My First Ficus

skydivingcoffee

Ok everyone. I'm quite the beginner here. I bought this ficus in a much smaller pot about 5 years ago and proceeded to neglect it for most of that time. I only just repotted it last spring and started taking an interest in the art and in shaping it.

At some point in the recent months, I got a bit sheer happy and left it with only a few leaves. They're starting to fill in and I'm starting to pinch it back for ramification.

I've decided on a windswept style. The apex used to point straight to the left and is now wired up. The lower branch and the branch on the right just had wire removed as I noticed it was starting to bite in. At this point, I plan on growing the apex above the lower branches on the right.

Thought, concerns and Ideas would be very welcome.

Guru Mittar

Attached Images

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DavidN

Hmmmm I believe this will make a very nice informal upright actually. Don't think a windswept will do this tree justice. You have good movement in the trunk as well.

David

skydivingcoffee

Interesting Idea. Would I continue the Apex up instead of to the right? Also, there is the lack of a branch at the first bend, which is actually a turn in the trunk.

Would I get rid of the small lower branch if I went that route?

DavidN

This is a virtual I think is very achievable. I have tiltes the tree to the left and used the apex with all those small branches to form the top part of the tree branching. Anyway this is what I see.

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skydivingcoffee

Thanks for the virt. Any merit to the Idea of threadgrafting a branch through the first bend? It looks a bit odd without one.

DavidN

Yep, good eye. That would be balance the tree out perfectly.

DavidN

How about this.

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dcp_0542a.jpg (48.0 KB, 181 views)

skydivingcoffee

Thanks for the virt. It's a big change to consider and would require time in the growing box(which I have yet to build). Could be pretty cool though. Thanks for the info David.

Karl Thier

Hi Bonsai friend, I think this form has to be created easily and it looks like a Ficus.
Greetings from Austria, Karl T.

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