One Insult per Year - Tropicals

[dbonsaiw]

Trying to acclimate myself better to working with tropical trees and was wondering about the one insult rule as it applies to tropicals. Is this a thing? Specifically, I recently repotted some tropicals that will need to be pruned back before coming indoors late fall. Can I prune the trunks back later in the summer or was the root work all that I can do this year?

 

[BrianBay9]

I think the one insult per year rule is for conifers.

 

[RODERLO]

Good question! Let’s be fair, one insult per year is one of those “rule of thumbs” that the bonsai practice is riddled with. It all depends on how the tree responds after a procedure whether you can do another thing that year.
This goes for every tree.

It would be helpful to know what species you’re talking about. I know for one that ficuses generally are insulted if you do not insult them multiple times a year. Vigorous buggers.

 

[dbonsaiw]

It would be helpful to know what species you’re talking about. I know for one that ficuses generally are insulted if you do not insult them multiple times a year. Vigorous buggers.

Specifically vachelia caven

 

[cmu268]

I have a few ficus, microcarpa and willow leaf, which were just root pruned/repotted and plan to do major pruning/work mid-summer. They definitely seem to take it well in my experience

 

[Bonsai Nut]

For tropicals, it is like eighteen insults per year

 

[dbonsaiw]

For tropicals, it is like eighteen insults per year

Well, then me and the tropicals will get along splendidly.

 

[19Mateo83]

As long as they are putting on growth you can pretty much insult as many times as you like.

 

[Lorax7]

I try not to work tropicals during the winter when they’re indoors under lights, as they’re at their weakest then. But, during the growing season, I wouldn’t hesitate to do multiple things to them as long as they keep growing vigorously.

 

[Shibui]

I don't follow the one insult per year rule with any plants. I go a long way back and pretty sure this actually started as one insult per season but was corrupted and kept building momentum to become what it is now.
Agree with @RODERLO it's more about how each tree is responding rather than blanket prohibitions.

As for tropicals, not all are created equal. We can hard prune, defoliate and chop roots hard on Ficus rubiginosa and expect 100% quick recovery when done in warmer months. Ficus benjamina treated like that does not always recover.
With any new species, start conservatively and see how it responds. If recovery from one operation is quick you can try doing more at one time or in one season.

 

[penumbra]

I have more ficus than sense. I pretty much work on them any time of the year, but they are kept active and growing even in the middle of winter. I understand that summer is their domain and I consider this with the level of work that needs to be done.
They get plenty of insults. Occasionally I just blurt out something rude when I am walking by them. But other times I fondle them.

 

[Cajunrider]

For tropicals, it is like eighteen insults per year

For my low level of experience in caring for bonsai trees. I stay with one insult per year for roots and one insult every 2-3 months for the top.

 

[Lorax7]

So many insults… can’t you guys just be nice?

 

[Cajunrider]

So many insults… can’t you guys just be nice?

Nope. If we leave them alone, they go rogue and wanna be natural instead of bonsai. So yeah, we gotta be their sergeants.

*Walk to backyard
"Shape up, you maggots! Drop down and strip to two leaves on all your limbs."

 

[Cajunrider]

Nope. If we leave them alone, they go rogue and wanna be natural instead of bonsai. So yeah, we gotta be their sergeants.

*Walk to backyard
"Shape up, you maggots! Drop down and strip to two leaves on all your limbs."

I literally did just that to all my Mayhaws. I pruned the branches back to where I wanted ramification, leaving just 2 leaves on each branch. Will repeat that in two months.

 

[It's Kev]

One insult per year is for conifers, I insult my tropicals almost as often as I cut my fingernails

 

[Dabbler]

I remember when I had a few Ficus and I would defoliate something like 3 or 4 times a year when it was putting out strong growth. They wouldn't skip a beat, with heat and humidity you can butcher them and they laugh at you.

 

[vp999]

I molest, insult, talk about their moms and dad and grandparents, small penis jokes my tropicals every summer

 

[leatherback]

For tropicals, it is like eighteen insults per yearDAY