graphyfotoz
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 15, 2006 18:30:55 GMT -5
*Posted as per request by Allen* Bought this yesterday for $12 locally. Needs a good hair cut but it's a good healthy tree with nice structure! Pot is 5in tall....tree is 10in tall. Guess I'll trim it up and re-pot it later. Any info on the care of this and info on trimming?
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Post by theladysabine on Apr 15, 2006 18:46:20 GMT -5
Nice little fig!!
You're right... it is a diamond in the rough. Excellent buy.
I'll go drag my buddy Wes over here and have him advise you on it's care... he's a vertiable master with figs.
Sabine
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Post by wes on Apr 16, 2006 2:02:51 GMT -5
Hi,
Looks like a ficus Too Little, these are a very good tree for beginners to work. It won't like to be kept in a climate where temps will reach much below 50 degrees fahrenheit, a good frost will likely kill it if ever exposed to one. 70f-88f will be a good happy zone for it. As a rule of thumb it is best not to re pot tropicals when temps will reach below 70f. So late spring through summer time is the best opportunity for heavy work.
I like your idea of trimming then re potting later, I would remove the top half of branch and foliage growth. When you do re pot later on I would remove all but 1/3 of the roots leaving a nice flat root system that will easily fit into a shallow round or oval bonsai pot. This tree looks like it is already trying to grow in a broom form so those type of basic pots will work for the style. Let the tree have a few weeks to revive it's self before doing any more training after a re pot. I usually wait until a fresh load of new growth is zipping along and happy before continuing.
Some basic tips for ficus are to leave a leaf or 2 at the ends of branching when making cuts, sometimes they can have a little die back when cut bald. Also yellowing and dropping foliage can be a sign of root stress, usually keeping the soil to wet or bad timing with a re potting is the cause. All in all the tree looks very healthy and only needs a little work to start looking like a little shohin tree. Also don't forget to tie these too little ficus tree into bonsai pots, wind can easily tip these over as the foliage will act like a sail and the wood is light.
I didn't cover everything so maybe more people will jump in and help you.
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graphyfotoz
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Green Thumb Wannabe
Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 3:45:14 GMT -5
Nice little fig!! You're right... it is a diamond in the rough. Excellent buy. I'll go drag my buddy Wes over here and have him advise you on it's care... he's a veritable master with figs. Sabine Thanx Sabine! ;D It was kinda hard to pass up at that price and it has a kewl trunk that's 1/2 in dia. Based on this I'd gather it's about a 6yr old tree? With some careful planning it could be a real attractive bonsai. As I progress with this I'll post more pics.
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graphyfotoz
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Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 4:05:48 GMT -5
Thanx a bunch Wes!!Is it safe to say that this tree is about 6yrs old with a 1/2in dia trunk? If I recall I have seen 4yr old trees and their trunk was only about the dia of a pencil. I take it ficus are pretty hard to kill if they are in the right temp zone? We have some HUGE Ficus at work in huge built in planters. At one point they got outta control and got to be 8-10ft tall. The Horticulture Teacher cut them off to 3ft tall and it didn't phase them! They still grow like crazy. I think they were weeping Ficus tho cuz they weeped this sticky sap from the leaves on the brick type floor. I keep my house at around 65°F - 68°F in the winter so I hope it'll be ok? I have a enclosed unheated back porch that kinda acts like a Florida room on sunny days. Temp in there can reach 100°F during the summer if I don't open the windows! If it's cool at night I bring my plants inside. Like last nite it got down to 43°F....plants came in. Tonite they are calling for mid 30's. When I bought my tree they lady popped the dirt clump in the pot so I could see the roots.....there is a helluva corkscrew main root on this. Can I ever cut this root back without killing the plant? When I do replant this bad boy I wanna bury it with a stone among the roots for a year for a root over rock deal. I think I'm gonna hold out for a nice chunk of Lava rock tho. I'll hold off other questions....getting to be long winded! ;D
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graphyfotoz
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Green Thumb Wannabe
Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 7:35:47 GMT -5
When I bought my tree they lady popped the dirt clump in the pot so I could see the roots.....there is a helluva corkscrew main root on this. Can I ever cut this root back without killing the plant? When I do replant this bad boy I wanna bury it with a stone among the roots for a year for a root over rock deal. I think I'm gonna hold out for a nice chunk of Lava rock tho. Well Stink pointed out a great section on Jerry's site for this question! www.bonsaihunk.us/ficusforum/FicusTechniques/FigTechnique8.htmlVERY interesting!!! Maybe I'll shed the root over rock bit and do this! Maybe Jerry can elaborate on this root hacking a lil more?
