Got Baby Ficus... Now What?

watersole

A picture of my new ficus baby is attached.

I started this cutting on April 4th, and it's already full of roots and putting out new leaves in four different places. It's about 6 inches tall and is pretty much twig diameter. Here are my questions:

Do I have to leave it this way for a year or so before even doing any bonsai training to it at all?

Can I start wire training it now?

Should I cut off the big leaves that came with the cutting to encourage smaller leaves?

Can this go straight into a bonsai training pot?

I've read alot online and through the forums. One thing I am still unsure about it repotting. I do understand that repotting every year or two years is necessary for trimming roots etc, but when it is done, does it always have to go into a new bigger pot, or can it be repotted with the newly cut roots into the same pot?

I only want this one to grow about a foot to a foot and a half. I would like the trunk to get about 2 inches thick. Should I put it in it's final pot now?

Another thing I am unclear about: I've read that the proper order is to get the trunk right then work on the foliage; are you working on both thickening the trunk as you are wiring and training the branches?

As you can see, I'm still a little confused! I guess I need some books.

Any answers to my questions would be most excellent!

Attached Images

ficusbaby.jpg (6.2 KB, 150 views)

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thejimmyrigger

This little guy needs to make some more roots, give it a year before you do any thing to it. It may have some but will need a lot more time before it recovers from this. What kind of soil and light do you have?


Oops, I pressed send, read up on the FAQ here, and the articles at evergreengardenworks.com. I definetly recomend hitting up a bookstore while that guy grows out a bit.
good luck!
jim

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Jimmyrigging is much like jerryrigging, just go a bit lighter on the duct tape and wire coat hangers, and hit said broken item more. Remember: if it isn't broke don't kick it.

watersole

thanks! I figured it needed some more time to develop, being a newly rooted cutting and all. Does this mean that I should not cut off the big leaves at all? Does that also mean it should stay in a regular pot for a year? The one it is in is 3". Should I move it now to a larget pot? If so, what size do you recommend? I have it in supersoil which is what it rooted in. I have it in my bathroom where it gets a bunch of indirect natural light during the day, which is also where it rooted. It's a benjamina, so it's stayin' inside.
Thanks again!

D3rutat

1: Leave it for more than a year in the training pot if you want to help it thicken faster

2: You can start wire training now but not major wiring, i mean you can only wire the trunk

3: no, don't cut the leaves as bigger the better for now, a tree will always thicken faster if left unpruned.

4:no, you might even want to plant it in a bigger but shallower pot, bonsai pots restrict the growth of the roots which in it's turn reduces the growth of the trunk

5: Depends on the species. On a conifer, it's better to start these 2 at aproximately the same time due to lack of backbudding, but on decidous or tropicals you should take care of trunk thickening first and then start developing branches.

Also remember that you should try to give it the best conditions possible(lots of sunlight, warm temperatures, adequate watering, and regular fertilizing)
Take a read at this:

http://bonsai-bci.com/species/ficus.html
http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Ficus.html

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Bonsai Club Romania

watersole

ok, this seems a little clearer now. Thanks guys! I am going to get a training pot today, set it up and leave it be for the next year or so. I may look into simple wiring of the trunk in a couple of months.

Here's a new question: (gotta love Q&A's!)

I actually have two of these rooted cuttings, and would like to actually create a bonsai with the two of them entwined. I should put them both together in the training pot now, correct? How long should I wait before I start working them together? I will be drawing up a picture of what I am envisioning so that you experts can tell me that the idea will fail miserably or not!

Thanks for the info once again.

watersole

one more question: When can I start exposing the roots to create the nebari?

D3rutat

Yes should should put the 2 in a training pot but make sure that the pot is pretty big, bcos since they are in an early development age, their roots are not that strong and one of the 2 trees might overcome the other and kill it. But as long as you DON'T put them in a bonsai pot they should be fine.

After repotting them in the same pot you have 2 options:

1: You can go for a connected root style ( i think it's called Ne Tsunagari) which will eventually form by itself when the big pot gets crowded with roots and they will eventually join together

2:you can join the 2 trunks. I used duck tape to join 2 trunks from my ficus retusa and i got results in about a year. but make sure that they are firmly held together or they won't fuse.

Exposing roots: You can do that even now, but i don't think you will see a nice nebari. Leave it for a few years, check the roots when repotting and when they are thick enough you can start exposing them

good luck

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Bonsai Club Romania

watersole

Ok- here is a drawing of approximately what I am going for. I will pot them in a training pot together, and join them. Does the Duct tape hinder any growth? Do I need to shave off the areas of the trunks that tough to help them fuse together? I am reading through the links provided and will be going through books as well. All of this is really helpful, thanks a million!

Attached Images

bonsaidrwg.jpg (15.2 KB, 91 views)

Geodude

Watersole,
I like your drawing. If this is your vision, you've got a long way to go. Since you have some years of growing ahead of you, I would not shave off the bark. Just put them together and they will fuse in time, probably before the trunk reaches 2 inches. Give it lots of sunshine and room to grow.

Good luck.

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Paul

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When I paint my materpiece"