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Creating Bottom Branching on Ficus

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leatherback
Ryan
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Post  Ryan Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:45 pm

Hey all,




I took a trip up to a local bonsai nursery last weekend in the hunt for some new stock. I'm a Ficus guy, so naturally I got more Ficus. This tree is one of the new trees I picked up. It's got a very attractive base, but there are very few bottom branches. I just thought I'd gather some opinions on what you all would think would work best in terms of creating some bottom branching. Would you all just chop and hope for the best? Would you root some cuttings and fuse them? Any comments overall on this tree are welcome, thanks!

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Ryan
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Post  leatherback Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:45 pm

Depending on where you are.. Probasbly if you get the tree nice and strong, and then trim it all off, it would sprout with branches all over the place. But a more gentle approach would be to use the few basal branches, and do a threadgraft with them & their side-branches.
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Post  Ryan Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:02 am

leatherback wrote:Depending on where you are.. Probasbly if you get the tree nice and strong, and then trim it all off, it would sprout with branches all over the place. But a more gentle approach would be to use the few basal branches, and do a threadgraft with them & their side-branches.

Yeah that may just be my best option, get the tree super healthy then really begin chopping it back...

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Post  FrankP999 Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:01 am

You could graft new branches on wherever you want them.

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Post  Sam Ogranaja Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:08 pm

Ryan wrote:
leatherback wrote:Depending on where you are.. Probasbly if you get the tree nice and strong, and then trim it all off, it would sprout with branches all over the place. But a more gentle approach would be to use the few basal branches, and do a threadgraft with them & their side-branches.

Yeah that may just be my best option, get the tree super healthy then really begin chopping it back...

This is what I was going to suggest Ryan. You do great work with Ficus. Feed strong and cut hard.

I just did that with a Ficus Kinmen that I took down to about 4 inches from 12 inches and I'm getting buds all the way down to the base. I removed all the branches and only left 2 leaves. All the foliage was up top.

I don't know your climate though. We're at peak heat here in Raleigh. I assume you are too. It sure looks healthy from your photos.

Keep us posted.
Sam
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Post  Sam Ogranaja Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:10 pm

That's a nice fat Willow Leaf on the second picture, on the right. Have you shown that here before?

Have a great weekend!!!
Sam
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Post  Ryan Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:40 pm

Sam Ogranaja wrote:
Ryan wrote:
leatherback wrote:Depending on where you are.. Probasbly if you get the tree nice and strong, and then trim it all off, it would sprout with branches all over the place. But a more gentle approach would be to use the few basal branches, and do a threadgraft with them & their side-branches.

Yeah that may just be my best option, get the tree super healthy then really begin chopping it back...

This is what I was going to suggest Ryan. You do great work with Ficus. Feed strong and cut hard.

I just did that with a Ficus Kinmen that I took down to about 4 inches from 12 inches and I'm getting buds all the way down to the base. I removed all the branches and only left 2 leaves. All the foliage was up top.

I don't know your climate though. We're at peak heat here in Raleigh.  I assume you are too. It sure looks healthy from your photos.

Keep us posted.
Sam

Thanks Sam. I definitely plan on feeding strong, and it's in a bigger pot now, so hopefully it really starts to push some growth. Ficus are prolific back budders, so I should be fine regardless if I cut it back.


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Post  Ryan Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:41 pm

Sam Ogranaja wrote:That's a nice fat Willow Leaf on the second picture, on the right. Have you shown that here before?

Have a great weekend!!!
Sam


Hmm I'm not sure whether or not that guy has been shown here, but he is a nice little fat tree. Needs more sun for shorter branches, though...
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Post  Sam Ogranaja Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:09 am

I like it a lot.

Thanks for showing me.

Have a great weekend!!!!
Sam Ogranaja
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Post  Todd Ellis Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:25 pm

Ryan, where is this local bonsai nursery that you go to? I like your ficus, especially the fat Willow Leaf!
Thanks,
Todd
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Post  Ryan Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:56 pm

Sam Ogranaja wrote:I like it a lot.

Thanks for showing me.

Have a great weekend!!!!

Thanks, it'll get there!

Todd Ellis wrote:Ryan, where is this local bonsai nursery that you go to? I like your ficus, especially the fat Willow Leaf!
Thanks,
Todd

It's Meehans bonsai nursery up in Maryland, great place and wonderful people.

Ryan
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Post  Todd Ellis Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:08 pm

I haven't been to their "new" nursery since they moved from Boonsboro, Maryland. Hugh and Martha are great people!
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Post  Ryan Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:19 am

Todd Ellis wrote:I haven't been to their "new" nursery since they moved from Boonsboro, Maryland. Hugh and Martha are great people!


You should go! It's a huge place, I fall in love every time I visit. Hugh and Martha are wonderful caring people, I agree.

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Post  Ryan Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:47 am

By the way Sam, here's a picture of that Willow Leaf after a trim tonight to select the main branches. Tried wiring them, but they're much too thin for my big hands to work with Laughing 

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Post  rrubberbandman Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:41 pm

Todd Ellis wrote:I haven't been to their "new" nursery since they moved from Boonsboro, Maryland. Hugh and Martha are great people!
Hello,
Have you guys been down to see the guys at "gardens unlimited" in ladysmith ...i think off of exit 104 on I-95?
We have over the years got some unique items from them.....but my dads best ficus actually came from merrifield garden center of all places!
Bryan

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Post  Sam Ogranaja Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:47 am

Ryan wrote:By the way Sam, here's a picture of that Willow Leaf after a trim tonight to select the main branches. Tried wiring them, but they're much too thin for my big hands to work with Laughing 
That is a great Ficus!!! I love it. I wish I had one like that.

Are you coming to Carolina Bonsai Expo this October? Arthur puts on a great show.
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Post  Ryan Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:48 am

Sam Ogranaja wrote:
Are you coming to Carolina Bonsai Expo this October? Arthur puts on a great show.
Wish I could, but it's too far of a drive for me Crying or Very sad 

Ryan
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