Creating broom style with ficus benjamina?

fedtskruppe

Hey everybody,

I have read that ficus benjamina, does'nt tolerate complete defoliation, and that this will kill the tree. I have also read that the way to create a broom style bonsai is to cut the whole thing, only leaving some inches of trunk...
I dont really understand how I should go about this.
Has anyone had luck pinching back a ficus benjamina that drastically?

Hope you can help me

Thanks

Attached Images

	PICT0451.JPG (25.4 KB, 85 views)
	PICT0454.JPG (20.6 KB, 64 views)

Advertisement

Mortalis

It really depends on how healthy it is... But benjamina is more sensitive to trunk chops. You have to baby it or you will have dieback.. Dont do it at all on a weak tree. If your having vigourus growth go for it but make sure your tree is warm and humid.. Winter heaters dry the air alot.. I use fish tank heaters and pipe heat wire with a water tray the heat in the water keeps the heat and humidity up.. If you do use fish tank heaters make sure to get the kind that are not glass as they break if the water all dries up.

fedtskruppe

Thanks for your advise

I just moved the tree to a new environment, so i guess it first of all has to adjust, but otherwise the tree is of good health. So in a month or so I might be able to do the chop - ? I was thinking about cutting the trunk back to the lowest branch, then cutting this off at a later time, when the new shoots have developed. I don't know if this will look odd. My guess is that once the branch is cut off there will be a big hole in the canopy..
Is it a better idea to chase down the foliage by making subsequent chops from the apex and downwards?

I also have some questions about providing the tree with conditions that will alow it to recover from this chopdown as quickly as possible.

- Which type of soil and fertilizer should I use?

Thanks alot

bonsaikc

I probably would not completely chop a benjamina, and I don't think broom style especially suits the tree, as it is a banyan type tree.

__________________
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

mistermoyogi

My experience has been mixed regarding this cultivar, but I have had some success. Please see attached...this tree is about eight years in training. I initially did a trunk chop (tree was about 5 feet in height) leaving only a trunk line. Currently the tree stands 9 inches in height from the soil line.

I have had the blessing of being able to house trees in our university greenhouse during the winter months. This, coupled with a heavy feeding regimen and summering the trees outdoors, really seems to help.

I agree, I have not seen too many broom-style ficus either....this tree began its development in that style, and I decided to let it continue that way.

I hope input helps.

Regards,
Tom Simonyi

Attached Images

F. benjamina shohin.jpg (12.0 KB, 109 views)

fedtskruppe

I can understand from your replies that the average oppinion is that chopping the tree below the lowest branch is too risky.
Do you have any other ideas of what i can do with the tree? It has really great nebari, so I think it's a good bonsai candidate. However the lowest branch isn't really situated that low on the stem compared to the thickness of the stem. Will it look weired if the tree is chopped right above this lowest branch?

thanks on advance.

Mortalis

If you have patience you can chop it at the lowest branch.. let it backbud then chop it at the new lowest branch.. This may take a season to do but it would be worth it if you really want broom..

fedtskruppe

If trunchupping just above the lowest branch will induce branches to develope below this point, then I think i will go for an informal upright.