Ficus! My first potential bonsai tree!? Need help.

8-Apr-2007	#1
_MaX_ Albino Squirrel Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: Québec Country: Canada USDA Zone: 4b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 424	Ficus! My first potential bonsai tree!? Need help. Hi there! Here is the Ficus johnson I bought last summer... I then put it in that pot and watered it in a more or less regular basis. o.0 Now I would really like to make something good out of this tree. I know it probably looks weird, like in "where are the leaves boy?" Well, I didn't water it very much for some time so there's the result. But I'm glad it didn't take it too bad, it's creating new branches as you can [maybe not] see around the middle trunc and already existing branches seem like they wish to grow faster now that I water it more. The rocks. (LOL) Well they sell their bonsais with rocks, and I think that they think that it's a good idea. IMO it's just a pain when it comes to knowing how wet is the soil. And I know I should have added some soil, but it's because of the **** rocks! (Was just too lazy to remove them and didn't really see the hurry to do this.) Now if you can see, branches are principally emerging from two points on the higher trunc part. I don't think this is a particularly good thing though it will not prevent me from trying something with it. (It might just mean severe cuts!) The soil is from bags I bought at the same time... Not really sure what it is, but it does the job as of the draining. So now I have this tree, looking weird, and I don't have a clue what to do with it. I then need you help as to what to do with it. If it was yours and you didn't want to throw it away, what would you do with it? IMO, there is something I need to know about pinching... among other things. There is probably also something about shape planning you will easily teach me about. Well, I say nothing more, if you need more information, or anything, just ask, I'm letting you talk now. I'd be happy to transform this nothing tree into something great over time. Thanks a lot in advance! Max P.S. : Overall height : 14 inches; only Ficus (from soil) : 8½ inches. __________________ "Eternal companions! The human being appeared because the tree was already there; it will disappear when the tree will no longer be." -Edgar Cayce

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8-Apr-2007	#2
philtaylor Mame & Shohin enthusiast. Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: East Yorkshire Country: England Posts: 128	I really suggest taking the rocks out and replacing them with suitable soil. Are they glued in? Many "mallsai" are sold with those pebbles stuck in place and it's not a good thing, really. I'm not experienced with Ficus' sadly, but if those stones are hindering the watering process of the tree it would be wise to get rid of them.

8-Apr-2007	#3
_MaX_ Albino Squirrel Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: Québec Country: Canada USDA Zone: 4b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 424	Can you believe I put them there myself?! They sold them to us like it was a good idea, or don't know the point... I bought the tree, the rocks and the pot separately, but at the same place. And I know those they sell, these mallsais, yes they have the rocks glued together. They say it's so that they get to the stores as they left the nursery. Good point. But I don't think it's a good thing for the plant either. Anyway, even if they were glued, they tell people to feed from the bottom, so it's not a problem... but now that I know it's not a good thing to do (see my thread about "The Watering Mystery"), I'll get them out even if they're not glued, add some soil maybe and feed from above. Now I need some fertilizer. o.0 Max

10-Apr-2007	#4
_MaX_ Albino Squirrel Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: Québec Country: Canada USDA Zone: 4b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 424	Removed them rocks and filled up with good soil... Now I guess you would all just let it grow randomly Max __________________ "Eternal companions! The human being appeared because the tree was already there; it will disappear when the tree will no longer be." -Edgar Cayce

10-Apr-2007	#5
Repotter Hec DeBrabant Join Date: Nov-2004 Location: Southern Michigan Country: USA USDA Zone: 5 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 977	"I'd be happy to transform this nothing tree into something great over time." I really don't see this being "something great" This Ficus is commonly called Ginger or Ginseng Ficus. Used as an ornamental house plsnt and not really a good subject for bonsai. But if you are new to growing things and especially to bonsai it is a good plant to practice with. I would shorten the branches back to one or two sets of leaves per branch. This will allow it to back bud and fill in the "empty" spaces to make it more full. Then by selective pinching of the buds you can direct the growth where you want it. Good luck with you tree. Hec __________________ http://www.tellys.com http://www.Fourseasonsbonsai.com The original Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan. Our guest master in August is Pedro Morales. Tellys Greenhouse, 3301 John R road, Troy Mi. 48083 Four Seasons Bonsai Club meetings monthly. Troy, Michigan "Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.

