AusBonsai

Hi everyone,

I just got my first bonsai on Friday, it is a Ficus Retusa, or Banyan Fig. It is roughly 5 years old i am guessing but I can't be sure. I was wondering when would be the best time to do its first styling and how old it would have to be to do so without causing it to much stress. I have a attached a photo too so you can check it out.

Kind regards Nibby

G'Day Nibby and welcome. I would leave that fig in it's pot as it is and get a PJ fig with a "proper" trunk on it to play around with. Personally I hate the look of those figs and don't think there is much to be done with them. Certainly accepted bonsai style cannot be achieved on it. If you have a fig with a trunk you can at least style it

welcome and hi nibby-- my personal opinion is (and I'm sure there are many who disagree) steer clear of these for bonsai---to me they look like they have a bad case of elephantitis----they are ok as an ornamental interest or feature for the coffee table -but the roots tend to overpower the overall structure-- -----there are many other types of figs that bring better results--

as a first tree it may or may not be special to you
but what has mattered to me is how I like each plant
weather it is a classic desirable specimen or wierd oddity

I am not critising anyone who says thats not much of a tree
but I say if you like it then love it

you can grow it on and make it big
(use a polystyrene box and fill it with b&b dynamic lifter diatomite manure etc)
you could chop it and wire it
its up to you

what you get from it is also what you put into it

I have been keeping bonsai since i was 18,
I am now 45

in those years i have had trees with massive change and lots of different ideas and challenges

this is what has made my journey what it is

a reflection of life in its challenges etc

one of my prized bonsai is my first plant

an 18th birthday gift from a dear friend

and I still have this bonsai...

it was a pretty awful example of a bonsai when it was first created
but it is now my most dearly prized bonsai
I never tried to get it big and grow it up etc
I actually tried to keep it as small as possible without doing large chops or changes

so what I am saying is treasure it if you want
chop it or change it
learn from it and challenge youself

you may have kicked off a lifetime hobby

enjoy the journey and as time passes you will develop your style and taste in what you like

also I would say too that most of my bonsai that i have really enjoyed are the ones I took from cuttings or small starters etc

I once bought an expensive bonsai that needed nothing...
it was no good to me
I felt no ownership towards it and eventually sold it for that reason

I get a lot of satisfaction from doing root over rock style
you bury it deep in a large pot and have to wait a few years
eventually you get to see what has developed and then continue the journey of styling and shaping etc...
so get to the garden and take cuttings and buy odd looking things from mates and garden centre sales
cheers Jason

Hi Nibby and Welcome to Ausbonsai
Seems like your fig is not the Classic Bonsai you imagined?
Never mind as its your first tree and as such, you will need to learn how to keep it healthy. Ie Learn how to water it and then feed it to keep its vigour.
Forgo to add, Figs can be styled at any time of the year for most of us in Aus

check the wiki links in my sig for some great reading to get you on the way to having a healthy tree. As you look around a the trees on the site here you will see many lovely trees to inspire you

Ken

Hi Nibby,
Welcome to the hobby.
Like gollum said

I am not critising anyone who says thats not much of a tree
but I say if you like it then love it

My wife knows more about bonsai than I do but one day she came with a pair of large chinese import ficus from collector's corner ( here in melbourne, maybe you know that place). She ask me to pot them in 2 identical large glazed pots and placed them in our door front as ornamental plants. but everyone calls them bonsai so this summer she asked me to move them to real bonsai pots and treat them as bonsai, defoliate, wire, fertilize, etc.

There's a lot of bonsai nurseries around melbourne. Bonsai nursery owners are typically supportive to newbies and don't be surprised that after visiting 2 or 3, you've seen and learn a lot from them. But remember, I won't trade an advance specimen with a dozen of smaller starters.

Keep on reading posts here in asubonsai, there's a lot that we can pick up along the way.

