Hey guys, I'm getting this ficus tree tomorrow and I was wondering if it would survive being cut back heavily, I don't know what type it is. But it's been in pot for a while.
http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/blnc/1 ... dm_20.jpeg
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
Ficus tree I'm getting
- Andrew F
- Crafty Tanuki
- Posts: 1898
- Joined: December 19th, 2010, 6:06 pm
- Favorite Species: Pest species.
- Bonsai Age: 5
- Bonsai Club: N/A
- Location: Raiding a hedgerow.
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
Looks like Benjimina, although i cant help, I've been doing a fair bit of research on them, and have found that back budding can be very sporadic [if at all], so be careful before chopping into it. Hopefully someone can shed some light on the subject matter, but most tend to agree they make awkward bonsai.
- MattA
- Banned
- Posts: 3112
- Joined: February 13th, 2010, 2:37 pm
- Favorite Species: Lichen
- Bonsai Age: 26
- Bonsai Club: Killing Trees Inc..
- Location: Lower Hunter Valley
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
It looks similar to a pair i got last year but a bit bigger!!! If possible just plant the whole thing in the ground and let it get some health up before doing any pruning top or bottom. I have found with benjamina this is the best approach as they can suffer extensive dieback of the trunks. On a strong healthy tree they will backbud pretty good. Lots of potential for a 2-4man tree and i look forard to seeing where you take it.
Matt
Matt
42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
- kcpoole
- Perpetual Learner
- Posts: 12275
- Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
- Favorite Species: Maple
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
- Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Has thanked: 17 times
- Been thanked: 87 times
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
Def Benjamina
Back Budding can be variable depending n=on the health
I have one tall and bare like this one. I layered into several sections and 2 sections had a bare second trunk that both did not shoot back.
The base has only shot New growth out of 1 side leavingf 1/2 the trunk bare . Strange though as the bark is still green where i wodul like a shoot. Thread graft will fix that I hope
Ken
Back Budding can be variable depending n=on the health
I have one tall and bare like this one. I layered into several sections and 2 sections had a bare second trunk that both did not shoot back.
The base has only shot New growth out of 1 side leavingf 1/2 the trunk bare . Strange though as the bark is still green where i wodul like a shoot. Thread graft will fix that I hope
Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 142
- Joined: June 23rd, 2011, 7:21 pm
- Favorite Species: Port Jackson Ficus
- Bonsai Age: 8
- Bonsai Club: n/a
- Location: Western Sydney
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
I actually have to cut it back a lot just to fit it in the car, I get the pleasure of L-Plating all the way over there and I have to fit in the back of a land cruiser so I was just asking to see if it would survive being cut back a lot.
It's 13 feet high so I can't exactly put it straight into the car.
It's 13 feet high so I can't exactly put it straight into the car.
- TheNumber13
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 99
- Joined: November 13th, 2009, 10:33 am
- Favorite Species: Natives
- Bonsai Age: 1
- Bonsai Club: AusBonsai
- Location: Hunter Valley, NSW
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
In that case you might be able to keep a few more feet on it by lying it down, with the back seats down you might get 7-8 feet?
And if its pot-bound, the dirt shouldn't fall out too easily. If you havent thought of it already, maybe take a blanket and some rope or something so you can wrap the pot if needed, and decide when you see it?
And if its pot-bound, the dirt shouldn't fall out too easily. If you havent thought of it already, maybe take a blanket and some rope or something so you can wrap the pot if needed, and decide when you see it?
Last edited by TheNumber13 on March 31st, 2012, 2:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Cheers,
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)
Pat
(Grow little ones, grow.)
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 142
- Joined: June 23rd, 2011, 7:21 pm
- Favorite Species: Port Jackson Ficus
- Bonsai Age: 8
- Bonsai Club: n/a
- Location: Western Sydney
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
Yeah, I already knew to take a blanket but I doubt the soil is going to fall out. I'm really just afraid that if I cut it too far back it wont recover.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 142
- Joined: June 23rd, 2011, 7:21 pm
- Favorite Species: Port Jackson Ficus
- Bonsai Age: 8
- Bonsai Club: n/a
- Location: Western Sydney
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Contact:
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
You know its a sad day when you bump your own thread....
Also I'm leaving to pick it up soon. I'll just remember to take a camera...
I'll post pictures when I get back and maybe then you guys could give a little more advice? Maybe? Please?
Anyway thanks for those of you who did help, I shall return with pictures of the monster and maybe make a progression series.
Also I'm leaving to pick it up soon. I'll just remember to take a camera...
I'll post pictures when I get back and maybe then you guys could give a little more advice? Maybe? Please?
Anyway thanks for those of you who did help, I shall return with pictures of the monster and maybe make a progression series.
- