My First Ficus...your thoughts please!

[gr8bookworm]

Hi all,

Here is one of my first Bonsai that I actually first put into a pot about 8 years ago but i have not really done much to it other than probably 2 repots, last probably 3 years ago?

I defoiliated on about the 3rd or 4th january and this is how it looked a few minutes ago (sorry about the shoddy background)

Anyway now that I am starting to look after my bonsai I wanted to get all your thoughts on what to do with it style wise if possible? I would probably like to change the pot next year but am totally unsure about the nebari & roots:

Front


Left Side


Back


Mark

[bodhidharma]

There is a fantastic thread here posted by Steven that tells you all about how to get the best out of your Ficus. i suggest you find it and give it a read.

[FigKiller]

There is a fantastic thread here posted by Steven that tells you all about how to get the best out of your Ficus. i suggest you find it and give it a read.

Where?

[bodhidharma]

There is a fantastic thread here posted by Steven that tells you all about how to get the best out of your Ficus. i suggest you find it and give it a read.

Where?

Tutorials..how to build dynamic figs quickly

[Bougy Fan]

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6717#p76349

Here it is. What did Pup say . . . . . . ?

Tony

[bodhidharma]

Your just to nice Bougy

[Bougy Fan]

Had a good day at work and I'm feeling generous Diederik

[de_keizer]

good looking tree, wish it was mine

[lennard]

Hi all,
I would probably like to change the pot next year but am totally unsure about the nebari & roots:
Mark

Mark, the biggest problem I see with your tree are the big fat roots- too big for the tree.

I would air/ground layer the tree next summer indicated by the green:

ficus root air layer.jpg

The idea is to get smaller roots to flare the nebari:
(Not the nicest virt)

ficus root air layer roots.jpg

Doing that in a growth box or in the ground you should also get some new growth on top because there is not much to work up there.

Hope this help....or ignore if you are happy with the tree.

Lennard

[gr8bookworm]

Hi all,
I would probably like to change the pot next year but am totally unsure about the nebari & roots:
Mark

Mark, the biggest problem I see with your tree are the big fat roots- too big for the tree.

I would air/ground layer the tree next summer indicated by the green:

ficus root air layer.jpg

The idea is to get smaller roots to flare the nebari:
(Not the nicest virt)

ficus root air layer roots.jpg

Doing that in a growth box or in the ground you should also get some new growth on top because there is not much to work up there.

Hope this help....or ignore if you are happy with the tree.

Lennard

Hi lennard,
Yes that was my thought but I wanted to get some other opinions, so should this be done in early summer or can it be done in early spring?

Afer having defoliated the tree there are also a couple of new shoots growing from the trunk as well, so hopefully I will get some more branch structure (actually feeding and watering the tree might help too )

Would I defoliate again next year when the roots are re-done or should i leave it a year?

thanks,

Mark

[lennard]

, so should this be done in early summer or can it be done in early spring?

Would I defoliate again next year when the roots are re-done or should i leave it a year?

thanks,

Mark

Mark, I personally work only on my Ficus during the warmest parts of the year. Trees that I worked on during summer recovered much quicker than those worked on during spring. At this moment I am cutting back, working the deadwood, re-pot and so on. Most of my Ficus are growing surface and air roots now - it shows that they are growing actively. But my conditions differ from yours- here we still have two months of very warm weather ahead of us, enough for the trees to recover before they go "dormant" for winter.

When working on the roots I will not defoliate for a whole growing season- only pinching to direct branch growth.

Is that a Tigerbark?

Lennard

[gr8bookworm]

It is really only just starting to feel like summer here in Sydney, and it will remain quite warm until mid March, but i think I will leave it until next year as you has suggested to let the tree grow out for a year after defoliating.

thanks,

Mark

[FigKiller]

Hi Lennard.
I just love that skirt! Not very traditional is it?
I have a similar tree with really ugly bulbous roots. I'll try your idea of the skirt. Thanks.