Ficus Concina

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to share the progress of my very first tree. I am new in this hobby and i am really loving it.










Comments and suggestions are very much welcome

Thanks IBC

WELCOME!!!

I remember seeing red balete (ficus concinna) bonsai in shows (way back) and I love them. If I recall correctly, the leaves reduce well and the branches ramify well too.

That tree has a lot of potential. Does anyone know how they respond to total defoliation?

The best way to reduce leaf size and achieve more branching (ramification) is to defoliate and then control new growth with pinching. (Usually the first two leaves on a new twig are smaller that later leaves, by removing the terminal bud after those two leaves form, you will begin to see leaf reduction.)

If a tree does not tolerate total defoliation well an alternative technique is to remove about 1/3 of the largest leaves on a weekly basis. Always removing the largest leaves.

Hi Billy,
No problem with total defolation a very sturdy plant like any other Ficus,this is a ficus where we toy around with almost anything
Regards,
Alex

Very interesting tree and a good job. If you could use wire to put a very small bend in the straight left-hand trunk, I think that would help.

ogie wrote:Hi Billy,
No problem with total defolation a very sturdy plant like any other Ficus,this is a ficus where we toy around with almost anything
Regards,
Alex

IT is probably very different in the more tropical area of the Philippines, but here in Florida we find that that some Ficus are less tolerant of total defoliation than others. Especially F. benjaminia and the many cultivars.

I don;t have any experience with this Ficus.

Very nice progression in your Ficus.
Keep up the good work.
Jerry

Nice evolution! Looking forward to further developments. I think Jim's suggestion has some merit, but the straight trunk segment doesn't really bother me that much.

The leaves have sort of an oak look to them. Very interesting.

coh wrote:The leaves have sort of an oak look to them. Very interesting.

Chris,

Check other posted Red Balete here. It is unique and I've seen the leaves shrunk down to almost Nerifolia/Salicaria sized in shows. Not sure if they are just at budding out stage though (it's been a while).

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t386-whats-your-most-loved-tree
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t794p45-casuarina-equisetifolia-cemara-udang-or-mu-ma-huang?highlight=grafting