Michigan Tree Murderer
Masterpiece
Do you have any updated pics & info on how the back budding went?
Lorax7 Tiger Bark Ficus #1
- Thread starter Lorax7
- Start date
I don't have any new pictures of it yet this spring, but it has grown quite a lot since the last photo I posted here. I'll have to take some fresh pictures soon and update this and my other progression threads. I've been busy repotting the last few weekends and haven't gotten around to taking pictures.
Maiden69
Masterpiece
This is my opinion with the little experience I have on ficus. I think the first thing you may need to do is to compress this tree down. Wire the branches where they need to go and get rid of trios of branches. Allow it to settle in this position and them reassess the tree to see what would need to be pruned. Ficus back buds readily, but you need to encourage it, and if you don't wire the branches they will all shoot up and become leggy. You have some "bar" branching creating on the blue line, it is not creating any inverse swealing, so no need to worry now, just keep an eye on it, the upper branch originates slightly higher so you may be able to correct and keep it with proper wiring.
giventofly
Shohin
What do you mean by bar branching? Is it because they will grow and "fuse" making it looking like inverse taper?
Maiden69
Masterpiece
Tow branches on opposite sides of the trunk on the plane. Not that they will fuse, but the base of the branch will swell with time, potentially creating inverse taper.
giventofly
Shohin
Follow up question, having just one branch couldn't happen the same thing? The base swell, or because it is just one, the growth would be in all the trunk bellow too?
LuZiKui
Shohin
Here is a good write up on bar branches and why you don't want them:
Why You Absolutely MUST Cut That Branch
So you've started the art of bonsai and you're learning. That's great! I assume, if you've been to one of my workshops, you're following up on what you learned in ninety minutes with me with some supplementary continui...
slippotbonsai.com
Basically, the trunk will "move" in the direction of a branch. If you have 2 branches at the same height on the trunk it will widen towards both branches, causing an upper section of the trunk to be thicker than the trunk below it (inverse taper). Here is a poorly done drawing to demonstrate
. And sorry for threadjacking, I'll shut up now!
giventofly
Shohin
Thanks, good resourceHere is a good write up on bar branches and why you don't want them:
Why You Absolutely MUST Cut That Branch
So you've started the art of bonsai and you're learning. That's great! I assume, if you've been to one of my workshops, you're following up on what you learned in ninety minutes with me with some supplementary continui...
Basically, the trunk will "move" in the direction of a branch. If you have 2 branches at the same height on the trunk it will widen towards both branches, causing an upper section of the trunk to be thicker than the trunk below it (inverse taper). Here is a poorly done drawing to demonstrate
View attachment 489130
giventofly
Shohin
Why is that cactus in the tree for?
The tillandsia (air plant) is in the tree because I thought it would look kinda cool.
giventofly
Shohin
Got it, was wondering if it was to generate an aerial root or any other trick like that
luvinthemountains
Chumono
That's great! Just what I needed to see, as I was feeling depressed after looking at my tiger bark cut back 10 days ago and no budding yet. Yours took around 3 weeks?
