Ficus Benjamina Clump

Hey all,
I just thought I would share some pics of a Ficus I worked today. This was originally cheap house plant nursery stock which was almost dead 3 years ago. I think it looks much better in its new pot. I also removed one trunk and there are a few grafts in the works. I kept this in a "humidity chamber" through the winter and it seems happier than it ever was before. Through this season I will work on ramification and leaf reduction. Comments and suggestions always welcome.

June 2010


May 2011



Todd

It's coming along, but
1. Grow it in full sun all summer to get proper density and leaf size. Watch for sunburn at first.
2. Pinch, pinch, pinch to get better ramification, backbudding, & leaf reduction.
3. I think you have 6 trunks. Plan on 5 or 7. Don't necessarily lose that little one. The trunks should be different thicknesses and different heights.
Iris

Iris,
Thanks, it does go outside all summer in full sun. Last year I did a partial defoliation twice during the season and it helped reduce the leaf size but it doesn't seem to want to back bud much. I planned to pinch out all the terminal buds in a month or so hoping to push energy back along the branches.

It doe have 6 trunks. It had 7 previously but I cut one out to open it up some. I did root the cut out trunk so maybe I could add it back in later in a better position. I know that odd numbers tend to look better so I will think about that for the future. I was also going to develop the smallest trunk more. We'll see where it goes.

Todd

Thanks, it does go outside all summer in full sun. Last year I did a
partial defoliation twice during the season and it helped reduce the
leaf size but it doesn't seem to want to back bud much.

While I do like the composition, I think that just goes to show that a Ficus benjamina (or others of its large-leaved, glossy-leaved ilk <--- scientific term, sorry) isn't really the best bonsai subject.

Jim,
I agree, but being one of my first surviving bonsai subjects I have an affinity for it. This one is some sport of the benjamina although I'm not sure which. I would go for other varieties of ficus if I actually wanted others. I have salicaria and microcarpa which both are much better subjects.

Todd