New to bonsai, thoughts and comments appreciated.

[Dr34dn0ugh7]

I have always loved bonsai since I was a kid. And recently, as my ADD is wont to do, I got it into my head to just jump in headfirst and ,"take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!".

So I ordered a golden gate ficus bonsai about a year ago, it was from amazon and came potted with a humidity tray and stones. I have kind of just been doing what felt right. I watered/pruned/etc. when the plant seemed to need it.

I wait to water it till it is fairly dry when I probe the soil about halfway down. and I water it till it drains enough water to cover the bottom of the tray slightly. I fertilize maybe every 3 waterings, or after pruning.

As far as pruning, I was quite afraid of getting trim happy on it and killing it. So i mainly just trimmed back leaves and the growing ends(buds?) to hopefully force more girth in the branches. (is that how it works?)

I did re-pot it in may, I'm regretting it now, as the pot seems far to big now. It may just be i wish it didn't take up so much room.

I had it at a point that i wanted it to bulk out its foliage, so i let it go with no pruning, just watering and fertilizing. It kind of got away from me, and it was looking more like a ball shaped topiary. I went a little harder on pruning it back, actually taking some small branches, and wiring it so it looked good to me (is there a "right/best" way to do that?)

Photos below are from today, about 2 weeks after.




Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Links to articles or videos would help too.

So I'm pretty sure I'm at the point where i need to remove some larger branches, maybe even ones coming from the main trunk. i want to get the main trunk and the immediate branches to thicken up(mainly the immediate branches).

I can provide more photo's of details if wanted.

I always thought i had a brown thumb, but I'm quite proud of keeping this little guy alive so long.

 

[rockm]

You don’t say where you are. Fwiw growing this outside in sunlight in the spring and summer (after frost and freeze dangers pass) will double or triple the grow you get. The more un restrained growth on the branches and trunk, the thicker both will get. Typically branches and trunks are left to grow I restrianex I pruned until they reach the desired diameter and then they’re cut back hard and secondary and tertiary branching and trunk are regrown and cut back until ramification increase (more ramification reduces leaf size)

 

[rockm]

“Branches and trunk left to grow unrestrained then pruned “

Spell check sux

 

[Eckhoffw]

You don’t say where you are. Fwiw growing this outside in sunlight in the spring and summer (after frost and freeze dangers pass) will double or triple the grow you get. The more un restrained growth on the branches and trunk, the thicker both will get. Typically branches and trunks are left to grow I restrianex I pruned until they reach the desired diameter and then they’re cut back hard and secondary and tertiary branching and trunk are regrown and cut back until ramification increase (more ramification reduces leaf size)

You make such a good point. Reinforcing the practice that we grow out to build mass/thickness in the areas as needed before fussing with styling.

Took me a few years to understand this.

 

[Dr34dn0ugh7]

So i should let the branches i want to continue the main trunk grow long, like 12"+, and cut them back. While also pruning back unwanted branches to the trunk if i don't plan on using them later?

 

[rockm]

So i should let the branches i want to continue the main trunk grow long, like 12"+, and cut them back. While also pruning back unwanted branches to the trunk if i don't plan on using them later?

You have to decide what you want to build out. The trunk would thicken more quickly if ALL top growth is allowed to grow

If you’re happy with the trunk diameter ( and the acompanying root flare on the surface—which is probably more important than the trunk ) the. Remove branching.

You’re basically building the nebari( root flare)trunk then the main branching then the secondary branching then the last twigs

This process can take a relatively long time with some species less time with others particularly tropicals

 

[Dr34dn0ugh7]

ok thanks for the info.

 

[Attmos]

Does Ficus do better outside?

 

[rockm]

ok thanks for the info.

Developing Informal Upright Trunks for Deciduous Bonsai – Bonsai4Me

bonsai4me.com

 

[rockm]

Does Ficus do better outside?

Yes. From mid-spring until late summer early autumn. Especially in the heat of mid summer. (Which is repotting time for tropicals). Heat humidity is what they want.

 

[mikemking]

Does Ficus do better outside?

In my experience, yes. I bring mine indoors in winter. Its growth slows and drops some leaves. In summer, I keep it outdoors on my porch with about 6 hours direct sunlight. I think it likes the humidity. It gets greener and grows quicker.