Ficus forest

This is my first attempt at a forest. Comments and advice are welcome.

That's a nice start.

You might want to consider grouping them less evenly spaced across the pot/tray though. Maybe in two groups -- one of 3 trees and one of 4, all a bit closer to one side or another of the tray. Each of the groups should have one of the larger trees in it and one of the smallest trees.

hi anne

I have posted a link to a group planting article i found very helpful http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATGroups.html has alot of very good advice
hope this helps with the devolopement of your first forest planting.

best wishes

richard

One thing that would help is to put a little more space in the front of the planting (sort of like the foreground in a painting).

G'day Anne...

Good advice, above.

I would like to add...more difference in trunk diameters...also in height.

Nice start Anne...

Pat

Thank you all for your valuable comments. The link to Bonsai4me holds very good advice.

I had two more, tiny trees, but somehow, I couldn't squeeze them in. The dish is only about 25 cm in length. It would have looked less evenly spaced. I'm now considering growing cuttings (less root mass) to add at the next repotting.

Anne

Anne,
At the next repotting you can slice off the rootballs, even cutting all the roots off one side of the tree in order to fit it very close to another tree. Ficus will tolerate this type of treatment very well if they are healthy.
Jerry
www.bonsaihunk.us

Another consideration is that these are apparently standard F. benjamina, with large leaves. Keep them pinched & trimmed, with the smallest branches at the top. You want to encourage it to make twigs & smaller leaves.
Iris

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind when repotting next. For now, I want to give it some rest. I know ficus are very forgiving, but I nevertheless did manage to loose a good few!
The growing season here in North Western Europe isn't just long enough (for plant and mankind!!)

The whole planting is about 25 cm/9.8 inch high and the leave size is about 1x2 cm/0.3x0.7 inch.

Anne