AusBonsai

First of all, a very big thank you to the community of Ausbonsai. I have finally made the move into the beautiful and addictive world of Bonsai, and this was after reading hours upon hours of your posts. I am so looking forward to learn, share and experiment thanks to your amazing combined knowledge and passion.
I came across a month ago an abandoned ficus on the side of the road, (cultivar...?), and after a month of thinking (and procrastination...), I made the move and trained it tonight. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture before. It was pretty much straight and almost a meter high. Although I understand it is just the start of a long and slow work in constant process, I am after some thoughts on anything and everything...!!
Thanks again in advance.

G'day Pardb and welcome. You have a Benji there - they seem to be the most prolific fig here in Brissy. Read lots and have fun

G'day there, I reckon you've achieved some pretty good movement there. Once it begins to show signs of recovery fertilise fortnightly with seasol power feed or the likes until you get some cooler weather and things start slowing down. I look foward to your future posts and seeing this tree fill out.

Best beginner wiring job I have ever seen

Keep up the good work

Bebbas wrote:Best beginner wiring job I have ever seen

Keep up the good work

Thanks Bebbas. Before wiring I thought the trunk was pretty hard and stiff... I was amazed how much bend you can create! I have tried my skills on a small nurserie stock Daintree Pine. Definitely not as flexible..!I unfortunately managed to slightly crack the trunk mid-way. Not too bad, it is recovering now and already healing...
Have a great weekend,
Pierre

Mount Nasura wrote:G'day there, I reckon you've achieved some pretty good movement there. Once it begins to show signs of recovery fertilise fortnightly with seasol power feed or the likes until you get some cooler weather and things start slowing down. I look foward to your future posts and seeing this tree fill out.

Thank you for your reply. Will definitely keep updating on "Project #1".

Bougy Fan wrote:G'day Pardb and welcome. You have a Benji there - they seem to be the most prolific fig here in Brissy. Read lots and have fun

Thanks Tony. Will do!

Figs grow quite quickly so make sure to keep an eye on the wiring (which looks great). If you leave it too long it will cut in and scar the trunk/branches. Probably will be slow now that we're its getting cooler and it has to recover.

Eusto wrote:Figs grow quite quickly so make sure to keep an eye on the wiring (which looks great). If you leave it too long it will cut in and scar the trunk/branches. Probably will be slow now that we're its getting cooler and it has to recover.

I will keep an eye on it pretty often (too often would say my wife...!) Looking forward to spring
Cheers, Pierre

G'day everyone,

It has been close to two months now. I had to remove the wiring as it was getting tight in places, with a slight impression on a couple of spots. It has been back budding all over the trunk, I have been rubbing off most ones... Although I have lost a bit of the movement I was looking for at the beginning, I am thinking of letting it ramificate a little more before wiring again (is winter best for this?). Is it too early to shorten most new shoots past the first internode ? Also, I have noticed a group of new shoots right at the base of the trunk...Can these be turned into aerial roots if buried later on?... I feel this is a stupid question...
Thanks again,
Pierre

You can reapply wire straight away to keep the bendin happening, just wrap the other way around the tree.

That way you can keep wire on for much longer.

Ken

OK, thanks Ken.

It is OK to practice on this fig, but I think it is too tall and skinny. If it were mine I would let it grow and then chop it back several times to fatten up the base. It would also benefit from a sacrifice branch down low which will fatten the base. Have you joined a bonsai club yet ? The best advice I can give is join one as well as being a member here

for more interest --try to bend a primary branch sharply away from any secondary branch and any secondary branch away from any twig -so that any branch or twig is on the outside of a bend -your branches will look more natural with backward and forward as well as up and down movement ---possibly

Bougy Fan wrote:It is OK to practice on this fig, but I think it is too tall and skinny. If it were mine I would let it grow and then chop it back several times to fatten up the base. It would also benefit from a sacrifice branch down low which will fatten the base. Have you joined a bonsai club yet ? The best advice I can give is join one as well as being a member here

Thank you very much for your advice regarding this tree Tony. Isn't it funny(/sad..) how as a beginner I feel the urge to bend, twist, wire and control this tree instead of letting it grow and tell its story and then work with it...? I will definitely follow the sacrifice branch advice. I am definitely looking into joining a club, and I have noticed the Bimer Club is close enough from where I live...I am about to book a beginners course in a couple of months..
Once Again, thanks a lot for taking the time,
Pierre