10-Apr-2007	#6
jeremy_norbury bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Amstelveen Country: Netherlands USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2-3 Posts: 1,400	I agree with Repotter except I'd go further and say - Don't EVEN use it to practice on. I see no point to this plant as a bonsai, so don't waste time on it. Better that you stop now than waste 3 years perfecting your technique and still have a lousy subject. __________________ All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone

11-Apr-2007	#7
PatArizona Bonsai Master, in my mind Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Back Home in Northern California Country: USA Posts: 1,635	This ficus could be good to practice defoliation/leaf reduction on...but only when it's healthy. Pat __________________ BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain. THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life. Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California

11-Apr-2007	#8
PatArizona Bonsai Master, in my mind Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Back Home in Northern California Country: USA Posts: 1,635	By the way, Max... Any time you get a plant that has "rocks glued on the soil", the FIRST thing to do is remove the rocks. And, always water from above... My opinions... Pat __________________ BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain. THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life. Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California

11-Apr-2007	#9
_MaX_ Albino Squirrel Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: Québec Country: Canada USDA Zone: 4b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 424	Okay, well thanks for your advices, Hec, Jeremy and Pat. So this tree is no good for a bonsai according to you... Weird they sell it as a mallsai! I can't say they know nothing about this.. they had a 20yrs old very nice "don't remember what specie", there... but well it doesn't mean much. So, well... I'll think about it, but I might try to demonstrate it's not a so ugly tree!! lol But I'll concentrate on my ton of seeds now... If I ever see a good baby tree somewhere to make a bonsai (tropicals for now), I'll grab it... Have some experiences in mind too... If something is interesting I'll post the results. Max __________________ "Eternal companions! The human being appeared because the tree was already there; it will disappear when the tree will no longer be." -Edgar Cayce

12-Apr-2007

#10

jeremy_norbury

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Quote:

Originally Posted by _MaX_

Okay, well thanks for your advices, Hec, Jeremy and Pat. So this tree is no good for a bonsai according to you... Weird they sell it as a mallsai! I can't say they know nothing about this.. they had a 20yrs old very nice "don't remember what specie", there... but well it doesn't mean much.

So, well... I'll think about it, but I might try to demonstrate it's not a so ugly tree!! lol
But I'll concentrate on my ton of seeds now... If I ever see a good baby tree somewhere to make a bonsai (tropicals for now), I'll grab it...

Have some experiences in mind too... If something is interesting I'll post the results.

Max

Max

Great reasoning - "they sell it as mallsai therefore it's a bonsai" :-) It's an unusual house plant - let's not confuse it with bonsai.

They sell it as mallsai because it's cheap to produce and rapidly produces a bulbous trunk and many leaves. Don't be fooled into believing that mallsai are bonsai - they rarely are.

Unless you are forced to grow indoors I suggest you start with the "normal" bonsai subjects: larch, elm, hornbeam, maples, beech, pine, cotoneasters etc etc etc - all readily available and hardy. Go walk round the neighbourhood and see what people are growing in their gardens - because that's the material you should be using. You'll be able to find these trees and shrubs in local garden centers and should be able to find seedlings and small trees growing wild in local forests. The advantage is cost, availability, and primarily their suitability for bonsai. Canada is covered in suitable trees - you are lucky...

It's UGLY, by the way, because of its bulbous trunk which reverse-tapers i.e. it gets fatter going UP the tree and not fatter toward the roots. The branches are too twiggy for the trunk and the leaves are too big. These features are not something you can "correct" over time or "grow out" or change significantly - so they will always be wrong no matter what else you do. Take a look at the gallery of Thomas J - if you want to see real bonsai; http://pictures.bonsaitalk.com/show...ser=504&cat=500

If you are going to spend time at least spend it productively on a suitable subject...

Jerry
Amsterdam

__________________

All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone

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