Sumo Shohin Willow Leaf Ficus

reg-i wrote:just wondering why your defoliating at this stage? If you would just let those lower branches grow out,they would increase the size of the callus. This would help with your taper plus you want to work on primary branches, defoliating now is just gonna cause more ramification and you don't really need that yet

That's was months ago, and I can't quite recall why I did

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Im in a warmer climate but im sure I could do the same with lights. This was a root cutting like Rob K. talked about but it was cut off totally flat.

Given the setup it's in now I'm sure I could get something like that in a decent time.

It has developed faster than the fantasy of mine. the time has come we have to design options
It has developed faster than the fantasy of mine. the time has come we have to design options

Thankfully the tree is back in leaf:

Wow, long time no update. Here's the tree as of the other night:

Looks like its growing healthily. The healthier the better to help grow out that leader and create a smoother transition from the base.

Looking good Ryan

I just discovered this thread. The excellent drawings others submitted really outline how to smooth the transition from the chop to the first trunk extension. You have kept the tree healthy, and looking great, so what I offer is as encouragement, not a criticism.

Its time to really make use of allowing a sacrifice branch grow. There have been a couple really great threads on the topic, one that I remember best is https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t11663-the-fun-of-the-use-of-sacrificebranches-when-developing-bonsai started by Yvonne. Most beginning and intermediate level growers just don't realize how large they need to let the sacrifice branch grow to get the desired taper. (I include myself in this group, this thread opened my eyes)

For your tree, beginning this year, 2013, I would pick a branch in the red circle that you will not need for the finished tree. In a few years it will get removed completely. Let it grow out until the diameter of the trunk immediately below it is about half to 3/4 the diameter of the root base. This may mean leaving a ridiculous looking branch 4 or 5 feet long, just hanging out the side of the tree. You can keep working the rest of the tree for ramification and branch placement, just ignore the one branch. This sacrifice branch may have to be left to grow for as many as 3 years in your climate, maybe more.

Beginning next year, 2014 I would let a second escape branch or sacrifice branch develop to get your second zone of taper. This one won't have to be as long, or left on as long. But it will smooth the transition from the second segment to the third segment.

The tree will look weird for the time you are doing this, but it is the quickest way to heal and smooth the transitions from trunk chops. The way the tree is now, more or less confined to a profile that would work as a finished bonsai, it will take decades to get the trunk development to smooth the chop. But using a sacrifice branch, you can shorten the time from decades to 3 or 4 years. Worth a try.

Hope this helps. And thanks to the others who previously posted, that provided me a refresher course on the techniques for healing trunk chops.