Ficus Trunk Chop - From Below!

Bart Thomas(deceased)

I have a nice Ficus Salicifolia ('Jim Smith '89) that I won in the raffle after Ed Trout did a demo with it at the Mid-Atlantic show in 2002.

We lowered it in the pot the following spring, and the tree has been thriving (for this one, I mooch greenhouse space in the winter )

However, I had been wondering about what should be done when I wanted it in a shallower pot.

Here is the tree at the end of the demo.

Attached Images

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Here is the rootball and lower trunk just before we made the cut.

The custom root prooning stand was used as I had never intended.

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Here it is ready for the cut

To use the workmate, I wrapped the trunk with an old towel.

I then plugged in the chainsaw...........

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Here is the tree after the cut, but still in the jaws of the workmate. I removed about 1 1/2" of the bottom of the trunk (in two 3/4" cuts).

Well, at least I'll be able to figure the age of the tree!

BTW, I've made a note to Santa, asking for a bigger workmate! It was a bit tricky getting the tree into the inner part of the jaws.

Of course, it probably would have been simpler just to take the tree over to a friend who could hold it for me

This cut was made August 1st.

Thanks to Jim Smith and JVL, who talked me into it. If I contemplate doing this on future trees, I will scar them below the new soil line and dust with rooting hormone before potting down in order to get more roots closer to the surface.

Attached Images

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

Here's a snap shot of the tree taken this morning (between raindrops). 2 weeks after the operation. I lost one branch tip (broken) as a result of the procedure. No leaf has so much as curled.

I have been keeping the tree in open shade (it was in full sun before) and have been diligent in keeping it moist.

The two smaller pots contain the trunk slices (with roots) to see what happens.

The green pads against the pot are scotchbrite, which I cut to protect the pot from the additional wiring I did over the top to immobilize the tree. With hindsight, next time I think I'd drill a hole through the below soil portion of the trunk so that I could put a wire through it.

Yes, this is the same tree that we did the branch surgery on in June. The subject branch is the first branch on the left.

For details of that process (and better photos of the tree before) go to

Lowering Branch on Ficus

Attached Images

2 weeks after s.jpg (57.6 KB, 331 views)

Adam_MA

Bart,
Excellent pictorial! Nice job lowering the tree, and I thank you for sharing these steps with us! I'll also be interested to see if the two slices off the original trunk bottom will sprout for you.

Thanks again for sharing
Adam

dbz12fan

Looking good Bart. You will have two nice clump style trees with your root cuttings.

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

DavidN

Bart, excellent tree and good work in flattening the tree by removing the old trunk.

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Bonsai Northwest Inc, Melbourne, Australia

Bonsai Flora Nursery in Yarraville, Melbourne

Jerry Meislik

Nice job, Bart.
Keep us posted.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/

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Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/