Hawaiian77

A friend told me that someone was selling some of there bonsai's here on Maui because they could not keep up with them. So I went down to take a look and this is what I bought.

-Tim

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M.B.

Very nice tree. It looks like you repotted into the an unglazed pot. Only issue is you put it on the wrong side of the pot. You don't want your tree leaning out of the pot unless it's a semi or full cascade. You want your eye to be drawn to the center and putting the tree off to one side, so it points to the center gives the composition balance. Putting your tree on the side of the pot that it moves or leans towards makes it look like it's climbing away out of the pot. Next repotting I'd switch it up.
Mary B

Hawaiian77

Mahalo Mary,
I'm still having problems with where to position the tree in a pot but with your help on the forum I'm getting the idea.

-Tim

M.B.

You're not the only one. I went to 2 bonsai shows this weekend and I couldn't believe how many trees were planted wrong in the pot. Not so much on the wrong side but turned with the front of the tree on the side. There was one juniper that was magnificent. Somebody told me it was one of the trees Kimura worked on at the last convention he did in California a few years ago. It just looked wrong with the main tree pointed straight at you and covering the trunk line and a large jin at the back, also mostly covered. When I walked around to the side, that was the front. All kinds of dead wood sculptured, trunk and branch lines visible. Definately not the way this guy had it planted. But I guess we all have our own opinions, even if it's wrong It was in a retangular pot so it's not like in a round pot where you can sometimes mess up and forget where the front of the tree really is.
I've been to several critiques by various "experts" in bonsai. Boon, Peter Adams, ect. and first thing they do is find the front of your tree, then find balance or what's pleasing to the eye either by pruning, placement in pot, wiring or whatever it takes.
Mary B.

Hawaiian77

Mahalo Mary...... at least it makes me feel a little better to know that I'm not the only one!!

-Tim

Hawaiian77

Howzit Guys,
I went in and made some adjustments. I took off that one branch to the far right. On the other right hand branch I made an wedge excision on the bottom of the branch and used a 6.0mm wire to move it more to the right. On the lower left hand branch I made two wedge excision, one on the bottom of the branch and the second half way up the branch and again used a 6.0mm wire.

-Tim

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Phil

Hi Tim, and welcome to the site.
You just have to love those Willow Leaf [Salicifola] ficus. Looks like you’re off to a good start and by all means make good use of that nebari. I purchased a very poor specimen back around 2001 that looked like a broomstick until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I did a drastic chop to it the following spring and nurtured it since then. As you can see, the leaves have reduced quite nicely and that is without any leaf pruning. The last picture was taken about two years ago but does not give any justice as to how much more the nebari has developed and how it looks now. Obviously, the first two pictures are of how it looked nine years ago and then immediately after the chop. I’m sure others here have possibly seen some of these photo’s before but, what the hell! The ficus and I are patiently waiting for the weather to warm up so that I can get it back outside where it belongs. It’s desperately in need of being repotted which I’ll do sometime in June. I’m going to use the same pot but the tree is actually stuffed in it so it does not have much soil at all so good feeding is of the essence.

Best of luck with yours and just have patience with it. Living in Chicago I obviously have to take it inside for the long winter months where it has a fit and looses every leaf which is a tad spooky! However, I’ve been doing this for quite a few years and so far it rebounds quite nicely once given a good amount of full sunlight. Knock on wood!!

~Phil~

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__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Hawaiian77

Mahalo Phil for the welcome.

Just one question, is it a good idea to apply some cut paste to seal off branch pruning?

-Tim

Phil

Absolutely not necessary with a ficus as the latex that bleeds from the cut will act as a sealant. There is need need to worry about the ficus "bleeding" to death from the cut. If it the bleeding seems to be a tad profuse you can daub the wound with an old cloth or paper towel soaked in cold water.
Also, you can simply spray the wound with cold water. If any of it should get on the bark it will cause no harm and can easily be picked off the tree when it dries. Beware, the latex is quite sticky and some people are allergic to it. It is also very difficult to remove from whatever cutting tool you happen to use once it dries so clean the tool immediately with some type of solvent such as mineral spirits.

Jerry Meislik, who is an expert on the subject of ficus and also a well respected member, can provide some great information. HERE is an interview he was kind enough to do for this forum site and he also has a great book on the subject which you can see HERE along with some other informative material on the subject of ficus.

~Phil~

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Hawaiian77

Mahalo Phil for the information.

I've been in contact with Jerry Meislik a few times and also has his book "FICUS" The Exotic Bonsai. Thats how I learned to do the "Wedge Excision" technique on the Salicifola. Good book!! Also, like your tree. Good job on how you got your nebrai!! One more question, is it a good idea when you do a drastic chop to make a V-cut?

-Tim