Willow Leaf Ficus

Hello again everyone,


I picked up this small Willow Leaf Ficus at my local nursery for a cheap price. This is probably the closest tree I have to being finished, even though this tree is nowhere near finished (that tells you what my trees are like). Most of my trees are just works in progress, and so is this one. This one is just a better looking working in progress. Anyway, I just wanted to see what you all thought of it. I don't think it's quite ready for a bonsai pot, so I will take it out of the pot it is in and place it into something else so I can work on the non-existent nebari. Any tips on what you think would help with nebari like this? Here is the tree:



And the non-existent nebari:


Comments, tips, etc. always welcome!

Since the tree lacks taper the more you go up, I had considered chopping at the red line or maybe even higher? Thoughts?

Your red line looks like a good place to cut, with that top branch as the new leader. Plant it in a BIG pot and feed like mad. However, don't expect any miracles. In the future, avoid those cheap mallsai with pretzelized trunks. They will rarely amount to anything.
Unfortunately, in my limited experience, Ficus salicaria does not do that well in the North. Ficus microcarpa and the dwarf cultivars of F. benjamina are easier to grow.
Iris

bonsaisr wrote:Your red line looks like a good place to cut, with that top branch as the new leader. Plant it in a BIG pot and feed like mad. However, don't expect any miracles. In the future, avoid those cheap mallsai with pretzelized trunks. They will rarely amount to anything.
Unfortunately, in my limited experience, Ficus salicaria does not do that well in the North. Ficus microcarpa and the dwarf cultivars of F. benjamina are easier to grow.
Iris

Personally I like the trunk the way it is. It's not the curves that bother me, it's the lack of taper. I've always had great success with Willow Leaf and they seem to do greatly with the way I grow them. I do have many microcarpa and benjamina as well.

Ryan wrote:I've always had great success with Willow Leaf and they seem to do greatly with the way I grow them.

You are two or three zones south of me. Longer season outside, better humdity. Better fig grower.
Iris

bonsaisr wrote:

Ryan wrote:I've always had great success with Willow Leaf and they seem to do greatly with the way I grow them.

You are two or three zones south of me. Longer season outside, better humdity. Better fig grower.
Iris

Oh yes, forgot you were in NY

I've actually never grown any of these trees outside. I usually just leave them indoors in their aquarium to keep growing. Our summer humidity can vary greatly so I just don't worry about moving them.

I removed the 'noisy' top this tree has. It is a start at least. I plan on rooting the top part of the tree and making a shohin out of it. Problem is that I've never had success with rooting Willow Leaf cuttings. Any tips? Any comments on the tree in general?

It'll grow roots if you put it in water. They're really easy to grow from cuttings too, it just needs to be warm.

Bob Pressler wrote:It'll grow roots if you put it in water. They're really easy to grow from cuttings too, it just needs to be warm.

Not that I am doubting you (because I'm not!) but are you sure that water works with all ficus species? I know it works with microcarpa and the likes, but I've never tried it with a Willow Leaf.