AusBonsai

Hello everybody, my name is Andreas. I live in Jakarta Indonesia and love you're site and would like to add some ideas and/or receive the same. I started some 35 years ago in Germany by introduction of an very good friend and it has sucked to grow Bonsais ever since. Jakarta and the surrounding area has plenty of Bonsais, main growing area is Puncak in the Bogor mountains. I live in the south of Jakarta where the weather is as you imagine always 28-35 degrees.I have left the hobby on and off for the last 16 years but in the last 2 years went into it on daily bases for 2-3 hours (sometimes more like the whole day). My family does support my endless ours in the Garden this makes it even more enjoyable.

We star with a Ficus Benjamin i collected 16 years ago in Puncak, this tree has been through some rough times, manly when the work was away from home and nobody could or has taken care of the watering or general care needed. I hope we all have a lot of fun and we shall see on the reply wherever we learn a thing or two.Thank you again for being part of this forum.

Andreas, welcome to the forum. Loving the tropical designs that can be achieved from our trees and although it has been said (even on this forum) that Benjamin's doesn't make the best selection for bonsai I persist with mine as well.
With your tree the canopy is being achieved but with little ramification ( more branches, more leaves) so my suggestion would be a fairly hard cut back to stimulate more bud growth closer to the trunk, from this you will get more branch lets to work with.
Likewise it seem your existing branches have been fairly well left to their own devices as far as direction of growth, so my advise here would be to wire these branches and get some subtle (fig) movement (side to side, up and down) into them and certainly bring the outer branches down to an almost horizontal and gradually build your canopy from there. The caution for you with the wiring as it is for me in North Queensland is tha 3 or 4 months later the wire will need to be removed for fear love of scarring.
I do like what you have done with the rock mountain, the aerial roots and the shallow pot.
All of this being said please understand I consider myself an avid learner in the late learner stages and all of this is just my opinion or what I would do should this be my tree.
Now that the ball is rolling maybe someone else can jump in and offer an alternative.
Again thanks for posting and welcome,
Watty

Yes, agreed with Watty on hard cutback (2/3 of overall canopy) to stimulate new growth near trunk. Perhaps, pull down some lower branches on right side to create slanting effect? Loved the aerial roots.

Cheers,
Hal.

Great advice from the guys above, just wanted to say that I love those aerial roots! Looking very good

Welcome!

Cool, love the moss on the Buddha too!

Thanks for the reply most appreciated, I had a huge setback on this tree a few weeks ago do to a bad organic fertiliser, it burned the roots and added a nasty fungus to it. He is now growing the way I like him to bee at present. I will cut back but not to much in the branches, rather de foliage the tree. I am still working on the styling, let see how we go.

However I consider the proposed and think about.

I will show to a later stage some Brining trees that been totally being cut back. Still have to sort some pictures from start to present.
Here i like to introduce a tree that i have also for 16 years. Syzygium cumini, Jambul, Jambolan, Jamblang or Jamun, or Juwet tree. I found this tree neglected in the area of Bogor "Puncak". two years ago i started to cut him back to the bare trunk with only the main branches remaining. the pictures will show the progress.

Wiring this tree took me one week, as you can see some force split the trunk in top, this will be carved after the wire comes off.

Here are is a set of trees from clippings,haven't found the latin or any name for it. I have set this into original Ming Dynasty bowls that we salvaged on the ocean floor near Belitung Island. (Did this for living running an operation for a treasure hunter). These clippings are 7 month old, being wired three times and are for now only cut to build a crown. wiring will however continuo if necessary. As soon, i got the name i will post it.

Andreas, lovin that Syzigium.
Great progression,
Watty

Awesome thanks for sharing!

I always love seeing tropical breeds like this.
Almost makes me feel sweaty and humid looking at those figs. Love it.

Hi Andreas,

I have some old 'shipwreck' bowls, possibly Celadon, which I would like to repurpose as bonsai pots. I am scared to put a drill to such old pots. How did you do it?

Cheers,
Symon

Thanks for viewing to all.
@ Simon, please go to your local glass supplier they either got some diamond drill bits half inch and do it for you or ask where you can order them. I got different sizes as a set. I fill the bowl with 1cm water then start drilling in a small angle at first on slow speed so you are not slipping, then do a small rotation of 90-93 degree to widen the cut when you ar coming to the end be careful not to push the drill. On glass you use usual turpentine as fluid. Will make a picture and post it ASAP.

Here are a 20 year old Phyllanthus myrtifolius Mouse tail tree.This tree in the tropics need at least once a week trimming, it grows like weed. It is a good beginners plant but takes years to build thick branches. it spreads branches like grass, you need always to clean each branch of unwanted shoots.The rocks are petrified wood that I used in my Aquarium before.

Hi Andreas,

Great information on cutting ceramics thanks! I will give it ago. I got my pots from the antique market in Jakarta - your town!

Cheers,
Symon