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11-Apr-2003
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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Ficus Benjamina! Tell Me Whatcha Think?
Hi all, can you please tell me what you think of this root over rock ficus benjamina. thanks, all opinions welcome!
Bonsai_girl
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My favourite Saying: "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" Last edited by bonsai_girl : 11-Apr-2003 at 09:48 AM. |
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Ficus Benjamina! Tell Me Whatcha Think? |
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11-Apr-2003
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Chief
 
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Your tree looks just like one I saw a picture of in the BCI magazine a while back. It was a huge massive ficus probably in Florida, with its huge roots spilling over a concrete wall. Yours looks the same only in miniature. I like the root system and also the shape of the tree. I'm not a big fan of the benjimina, but yours has something that's appealling to the eye. I think the blue pot is kind of overwhelming though. I think the eye has a tendency to go to the pot rather than the tree. Very nice tree and nebari.
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Thomas J. 
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11-Apr-2003
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#3 |
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Old Mister Crow
 
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Bonsai Girl,
First of all, great tree. I don't particularly like benjamina either, and I don't particular like root over rock, and I still really like your tree! To expand on what Thomas said, the rock at the base is a key feature of this tree. Obviously, it is composed of subtle earth tone. These colors are overwhelmed by the bright blue of the pot. One's eye jumps back and forth between bright blue pot and bright green foliage, and misses this crucial anchoring feature of the composition, the rock. A darker earth-tone pot, unglazed, would be a big improvement. Since you asked for comments, I also prefer a more rounded apex, but this is probably personal preference and I don't think it's essential here. Best wishes, Old Mister Crow
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In love with trees |
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11-Apr-2003
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2002
Location: plymouth
Country: uk
Posts: 48
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root over rock
not that my contribution equates to much ,
but i have noticed that to get a realy convincing root over rock style the tree needs to be more wind swept and weather beaten as trees in the wild grow in very exposed possitions on top of rocks and cliff faces etc. your tree nice as it is with much potential seems a little straight and void of movement in the lower trunk , ficus are very pliable is it worth bending it if poss to give it shape ? just a suggestion I think it would be a stunner then ,it has great potential nice work... |
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11-Apr-2003
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#5 |
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Tree herder
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Hi Bonsai girl,
You have a very nice canopy on this tree, I really like the outline and branch structure, very pleasing. Moving on down to the roots... the root over rock is nice, at first look.  Although I appreciate that twisty roots are a feature of lots of ficus, with the top of the tree being so formal I would suggest if possible to un-cross the root that crosses from right to left over the others. It also might help hide what looks like a root scar down at the bottom right of the trunk. Next comes the pot...  A nice pot, but not for this tree. Perhaps if it wasn't root over rock you might get away with it, but even then though it would probably be too deep. I agree with OMC's reccomendation for a pot. I also wonder what the tree would look like planted, root over rock and all, off centre on a flat wide slab of tufa or other rock similar in colour to the existing rock... just musing...Regards, TB/Chris.
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"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
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11-Apr-2003
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
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thanks for comments!
thankyou for the comments, im glad you like the tree! I do agree about the pot! this is the original pot that i bought the tree in and I haven't decided on a change of pot yet so your suggestions of a darker earth tone pot seems to be the way I'll go.
Chris you are right (good eyes you have!) it does have a small root scar down at the bottom right of the trunk! I like liked your idea of moving the root across, but im too scared to do this as im unexperienced with that sort of thing, i may get my favourite local bonsai master to help me do that.  i am seriously considering doing some wiring to get some nice bends in the trunk and give it some more charachter.anyway thanks for your opinions! any more idea's & suggestions are still welcomed! Bonsai Girl.
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My favourite Saying: "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" Last edited by bonsai_girl : 11-Apr-2003 at 10:47 PM. |
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12-Apr-2003
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#7 |
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Perpetual beginner
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Bonsai girl,
Your tree looks like a lady sitting with her legs crossed. I agree with the above pot assesments but I'm not so sure you should put bends in the trunk. I rather like it as it is. I do however think you should get help on the roots, if you're not familiar, the help of an experienced bonsai artist will greatly enhance your learning. |
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12-Apr-2003
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#8 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
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I would agree with the coments made before.
1. Make the apex more rounded. In the tropics most trees (and ficuses in particular) tend to have rounded apexes, it's not a pine. 2. You should uncross the roots, and if possible encourage more roots over the rock. There are a number of ways to do this. see the same thread on tropical bonsai for this discussion. There's also a thread on IBC. Don't be too worried about messing with the root Ficus are very forgiving. 3. A wider, shallower pot would make your tree the centre of attraction, the bright blue does grab the eye. I agree with the group's assessment that an unglazed earth tone pot would probably be appropriate. Now having said all of that...... this tree has great potential, its a very nice tree now, but in a few years it will be truly outstanding. If you don't deal with the roots now they will irritate your eye more in the future as the tree gets some age on it and looks more and more like an old knarled tree. nice tree.
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Best Regards, Leslie St. John Barbados West Indies Remember: Opinions are like bellybuttons, everyone's got one |
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