Help with next steps and feedback for work on my ficus microcarpa

[Twilson0092]

I have a ficus microcarpa that I just made some drastic cuts to. It’s growing very vigorously right now so I took a leap to give it a massive haircut and began some styling.
Here’s a before and after photo:




The tree had not been carefully styled beforehand. Had large grouping branches, inverse taper, larger branches above smaller ones, etc. I went through and snipped the problematic branches and tried to create alternating branches while adding some motion with wire.

I have a few questions:
Firstly, how did I do with branch selection and wiring? I’m very new to this and this is my first attempt at working a semi mature tree. I’d love feedback in that regard.

Secondly, now that it’s trimmed up, I’d like to promote back budding. Am I correct in understanding that snipping terminal buds will accomplish this? And it’s ok to do so at this time? Should I cut the branches back further than just terminal buds to create a bit better branch structure in regard to taper?

Thirdly, I would like smaller leaves, but I’ve read this can be promoted via defoliation, which is stressful to the tree. Some have suggested this is best left until branches are as thick as I would like and the tree is more mature. Should I wait to do this or would it be ok to do now?

Finally, I left that large straight upright branch in the back as a sacrifice branch. I don’t plan to keep it forever, but wanted to keep pumping energy into the tree. I’m realizing this may not be necessary. Should I snip it now or will it help the tree continue to achieve my other goals for this summer?

Thank you in advance for any and all input!

Bonus photos for more info:

Back:


Top down:

 

[jason biggs]

nice start - the tree looks extremely vigorous...
what sort of climate are you in??
i can fully defoliate at any time in any season where i live - and the trees don't skip a beat...
it seems that the figs suffer badly in colder climates when fully defoliated ??
I would leave the messy surface roots for now as they should thicken things up quickly.

 

[Shibui]

Firstly, how did I do with branch selection and wiring? I’m very new to this and this is my first attempt at working a semi mature tree. I’d love feedback in that regard.

Wiring looks quite neat and even but I can see one lower branch with the wire coils a bit further apart than I like to see for effective bending without snapping. Good thing fucus are elastic and you did not have to bend much. Not sure about the gentle S bends though. What look are you trying to achieve? Also what have you planned for the apex of this tree? You have all the remaining branches wired out, down and up but nothing to fill out the top of the tree when the sacrifice branch is gone.
Branch selection seems OK leaving enough space for the remaining branches to fill out.

Secondly, now that it’s trimmed up, I’d like to promote back budding. Am I correct in understanding that snipping terminal buds will accomplish this? And it’s ok to do so at this time? Should I cut the branches back further than just terminal buds to create a bit better branch structure in regard to taper?

Snipping the terminal buds will usually only activate 1 or 2 new shoots right behind the cut. That will not give you the buds and side branches you are looking for. Cut branches way back to initiate buds where you need them. It may seem like a backward step but will definitely be way better in the long run. Not only side branching closer to the trunk but also valuable taper in both main branches and secondary branching.
Don't do they yet though. Let the tree recover from your first hit. Feed it well and allow strong growth to build a strong tree. You'll then get much better budding when you do chop next.

Thirdly, I would like smaller leaves, but I’ve read this can be promoted via defoliation, which is stressful to the tree. Some have suggested this is best left until branches are as thick as I would like and the tree is more mature. Should I wait to do this or would it be ok to do now?

Everyone would like smaller leaves but there's a time and place. Ficus are strong enough to cope with defoliation but it will set the tree back a bit when you really want growth and building strength. I've also found that simply defoliating does not always give smaller leaves. We need to add other strategies into the mix.
Smaller leaves is a natural result of building ramification. The more branches on a tree the more leaves it will have so each leaf will be noticeably smaller.
Ficus also have a definite growth pattern which you may be able to see on some of the newer shoots. First leaf on any shoot is small, next is a bit larger and so on until they reach full adult size. When you have built ramification you will be trimming shoots more regularly, usually leaving just the first (smallest) leaf on each. Obviously that's great for small foliage but now is not the time for that yet. Wait until your tree is much better developed before chasing after those small leaves.

Finally, I left that large straight upright branch in the back as a sacrifice branch. I don’t plan to keep it forever, but wanted to keep pumping energy into the tree. I’m realizing this may not be necessary. Should I snip it now or will it help the tree continue to achieve my other goals for this summer?

Sacrifice branches do make a big impact on trunk thickening so if you want a thicker trunk leave it at least for this summer's growth.
While talking about trunk thickening, pay attention to those aerial roots. Trunks thicken faster between the root and the branch so trunks tend to thicken above each aerial root which can sometimes give reverse taper in a trunk. Aerial roots on ficus can sometimes be used to thicken a trunk if they can be induced to fuse to the trunk but that's another kettle of fish.

BTW, the world is a big place. Seasons are different and climate varies a lot depending where you live. Much of what we do with bonsai depends on local conditions so if you want specific advice on timing you should update your profile to include a location. Much better than remembering to type it each time you post.

 

[Twilson0092]

nice start - the tree looks extremely vigorous...
what sort of climate are you in??
i can fully defoliate at any time in any season where i live - and the trees don't skip a beat...
it seems that the figs suffer badly in colder climates when fully defoliated ??
I would leave the messy surface roots for now as they should thicken things up quickly.

