Ficus bonsai from a big home plant?

[Unagi]

I am playing with the idea to buy ficus bonsai. I like the Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa the best, but it is expensive to buy one that has a wide trunk.
I bumped into this non-tiger bark ficus microcarpa home plant on a second hand site, and I was thinking of air layering the plant just below the foliage of the tree.
What do you think, can it be a fruitful project (price and time wise), or I will be better to wait for a less expensive Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa opportunity?

 

[Eckhoffw]

I am playing with the idea to buy ficus bonsai. I like the Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa the best, but it is expensive to buy one that has a wide trunk.
I bumped into this non-tiger bark ficus microcarpa home plant on a second hand site, and I was thinking of air layering the plant just below the foliage of the tree.
What do you think, can it be a fruitful project (price and time wise), or I will be better to wait for a less expensive Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa opportunity?

I don’t see any pics?

 

[Unagi]

I don’t see any pics?

It is on the link, but I could copy them here. The price they ask for it is 80 CHF, ~92 USD.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I’m no ficus expert, but if it were mine, I would layer it right above the second or third lowest branch. I would do it at the beginning of peak growing season.

You should be able to get a pretty fat air layered trunk plus a chance to further the original tree.

Is it worth 92$ to you?
I think it’s a ok price.

 

[Michael P]

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

 

[Shibui]

If it is anything like most trees grown as standards and as house plants there will be little or no design to the branching. All foliage will be right at the tips of any branches.
You may get an ordinary bonsai from this but chances of getting good bonsai quickly are very low IMHO.

Good bonsai are expensive because someone has invariably spent many years growing them to size and managing the branching.
Always your choice on what to spend and what to buy but, in many cases, you get what you pay for.

 

[BrianBay9]

If it is anything like most trees grown as standards and as house plants there will be little or no design to the branching. All foliage will be right at the tips of any branches.
You may get an ordinary bonsai from this but chances of getting good bonsai quickly are very low IMHO.

Good bonsai are expensive because someone has invariably spent many years growing them to size and managing the branching.
Always your choice on what to spend and what to buy but, in many cases, you get what you pay for.

Agreed. I look at it as time vs money. The older I get the more likely I am to spend more to save the time.

 

[Barefooted Grandma]

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

I just purchased a 7 foot one with the same thoughts, I am in zone 4 and just mover her from her last home so I plan to get her some time to adjust to her new home . How did yo?u do ? What's the 1 yr update

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

 

[Barefooted Grandma]

I am playing with the idea to buy ficus bonsai. I like the Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa the best, but it is expensive to buy one that has a wide trunk.
I bumped into this non-tiger bark ficus microcarpa home plant on a second hand site, and I was thinking of air layering the plant just below the foliage of the tree.
What do you think, can it be a fruitful project (price and time wise), or I will be better to wait for a less expensive Tiger Bark Ficus Microcarpa opportunity?

How did it go ? I just purchased a 7ft one with the exact same reason. Would you be willing to share the progress you have had ? Anything work well or not work well ? I am not planning to do anything for a while and I know well this will be a LONG PROCESS AND I AM WILLING TO SEE IT THROUGH !

 

[Unagi]

Hi @Barefooted Grandma , I ended up not buying it, and I am glad I didn't... As a casual beginner, I started buying trees this year and I learned:
- I have to stop buying species (and reduce the trees I have purchased) that require indoor overwintering. I just don't have enough space in our apartment, and watering / flies / condensation is always a problem.
- Ficus Microcarpa grows super fast, and I have problems throwing out cuttings. I only have a much smaller ficus since less than a year but I already have at least 50 rooted cuttings. :')

That tree would probably ruined my marrige.

Joke aside, next year I will likely experiment with trunk merging with the ficus cuttings, and selling/gifting the rest to others. It just not the right spices for my circumstance. Otherwise I love them, they are so forgiving.

 

[Barefooted Grandma]

I’m no ficus expert, but if it were mine, I would layer it right above the second or third lowest branch. I would do it at the beginning of peak growing season.

You should be able to get a pretty fat air layered trunk plus a chance to further the original tree.

Is it worth 92$ to you?
I think it’s a ok price.

I just did the same thing , mine is 7 foot with a braided trunk, that appears to be fully fused except a small one that didnt make it. I am so excited and so over my head ! Noticed you were from pretty close to me and wondered if you go to any bonsai workshops or society things ? And if yes where ?

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

I am

I’m no ficus expert, but if it were mine, I would layer it right above the second or third lowest branch. I would do it at the beginning of peak growing season.

You should be able to get a pretty fat air layered trunk plus a chance to further the original tree.

Is it worth 92$ to you?
I think it’s a ok price.

We don't know what is behind that beautiful dense foliage, but it is likely that several good air layers are in there. And when the air layers are separated, you could cut the main trunk back drastically and create a new tree featuring the scar on one side.

F. microcarpa is very vigorous and buds back easily. Given good growing conditions, I think you could develop several respectable trees in 4 to 5 years time. For the first year or two, nothing will look much like a bonsai. If having a well developed tree right away is important, this is not a project for you. But if you are patient you can create the trees yourself, and learn an incredible amount along the way. For me the whole process would be fascinating.

Fellow Minnesotan ! I am not far fro. FOREST LAKE and I just picked a 7 ft ficus benjamina. If you still think it would be fascinating, I would welcome the support and share parts of her

 

[leatherback]

maybe this inspires.

 

[Barefooted Grandma]

maybe this inspires.

@leatherback ,yes I have watched those already and a bush to bonsai 1 ,2 ,and 3
Thank You ! I AM SO INSPIRED ! I am not sure if i want to do anything for a few months . Let her get settled in her new home, we traveled 2 hours in the back of my suv on her side. She does not seem to be in any stress. I really want to air layer like 8 or 10 places and the last will be the trunk

 

[Vince Sartain]

It is on the link, but I could copy them here. The price they ask for it is 80 CHF, ~92 USD.

No expert here but it sure looks like a Ficus Microcarpa "Nitida" to me. They grow like weeds here in Southern California so I don't think you'll have any problem doing whatever you want with one as long as you don't let it get close to freezing temps. Good luck, can't wait to see your future posts!

 

[Barefooted Grandma]

No expert here but it sure looks like a Ficus Microcarpa "Nitida" to me. They grow like weeds here in Southern California so I don't think you'll have any problem doing whatever you want with one as long as you don't let it get close to freezing temps. Good luck, can't wait to see your future posts!

Thanks , won't be very soon. She will rest till end of winter , then some air layers ,then a trunk chop ! I think. Oh and many new cuttings and may give fusion a try !