Mame Ficus salicaria

[carp]

One of the first trees I've ever purchased. Got it off eBay in 2012. On Facebook I said 2013, but I just checked some time stamps when I first posted the tree to Facebook and it was 2012. When my ex and I seperated in 2014, I did not have access to my plants for nearly a year, and in the time frame this tree wasn't too healthy. The apex and left branch diedback a bit. 2015 the tree grew slowly so it has been moved into a larger pot. Trimmed and lightly wired. Working on ramification mostly.

 

[markyscott]

One of the first trees I've ever purchased. Got it off eBay in 2012. On Facebook I said 2013, but I just checked some time stamps when I first posted the tree to Facebook and it was 2012. When my ex and I seperated in 2014, I did not have access to my plants for nearly a year, and in the time frame this tree wasn't too healthy. The apex and left branch diedback a bit. 2015 the tree grew slowly so it has been moved into a larger pot. Trimmed and lightly wired. Working on ramification mostly.

I like it, carp. Salicaria make such great small bonsai. What are your plans next? What do you see as the issues you'd like to work on?

Scott

 

[carp]

I like it, carp. Salicaria make such great small bonsai. What are your plans next? What do you see as the issues you'd like to work on?

Scott

The apex taper is unnatural. I've got a branch in place to thicken it accordingly and if I can keep that branch under control it may act as a back branch.

The left branch needs to be lowered. Rather than trying to pull that branch down, I'm waiting for a downward bud to pop so that I can grow it and position it in place.

The nebari can be improved later.

 

[Cypress187]

Those branches are almost on the same height, maybe bend them some and change the angle so it's less horizontal, could improve it perhaps.

 

[carp]

Everyone here loves Walter Pall dearly...how many bar branches do you see?

 

[aml1014]

Everyone here loves Walter Pall dearly...how many bar branches do you see?

I agree bar branches are not as bad as people make them out to be. Your ficus is coming along well.

Aaron

 

[Jarath]

If bar branches are so bad,,,someone tell nature to stop growing them. I like your tree ,carp.

 

[JoeR]

Kinda looks like someone in a dress with their arms open to me.

 

[Jarath]

Come here and hug me! I have an interesting tree also that looks like a man running. I will post soon show pictures of it

 

[markyscott]

The apex taper is unnatural. I've got a branch in place to thicken it accordingly and if I can keep that branch under control it may act as a back branch.

That was what jumped out to me first. But, this is correctable. I like the idea of the back sacrifice branch. That should help a lot, but for it to work, you may have to let it grow long and thick to the point where it may not be useful as a back branch. I wouldn't worry about it though - when you cut it off, as you know, you'll have a couple of hundred new shoots to work with.

The left branch needs to be lowered. Rather than trying to pull that branch down, I'm waiting for a downward bud to pop so that I can grow it and position it in place.

After the apical taper, the next thing I saw was that both of the primary branches were very horizontal and parallel to the top of the pot. I wouldn't call them bar branches and maybe it's the photo, but I find 90 degree angles and parallel lines a bit distracting whatever you want to call them. I don't know why. If you're thinking about rebuilding the branches to address this issue, you could go with an upward bud as well - it's a style choice that you can make either way.

Thanks for posting your tree.

Scott

 

[Cypress187]

Everyone here loves Walter Pall dearly...how many bar branches do you see?

The main branches are have more thickness and it doesn't feel bar-branchy, it doesn't bother me on this tree. Also i don't think Paul would mind to break a few rules just to make it more natural and not (too) perfect by the strict following of all bonsai rules.

 

[carp]

That was what jumped out to me first. But, this is correctable. I like the idea of the back sacrifice branch. That should help a lot, but for it to work, you may have to let it grow long and thick to the point where it may not be useful as a back branch. I wouldn't worry about it though - when you cut it off, as you know, you'll have a couple of hundred new shoots to work with.



After the apical taper, the next thing I saw was that both of the primary branches were very horizontal and parallel to the top of the pot. I wouldn't call them bar branches and maybe it's the photo, but I find 90 degree angles and parallel lines a bit distracting whatever you want to call them. I don't know why. If you're thinking about rebuilding the branches to address this issue, you could go with an upward bud as well - it's a style choice that you can make either way.

Thanks for posting your tree.

Scott

The reason I'm looking for a downward bud is so that the point of emergence doesn't look wonky. If I take a bud from an upward position and wire it down, it would look like an upside U. To me, that looks contrived. You can get away with that sort of thing with conifers, but you see it with broadleaf evergreens and deciduous.

This photo shows that left branch before it died in 2014. Kind of glad that it died because I don't like the look of it anyhow.

 

[carp]

The main branches are have more thickness and it doesn't feel bar-branchy, it doesn't bother me on this tree.

Keep in mind this is a 4.5" tree, not a 2.5' tree.