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Post by theladysabine on Apr 16, 2006 12:50:29 GMT -5
Nice little fig!! You're right... it is a diamond in the rough. Excellent buy. I'll go drag my buddy Wes over here and have him advise you on it's care... he's a veritable master with figs. Sabine Thanx Sabine! ;D It was kinda hard to pass up at that price and it has a kewl trunk that's 1/2 in dia. Based on this I'd gather it's about a 6yr old tree? With some careful planning it could be a real attractive bonsai. As I progress with this I'll post more pics. HAHAHAHA... Make no mistake... I would of bought it out from under your nose if *I* had seen it...LOL (just kiddin... I might of sweet talked you into letting me have it, but failing that I would of conceded the purchase...(bigsmile)) Yours most kindly,
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Post by Sabine on Apr 16, 2006 13:45:51 GMT -5
Thanx Sabine! ;D It was kinda hard to pass up at that price and it has a kewl trunk that's 1/2 in dia. Based on this I'd gather it's about a 6yr old tree? With some careful planning it could be a real attractive bonsai. As I progress with this I'll post more pics. HAHAHAHA... Make no mistake... I would of bought it out from under your nose if *I* had seen it...LOL (just kiddin... I might of sweet talked you into letting me have it, but failing that I would of conceded the purchase...(bigsmile)) Yours most kindly, Too bad your married......DOH so am I!! ;D
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Post by theladysabine on Apr 16, 2006 15:35:33 GMT -5
HAHAHAHA... Make no mistake... I would of bought it out from under your nose if *I* had seen it...LOL (just kiddin... I might of sweet talked you into letting me have it, but failing that I would of conceded the purchase...(bigsmile)) Yours most kindly, Too bad your married......DOH so am I!! ;D Arn't you amusing... lol Yours most kindly,
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graphyfotoz
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Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 16:16:02 GMT -5
Too bad your married......DOH so am I!! ;D Arn't you amusing... lol Yours most kindly, ;D
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Post by wes on Apr 16, 2006 17:15:06 GMT -5
Hi,
The tree probably isn't 6 years old but is a rooted cutting that is more like 2-3 old. Ficus too littles can take a drastic root prune in the summer.
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Post by wes on Apr 16, 2006 17:24:27 GMT -5
I cant do virts but here is a link to a small tree, I would aim to make something about like this with yours. Ficus wont get as twiggy as the tree in the pic but close enough. A natural broom or what I call a loose broom type of bonsai thats is like 6" tall you could do. walter-pall.de/ulme7.htm
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Post by theladysabine on Apr 16, 2006 17:54:23 GMT -5
Fabulous suggestion Wes... I love it.
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graphyfotoz
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Green Thumb Wannabe
Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 18:42:38 GMT -5
I cant do virts but here is a link to a small tree, I would aim to make something about like this with yours. Ficus wont get as twiggy as the tree in the pic but close enough. A natural broom or what I call a loose broom type of bonsai thats is like 6" tall you could do. walter-pall.de/ulme7.htmYup yup that's what I had in mind.....a NATURAL broom! You read minds too??? ;D
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graphyfotoz
Junior Member
Green Thumb Wannabe
Posts: 59
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Post by graphyfotoz on Apr 16, 2006 18:45:15 GMT -5
Hi, The tree probably isn't 6 years old but is a rooted cutting that is more like 2-3 old. Ficus too littles can take a drastic root prune in the summer. A Ficus the dia of your middle finger 2-3 years old? Whoa they must grow pretty fast....faster than I though! Glad to hear it can take a hellova root hack. Guess they are pretty hardy eh? My kinda plant! I think I could kill a rock. ;D
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