I’m in Indiana, zone 6b but experiencing a very hot and humid summer right now. It’s living outside and enjoying it very much. I’m still back and forth on the defoliation. It will be good for the summer but come winter time it will live inside and surely slow down. As for the surface roots, I did end up moving some back into soil over a rock after I took these photos but didn’t make and major trimming. Glad to hear they will be beneficial!

 

[Twilson0092]

Wiring looks quite neat and even but I can see one lower branch with the wire coils a bit further apart than I like to see for effective bending without snapping. Good thing fucus are elastic and you did not have to bend much. Not sure about the gentle S bends though. What look are you trying to achieve? Also what have you planned for the apex of this tree? You have all the remaining branches wired out, down and up but nothing to fill out the top of the tree when the sacrifice branch is gone.
Branch selection seems OK leaving enough space for the remaining branches to fill out.


Snipping the terminal buds will usually only activate 1 or 2 new shoots right behind the cut. That will not give you the buds and side branches you are looking for. Cut branches way back to initiate buds where you need them. It may seem like a backward step but will definitely be way better in the long run. Not only side branching closer to the trunk but also valuable taper in both main branches and secondary branching.
Don't do they yet though. Let the tree recover from your first hit. Feed it well and allow strong growth to build a strong tree. You'll then get much better budding when you do chop next.


Everyone would like smaller leaves but there's a time and place. Ficus are strong enough to cope with defoliation but it will set the tree back a bit when you really want growth and building strength. I've also found that simply defoliating does not always give smaller leaves. We need to add other strategies into the mix.
Smaller leaves is a natural result of building ramification. The more branches on a tree the more leaves it will have so each leaf will be noticeably smaller.
Ficus also have a definite growth pattern which you may be able to see on some of the newer shoots. First leaf on any shoot is small, next is a bit larger and so on until they reach full adult size. When you have built ramification you will be trimming shoots more regularly, usually leaving just the first (smallest) leaf on each. Obviously that's great for small foliage but now is not the time for that yet. Wait until your tree is much better developed before chasing after those small leaves.


Sacrifice branches do make a big impact on trunk thickening so if you want a thicker trunk leave it at least for this summer's growth.
While talking about trunk thickening, pay attention to those aerial roots. Trunks thicken faster between the root and the branch so trunks tend to thicken above each aerial root which can sometimes give reverse taper in a trunk. Aerial roots on ficus can sometimes be used to thicken a trunk if they can be induced to fuse to the trunk but that's another kettle of fish.

BTW, the world is a big place. Seasons are different and climate varies a lot depending where you live. Much of what we do with bonsai depends on local conditions so if you want specific advice on timing you should update your profile to include a location. Much better than remembering to type it each time you post.

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply! How incredibly helpful.

For the S shaped branches I was just trying to create movement as well as enhance the perceived taper of the tree without cutting branches right now. With such a rigid trunk I wanted to make some movement somewhere. Essentially going for upright formal with more movement in the branches. Is something wrong with the S shapes? I thought they may be interesting.
As for the apex, I was thinking once top branches back budded they would fill it out. Would it be a better idea to wire something up into the apex now?

Very helpful information on backbudding, I'll let the tree rest for the time being. I'm in Indiana US, zone 6b. Thankfully it's been receiving osmocote slow release fertilizer since before I got it so it seems to be well fed and was growing extremely vigorously before the chop. Will I have enough time this season to snip the branches to encourage back budding this season or should that wait till next year?

I will wait on the defoliation also, thanks for confirming my suspicion that it was too early. And i will leave the sacrifice branch then! I'd like to keep pumping as much thickness as I can into that trunk.

I really like the look of the crazy aerial roots honestly. Makes the tree feel very jungly. Was hoping that with a full canopy eventually it will look really neat but if I have issues with inverse taper will keep it in mind that they may need snipped. Or maybe I'll look into encouraging fusing to the main trunk.

Thank you again for so much very valuable information, it's much appreciated.

 

[BrianBay9]

One thing to consider, you're styling this ficus like a pine - straight trunk, alternate branches, etc. It's natural state is wild and crazy. You could cut here and make a more ficus-like banyan style pretty easily.

 

[Twilson0092]

One thing to consider, you're styling this ficus like a pine - straight trunk, alternate branches, etc. It's natural state is wild and crazy. You could cut here and make a more ficus-like banyan style pretty easily.



View attachment 555610

That’s a good point I’ll have to consider. At this point I was kind of banking on the remaining branches to fill out much more significantly given several years, thus achieving a fuller canopy and a shorter trunk to the scale of the tree. Do you think that would be inneffective? I do wish the trunk was stouter with a horizontal leader, but I didn’t train this tree.

 

[Shibui]

Is something wrong with the S shapes?

Nothing wrong with S shaped branches but, like @BrianBay9 I like to see a tree that looks like a tree. S shape branches do not seem to say Ficus to me, at least not the big old fucus I've seen.
Do some checking. I guess there's not too many big old ficus in USA 6B so look for photos online and try to hone in on common shapes of the branching.
When you do S shape curves in branches make sure there's some back and forward movement as well as the up and down for a more natural look. For some reason we seem to think in 2D when styling a 3D bonsai.