Ficus Shape

tunek

hi all!
i bought my new ficus and i want to shape it a little, could You help and suggest something how to make it look good?


thanks
tunek

Advertisement

BonsaiMon

Hi Tunek .. Welcome to B-Talk
Your ficus looks very healthy. Ficus love bright light(full sun) in most varieties the brighter the light the smaller the new leaves will emerge. To gain some shape you will need to tip prune most branches to bring the canopy down a 'lil.
( yellow line in pic below) Tip pruning will force the growth back along the branches. This is a good specimen for the banyon style .. appears to have some roots poppin on the trunk. Warmth(60+F), Bright light, and humidity will encourage this to continue.
Indoors in your area during the winter will be challenging but you will be able to maintain its present status.
In the early summer I would repot it into a shallow(2-3") oval pot about the size of the green line in pic.
This will help set off the wide canopy and also give the roots from above a place to touch down. Healthy trees can be defoiliated and put in full sun for smaller leaves.
This is a fine specimen . There is much information here and throughout the internet on ficus and their care.
Hope this atleast gets you started ..

Attached Images

1015_212146x.jpg (66.3 KB, 178 views)

__________________
peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

tunek

thanks for information
is it good moment to tip pruning? i will keep it indoor all winter in good light.

tunek

Adam_MA

Tunek,

As long as you are giving the Ficus the light and temp it needs, I see no reason (other than the tree being unhealthy to start with) to not go ahead with the tip pruning now. I have my tropical trees inside now and I just did a pruning/wiring to one of my ficus trees and it's doing fine.


Adam

tunek

thanks Adam,
hmm my room is situaded from north-west side so there is not much day light i must say. why type of light do You recomend normal bulb or some special would be good?
really thanks for help, im 1month beginner in bonsai's
tunek

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Most ficus can do quite well in low light levels, but don't expect much useful growth. You'll need to put them outside in the spring through early fall (min temp around 50 degrees) to get growth.

Adam_MA

Tunek,

Take a look through this site. Jerry Meislik is "The Man" when it comes to indoor Ficus. http://bonsaihunk.8m.com/

To keep your cost lower you might want to look for a "Full Spectrum" fluorescent bulb. GE even makes one specifically for plants.


Hope this helps

Adam

BonsaiMon

loads of good info .. ficus really do need supplemental lighting when indoors, especially in a nw room. Jerry Meislik is the 'Mon' for growing tropicals indoors. I learned alot about indoor growing from him. I don't grow any trees indoors but often am asked how to.. I have a greenhouse attached to my house and heat it in the winter .. keeping the temps above 50 F . My ficus do great.

__________________
peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/