Hi NIbby,

welcome to both Ausbonsai and Bonsai, Im also a newbie to the art/hobby/culture/obsession. IN my small time here i have learnt alot but any advice i give you is beginner advice bearing that in mind...

I was wondering when would be the best time to do its first styling and how old it would have to be to do so without causing it to much stress. I have a attached a photo too so you can check it out.

depending on what you wanted tot do with your styling most figs respond best now. Wiring can be done any time and semi defoliating (removing large leaves ) is fine to do with ficus nearly all year round you being in Melbourne may be not best to do it in colder months. What did u want to do in a styling with it

cheers

J

gollum wrote:as a first tree it may or may not be special to you
but what has mattered to me is how I like each plant
weather it is a classic desirable specimen or wierd oddity

I am not critising anyone who says thats not much of a tree
but I say if you like it then love it

you can grow it on and make it big
(use a polystyrene box and fill it with b&b dynamic lifter diatomite manure etc)
you could chop it and wire it
its up to you

what you get from it is also what you put into it

I have been keeping bonsai since i was 18,
I am now 45

in those years i have had trees with massive change and lots of different ideas and challenges

this is what has made my journey what it is

a reflection of life in its challenges etc

one of my prized bonsai is my first plant

an 18th birthday gift from a dear friend

and I still have this bonsai...

it was a pretty awful example of a bonsai when it was first created
but it is now my most dearly prized bonsai
I never tried to get it big and grow it up etc
I actually tried to keep it as small as possible without doing large chops or changes

so what I am saying is treasure it if you want
chop it or change it
learn from it and challenge youself

you may have kicked off a lifetime hobby

enjoy the journey and as time passes you will develop your style and taste in what you like

also I would say too that most of my bonsai that i have really enjoyed are the ones I took from cuttings or small starters etc

I once bought an expensive bonsai that needed nothing...
it was no good to me
I felt no ownership towards it and eventually sold it for that reason

I get a lot of satisfaction from doing root over rock style
you bury it deep in a large pot and have to wait a few years
eventually you get to see what has developed and then continue the journey of styling and shaping etc...
so get to the garden and take cuttings and buy odd looking things from mates and garden centre sales
cheers Jason

Hi Nibby,

Every one needs to start somewhere, and if you love the tree that is all that matters, it may not be a traditional Bonsai but as Jason has mentioned but if it is starting you on a Bonsai journey that is great

Welcome to the world of Bonsai, I can't wait to see what you decide to do with this tree, Wire it, plant it out and grow it on or chop it down and start developing it from scratch

Cheers

Thanks guys for all your helpful advice. Bki I actually got my fig from collectors corner. It sounds like my choice was not the best one and thanks for telling me so I can get a Port Jackson Fig maybe next time. You've given me lots of helpful advice so thanks.

Nibby

Hi nibby, I too am new to to Bonsai.
But take all the positive advose given nd be encouraged to persue the journey.
I like the idea that you can keep changing as you develop your expertise, it takes time to expose ourselves to the art of creativity. the more time I spend the more i start to get the feel for all the advice and tips that I descover. Give it all yuor passion and open yourself to the possibilities.bailey

Guy wrote:welcome and hi nibby-- my personal opinion is (and I'm sure there are many who disagree) steer clear of these for bonsai---to me they look like they have a bad case of elephantitis----they are ok as an ornamental interest or feature for the coffee table -but the roots tend to overpower the overall structure-- -----there are many other types of figs that bring better results--

oops

Hi Guys,

I was thinking and was wondering if it would be a suitable plant for a root over rock style bonsai like this one:

Thanks Nibby

Well you could give it a go and use it as a learning tool. When I am starting figs as ROR I first grow then in a PVC downpipe filled with medium river sand on top of a pot of mix. The idea is that the roots grow down through the sand into the mix and then it is easy to seperate the long roots and wrap them around your rock. These figs don't look that attractive to my eye because of the bulbous base.

Don't worry it will be the first of many learning experiences as you emabark on your bonsai journey