Bonsai " ???? If so I have a signed copy of your book great book and a must for all Fig enthusiests Its a Honour

Kindest Regards
Mick - emi93m

[Matthew]

yes it is the same Jerry .His book is very good and his set up in Montana where winter temps are sub zero is amazing.