Chinese Banyon 1

This Chinese banyon aka Ficus retusa (trade name) was started as a cutting in the 90's. I began training it in 2007. By then it was still in a nursery pot and in poor health. After regaining strength the tree was planted 2008 into a bonsai pot:



Two years ago:


Now:

Another nice tree Dorothy. You really have a wonderful collection and a great eye with things

It is a very nice F Retusa. The base is really excellent. Have you considered the possibility of removing the lower right hand branch and slightly pulling down some of the remaining branches.
Regards
Hank

Dorothy ,, this is a very nice tree !! my opion only removeing that right branch would throw the tree off balence.. looks good the way it is..take care john

Dorothy the tree looks great, is that a 12 in pot? Is it in pure lava?
This is Phil from Lighthouse B.S. . I spend a lot of time learning from people, when could I drive across and come and marvel in your collection and ask you you a couple hundred questions?
Every tree I have seen of your is outstanding, thank you for sharing.
Phil

Hi Dorothy,
Are yours Ficus and mine sisters?
Here is mine

After transplanting in the new bigger pot

This tree was displayed at the 5th World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC (2005)

tmmason10 wrote:Another nice tree Dorothy. You really have a wonderful collection and a great eye with things

Thank you for the compliment, tmmason10. I use my hands too..

-Dorothy

Hank Miller wrote:It is a very nice F Retusa. The base is really excellent. Have you considered the possibility of removing the lower right hand branch and slightly pulling down some of the remaining branches.
Regards
Hank

Hank, thank you. It's a thought. Then again, since I am growing it as a Banyon I do accept symmetry and heavier lower branches, There is actually smaller branches in front of that clunker.I need to remove the aerial root though. Forgot about it.

-Dorothy

moyogijohn wrote:Dorothy ,, this is a very nice tree !! my opion only removeing that right branch would throw the tree off balence.. looks good the way it is..take care john

Thanks moyogijohn, the trouble with banyon style is you want the branches to develop character and feed on aerial roots for a while. Then we have to decide which ones to take off or live with reverse taper or melt them into the main trunk (after feeding the top too). Decisions, decisions..

-Dorothy

Phillip Elliott wrote:Dorothy the tree looks great, is that a 12 in pot? Is it in pure lava?
This is Phil from Lighthouse B.S. . I spend a lot of time learning from people, when could I drive across and come and marvel in your collection and ask you you a couple hundred questions?
Every tree I have seen of your is outstanding, thank you for sharing.
Phil

Now that I see your avatar I remember you, Phillip! The pot is 16" by 11". It really needs to be shallower for this tree. I will switch pots with another banyon this year. Both need repots, so that's the chance to swap. Pure lava, yes. However, I will plant it in Jason Schley's soil this year. Great soil! I have planted some other trees into his mix, super good.

A couple hundred question at a time or all at once?

-Dorothy

xuan le wrote:Hi Dorothy,
Are yours Ficus and mine sisters?
Here is mine

After transplanting in the new bigger pot

This tree was displayed at the 5th World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC (2005)

Nice tree(s)!, Xuan le. How long have you been growing it? I see you are accepting the works of aerial roots..Funny you can pull down the extended branch outside the container. My trees would definetly "walk" away. Ernie did that once to one of his ficus (Benjamina). The Ficus not only went off the table, eventually it grew 20 feet tall and displayed the pot in the crown area! I am not kidding you. Of course I have to add that Ernie is not always looking after his trees on a regular base. So, off went the tree..and the pot!

Best,
Dorothy

Thanks Dorothy,
I have no problems using the weights to pull the branch down with this tree (believe it or not I did not even tight the tree to the pot)
Here is what I used as weight

Regards
Xuan