Question about branch pruning - bonsaiTALK Community

22-Nov-2004	#1
mushashi bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Nov-2004 Location: SF Bay Area Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: Dunno Posts: 156	Question about branch pruning Hi, I was wondering if you have a small tree in the shohin range, and are still deciding whether to let it grow to be a big guy, or stay really small, how do you decide how long to leave the branches? Also in general, shouldn't the lower branches be longer and taper as you go higher up the trunk? I have a small ficus retusa, I am working with right now, since my outdoor trees are taking a well deserved rest. It is about 5-6 inches high. The trunk is fairly thick and tapers up to the top where the cut was made. I am trying to decide whether to leave it small or choose one of the vertically growing branches as a new leader. As you know, the ficus branches tend to grow somewhat vertically, anyway. On this type of tree, how long should the branches be relative to the height of the trunk? Anyway, I hope this was not too convoluted. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated. Thanks........ Last edited by mushashi : 22-Nov-2004 at 11:14 PM.

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22-Nov-2004	#2
breefe Duck for President Join Date: Sep-2004 USDA Zone: 3/4 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 202	Insteade of just lenth, also focus on thickness of the branches. The branches should be in proportion and look "natural" in size to the trunk thickness. __________________ "His government....I think he was talking about two sock puppets and a beanie baby."

22-Nov-2004

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mushashi

if you have a small tree in the shohin range, and are still deciding whether to let it grow to be a big guy, or stay really small, how do you decide how long to leave the branches?

You don't. Overall height is one of the first decisions you make in designing a tree, just after choosing a front (and perhaps at the very same time!)

Regards,

Matt

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23-Nov-2004	#4
Alasdair bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Aberystwyth Uni Country: Wales USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 0-1 Posts: 1,100	i think a pic would be helpful... My bonsai are all in the shohin sort of range, and my main reasons for this are: 1)I haven't got the space for anything bigger. and 2)i wouldn't be able to afford a pot for anything too large! __________________ I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on... Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

23-Nov-2004	#5
mushashi bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Nov-2004 Location: SF Bay Area Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: Dunno Posts: 156	Thanks for all the great suggestions. Well, if my digital camera would cooperate, perhaps I could produce a picture! The tree is about 5" or 6" tops, but it has a curvy trunk and it is fairly thick because it is of the Chinese ginseng ficus family( the trunk looks almost like a piece of ginseng root but more round with aerial roots), which I think is ficus retusa nitida, but not sure. All I know is that it is imported from China. I also have a larger/older one as well. The branches at this point are so young that they are very thin and green. No woody appearance yet. The grower told me that the tree is several years old but they have to keep cutting the branches back until it is sold because they get to leggy. Matt, of course that makes sense you need to decide how tall you want to go right from the start in most cases, as this affects the overall design. I think with this one, it would look nice to leave it small, especially since the leaves are staying pretty small for a ficus, at this point. Anyway, thanks for the help, people. Any other tips as I blunder through this will be appreciated....... Alasdair, thanks for the humor!

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