Large ficus cut straight off to make bonsai?

robingfx

I recently purchased a house where the owner left a large ficus in a pot for me. The trunk is probably 2 inch thick. My interior designer said "that has to go", which made me sad because I like it. But he has a point that it is too popular and I should get something more interesting. But I thought I could make a bonsai out of it. Now, my question is, how much can I cut this back without killing it? What will happen if I cut the trunk straight off at about 2 feet? And if I do, how do I make this cut the best way? Do I cap the wound with something? Could I even cut off the top and plant that? I have attached a picture of a similar sized and shaped tree (don't even think it is a ficus).

Thank you,
Robin

Attached Images

ficussize.jpg (23.5 KB, 100 views)

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ChrisM

air layer it around the line i made, then you can keep the tree that you like, and use the stump to form a nice bonsai tree. then in a couple years, repeat the process and you'll have two nice bonsai material to work with. (repeat if necessary)

chris

Attached Images

1.JPG (21.0 KB, 34 views)

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zube

Unless your interior designer still doesn't like it, at which point you will have no choice but to get rid of it.
Good luck,
zube

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zenwarrior

If it were me I would leave it alone. Keep it as a house plant. Theres no taper involved in the trunk. Am I wrong?

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taipan(deceased)

Hi Robin, I'd leave her as a standard....It looks similar to our small leafed QLD ficus Hillii....

They're great for ornamental trees but don't produce a nice wide buttress base and have very straight trunks...

You could run a search on Topiary and have a go making it into something...

Nice tree anyway...
Tai

steez

I did the same to a smaller Ficus with a similar trunk diameter.
I will post a pic of the tree now as soon as I get home.
see thread

http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=7893

Another way to go would be to graft some of the top branches to the lower
part of the trunk. I am doing the same with a tree that is almost identical.
See Jerry Meisliks site below

http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/GraftingFigs.html

Best of luck!

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Steve

Jerry Meislik

All great ideas have been expressed on ways to handle your tree. But to be sure how about a close up of the leaves and branch tip to be sure that you do have a Ficus?
Jerry

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

robingfx

Thanks everybody for your replies and ideas.

The tree has to go. I mean, I don't have to do anything that the interior designer tells me to, but this is an opportunity for me to work on something bigger (as I am a beginner).

I like the idea of airlayering it, but it's going to take a long time and it will look kind of unsightly for that time. Interior designer might not like that either, hehe...can't believe I am paying him a fortune.

Is it possible to graft the top of the tree to the bottom 10 inches or so? Like in this picture that I have attached. If anything thinks it might work, can you give me some instructions on how to do this? I am eager to try

(would this be considered open heart surgery for a tree?)

Attached Images

ficusOpenHeartSurgery.jpg (68.3 KB, 65 views)

Jerry Meislik

Sorry but you won't be successful grafting the whole top onto the bottom.
You can chop the tree down and hope for new sprouts or you can try doing some free grafts to the base.
You can see some fig grafting options at http://www.bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html
Good luck.
Jerry

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