Ficus benjamina fused trunk progress.

[oranjeaap]

Couple of these threads popping up so thought it would be appropriate to post mine.

Full disclosure: I didn't do any of the ground work. I bought the tree as is. It was handed over to me by a 3rd party so didn't get to ask any questions about how it was done, who did it, etc.
All I was told is it's a ficus benjamina "Natasja".
A small leaf cultivar. The leaves are about 1 inch (2.5cm)-ish long at most.

Most promising front:


The good:
- Very nice cultivar: small leaves, nice pale wood, bushy growth.
- The fusing is coming along nicely.
Initial design is promising.

The bad:
The tree was neglected last growing season leading to several issues:
- A lot of crossing main branches in the apex.
- There are 10 to 15 seedlings fused, not sure because can't see the ones on the inside. A few have died off. One in the front as you can see. Two in the back. The one in the front will sort itself when the trunks thicken so no worries there. The two in the back are really bad, ruling out that side as possible front.
- The lowest branch on either side consist of 2 fused trunks, the remaining 8 or so trunks all go toward the apex thus the apex is overcrowded and this will cause some issues when the trunks thicken more.
- It was not pruned timely thus there isnt any ramification close to the centre trunk on any of the main branches.
- It does not backbud well. There are several secondary branches that were clearly pruned back to improve ramification but were pruned too far back and instead just died off.

This all leads to the following issue:
Too many branches in the apex(which are all 1 unique trunk each), and several of them crossing. I can't cut them back because there isn't any ramification lower on the branch and because they are all their own unique trunk cutting them back poses a serious risk of the whole trunk dying back all the way back to the roots. I'm not sure how well they are all fused at this point so cutting one trunk back and relying on the other trunks to take over is a bit scary at this point.

Plan:
- Thin the apex a bit but not prune too heavily because winter is coming.
- Wire.
- Prune back hard early next growing season and force backbudding.
- When I have more faith in the level of fusing cut some branches back all the way to the "main trunk".

Update soon.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This is a fun project, but I think you will find it challenging if you continue to prune and shape the foliage while also trying to get the trunks to fuse. Ficus are so strong I would just let the foliage run like a weed until the trunks fuse, and then you can cut back all you want and even start branch development from scratch if you are so inclined (ficus will bud back even on a bare trunk if the tree is strong).

 

[oranjeaap]

This is a fun project, but I think you will find it challenging if you continue to prune and shape the foliage while also trying to get the trunks to fuse. Ficus are so strong I would just let the foliage run like a weed until the trunks fuse, and then you can cut back all you want and even start branch development from scratch if you are so inclined (ficus will bud back even on a bare trunk if the tree is strong).

Because I did a bunch of reading and several sources report that these dwarf cultivars dont backbud that well. Im afraid I'll end up with long leggy branches without foliage if I just let it run wild

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Because I did a bunch of reading and several sources report that these dwarf cultivars dont backbud that well.

I have obviously not kept every cultivar of ficus, but I have never encountered one that did not back-bud profusely as long as it is strong and you do the work in late spring/early summer. Their peak strength is when it is warmest.

I'll wait for other ficus experts to chime in...

 

[DonielDoom]

My observations align with what @Bonsai Nut has said. It may be best to prioritize trunk growth/fusion OR ramification/branching.

From my observations the key to getting good backbudding is health/vigor of the tree. I currently work primarily with F. benjamina (for no more reason than it being very accessible to purchase a few years ago when I knew even less). My biggest hurdle has been balancing the tree's health/vigor with my desires to move it along a styling path. I've found it easy to burn the gas in the tree's tank by trying and failing to promote backbudding through pruning. In other words, I've had a tough time letting the tree grow and build vigor at times because that seems less action oriented than pruning/repotting/wiring/etc. Also, I'm very much still learning, so get a grain of salt...

To fuse ficus fast you want unrestricted, strong growth. Simple as that. For me to get that I'd give as much light as can (outdoors in full sun during warm months and under lights indoors in cold months), room for roots to grow (not in a tiny show pot or in a pot already full of roots), fertilize heavily, avoid any pruning unless directly problematic, and maintain high humidity.

Here's a link to a brief article on how fused trunk ficus can be made. It may help you determine where you're at/how you got here.

Here's a different article discussing the sometimes vilified characteristics of these ficus'. It's less relevant to your questions, but it provided me a perspective reframe in terms of growth management practices for my benjamina.

Overall, it looks like you have a pretty healthy tree. I'm looking forward to seeing it along.

 

[rockm]

I agree. Let it run wild next summer preferably in an outdoor location where it will get maximum heat and humidity. I have friends who have a tropical greenhouse and have huge ficus with extensive air roots and large trunks. Heat and humidity is a key to both accompanied by unrestricted growth than hard pruning when those goals have been reached or are approaching