How does one collect a tree such as this?

420foy

I was wandering around the internet and i found this picture of a ficus tree. My question is, how was this tree collected? Was it simply dug up and repotted? I am curious because I find the very wide base attractive and would like pointers on how to best achieve this look.

http://www.tropicalbonsai.com/FicusMicrocarpa.htm

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pootsie

It's very easy to collect a tree like this if you have a few thousand dollars handy.

The picture you linked is not the procut of simply digging something up, but took years and years of patient work to acheive. Work like this:
http://internetbonsaiclub.org/index...3&topic=16497.0

I agree with you that the base of the tree you linked is fantastic. Thry double-clicking on the word nebari here. Nebari takes a lot of work but the results can be rewarding. Good nebari is produced like good branching, with strategic cutting and manipulation of roots

pootsie

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Ralph

I don't know the history for this tree, and only the owner could provide you with that. In all likely hood, the tree was grown from a young cutting or seed, as are many tropicals in Taiwan. It may have started it's bonsai training a human generation ago or more. The weather in that part of the world allow this species of tree to grow year round in perfect conditions. The beautiful nebari (rrot crown) that you mention will have been achieved through years of cultivation and work, and year living in shallow bonsai pots. It is most possible to grow a tropical bonsai like this in zone 7, but you will need to work in an environment that is not suitable year round for tropicals. That would mean it will spend part of it's time indoors in a green house, or special grown room with proper lights and humidity. Jerry Meislik, who live in Montanna is a specialist in this regard (http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/ ). That said, you will need to sart with excellent material to begin with, to achieve something as impressive as what you show here. Your local club may be able to help you with this effort when you are ready. Good Luck!

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Attila

Ralph is right, most of these Ficus were started as cuttings. In tropical countries, this is common practice.

One of the surest signs that these trees were trained as bonsai from cuttings is their "perfection" They are just too perfect for a yamadori, which usually display features normally considered "faults" that due to the ingenuity of the artist were transformed into highlight features.

However, if you want to achieve this look on your tropical bonsai, you have to move to a tropical country. Doing it in a temperate zone will take a lifetime. In Taiwan, it takes only half a lifetime.