Kitchen Bonsai Chop

ozzerbon

G'day Folks,

Here's a pic of my Kitchen bonsai, This 70cm [ 27.5 inches] tree is a Ficus retusa 'Tiger bark'. The pot is an old Tokoname. The size is taken from the rim of the pot.

I want to reduce the top half by cutting it thru on and angle, see mark in red.

I also want to know can I get the top half to root? The circumference where I am going to cut is 15cm [6 inches].

Anybody got any clues....?

Nigel

Attached Images

Ficus retusa Gensing (6)_2.jpg (57.9 KB, 97 views)

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EarthgirlOK

Nigel;

Can you say a bit more about why you want to chop it there?

Michelle

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Bart Thomas(deceased)

DOn't know about tiger bark, but it can be done with Sailicifolia/Nerifolia. (I think it's known as willow-leaf in Europe.)

See here for details .

I did it in early August in NJ. I'd wait until the nights are warm, and keep the tree in shade and on the wet side for a couple of weeks.

ozzerbon

The part that I wish to remove just goes straight up with a mop-head top of foliage, and looks quite ridiculous to my poor eyes.

Also with the removal I shall then be able to wire all branches with a slightly sweeping down angle, giving much more eye-appeal to what was a bargain tree.

I plan to cut it anyhow but I'd really like to use the top and perhaps if you're reading this Jerry you can have it when I chop it off.

Nigel

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agraham

Nigel,

These things root easily.I have mine outside...(hot, humid climate) and i just airlayer them.

I know this isn't the way it's supposed to be done but, i take a diegrinder and gouge the stem about 1/4 way through all around,the wound usually ends up about twice as wide as the stem and very rough...i don't bother to clean the wound at all.I spray or paint on a dilute solution of a product called "dip-n-gro" and leave it at that.No moss,no plastic no nothing.In 2-3 weeks i have roots and in about 2 months it's ready to seperate it from the trunk......ok,I'm lazy and sloppy ......I just report this inorder to show how easily the can be airlayered.Good luck.

andy

ozzerbon

Alas Andy, I don't have any space outside for my indoor trees, so it looks as tho' I'll just pop it into some water and then if Jerry is interested he can have a go, just did'nt want to waste it if it could be saved.

Nigel

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Will_Heath

Speaking from my personal hands on experience with these figs...


Yes you can root that upper part, I have done so on many occasions. In my climate, I simply cut, shave back about 1 inch of bark from the cut, dip in rooting hormone, and place in some lava and pine bark (40 to 60), being sure to carefully wire it in place to prevent any movement. Be sure to mist often. I have done many cutting this way with figs up to 1 1/2 inch in diameter.

A safer route is of course to simply air-layer it off.


Will Heath

ozzerbon

Am now thinking to keep the upper part and do some deep shari work, does that work with a Ficus?

Nigel

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bonsaikc

Ficus have a very soft wood. In the wild, they do not exhibit deadwood as it rots so readily if a branch dies. I would discourage you from attempting this on this tree. I think your idea of using the top of the tree as a second tree is a better one, and I would say that air layering is by far the way to go. It is very easy even for the beginner and ficus root readily so you should be able to separate the tree within a matter of a couple of months if done correctly.

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