Advice on Progression of my Ficus Microcarpa Green Island

July 2009


August 2009


July 2010


July 2011


May 2012


April 2013


October 2013
Front

Left Side

Back

Right Side


Well there it is... mistakes and all! Really hard sometimes to make a cut but it is coming along nicely... falling into the form I envision it to be in another 5 to 6 years. The tree is under 8 inches and I will try to keep it under 10 inches so semi-Shohin???

One big mistake was probably the removal of very large root on the tree's left side... when I had raised the tree in the pot this one root swelled up and grew like crazy... to the point that it was completely out of portion. The scar left behind is awful just don't know what to do about it other than wait and see??? Another doozy was the removal of a lower branch but again it didn't fall in line with what I saw when I closed my eyes so... I hacked it! I removed a number of aerial roots over the years that weren't going in the right direction. I just learned about this straw method so I will see how this aerial root turns out... I want them to be relatively straight.

This tree has already had three figs. I have at least 12 cuttings growing now from this one tree and one of those cuttings already has had two figs on it!

BTW: this bonsai lives in tropical humid Thailand.

Let the constructive criticism fly I am ready!!!

Good Morning Richochet

I first had to google Siam, can you believe it? Then I came to a Waterpark....are you an Water nymph?   

Sorry that was a joke. Welcome to this Forum! You are going to have sooo much fun!

Ok, I can't see any photos? Do you know how to post them, cause I don't know how to explain, I'm the blond one in this forum, maybe you should ask Fiona or Jim.

Love and light

O, there we go, Clever Man, and you are welcome.

I really liked your tree in April 2013 the 6th photo.

Its a very nice progression indeed.

Love the eaves of your house and the Corinthian Columns.

Love and light

Yes, it was hard for me to make some necessary cuts and leaf reduction back in April.

Close Up of the Trunk, Jinned Exposed Root, and the Awful Root Cut I Did... ugly I know!!! 

Hi Ricochet

Cut the root like this...it will heal up, and look nice in a short time...


Kind regards Yvonne

Thanks for the advice... that is however my Jinned Exposed Root. I thought that looked okay as is??? No? You think I should chop it as well?

The root cut that I am concerned about is on the other side of the tree in the third pic. Just don't how to fix this or will time take care of it? Appreciate the help. Cheers and respects,

Yes, I still think you should take out the root with the red line, as theese roots are much to big for the tree, and make it look just like a small plant, insteadt of tree...other more in scale roots will grow out, now the tree is in a bonsaipot.
The root you removed first, can you cut slightly more back in the angle you already cut it...thereafter can you hollow it a Little, then the new callus will look nicer...do the same thing to the other root  

Kind regards Yvonne

This is the plan thus far two cuts in red... any other advice?

Dear Ricochet

You'll have to give it more time. In this forum things happen a bit slower...remember that America is only waking up now.... give it a couple of days before you act.

But Yvonnes advice is pretty much the 'good stuff'.

Love and light

It has been wisely proposed that I air-layer my bonsai at mid-trunk level... I am seriously considering this. Any further advice regarding such a move?

Richochet,

how about you accept, what may be limitations of this particular ficus type?
Perhaps using some wire ties to pull down the branches a bit?

If you give me some time I can try a virtual design for you?

Whatever you decide, best to you.
Later.
Khaimraj

Khaimraj: Of course, I would sincerely appreciate and consider any/all advice you may provide. Respects,

Hi Rico

You could also go this way, and a kind of start all ower



This is said, with out knowing what kind of limits this kind of ficus have ...maybe non 

Kind regards Yvonne

Ricochet,

I thought all your bonsai needed was to be re-angled, and a branch on the left of image pulled down.
Then allowing the trunk to thicken, repotting into a shallow pot to allow the larger trunk to speak.
Using fewer branches, and more negative / empty spaces. Each leaf becoming many leaves.

Experiment with aerial roots and see if it gives even more to your design, if you wish.

You can still cut the large root to get it to fit into the shallow container, but keep the upper mass.
As I said before whatever you decide, best to you.
Khaimraj

*Apologies for the earlier extra h in your handle.

Questions, feel free to ask.

Wow Khaimraj! I sincerely appreciate the time you took to sketch this for me good sir.

That style is something I have been considering... but didn't know how to do approach it. There is already a natural tilt and bend in the trunk from since it was a sapling that I have been battling but now I see how I can use it in this stylized form you have envisioned. I also have a shallower pot that I was planning to repot this tree in anyways so perfect timing. Yes, I will have to cut the exposed jinned root as to be able to angle the trunk properly in the shallower pot.

Three confirmations required:

1.) I will have to reposition the two aerial roots (to the rear left) so that they are perpendicular to the ground once again... correct?

2.) Should I position the rear branch on the left (the branch behind the proposed pull down branch) downwards as well in order to create more negative space? FYI one of the two mature aerial roots is coming off from this rear branch so cutting this branch would mean losing one of the aerial roots.

3.) In regards to the trunk and nebari should I leave as is, cut or taper it more, bury it lowering it slightly, or raise it exposing more?

Ricochet,

to,

[1] When you reposition, then - you - will decide.

[2] Once again, the ball is in your court.

[3] And again, it is up to you, the virtual was just to get you out of rut and give you a simple solution, which you may use or not.

AS USUAL - ALWAYS EXPERIMENT on expendables, not the major effort.
Use cuttings, to test ideas.
Later.
Khaimraj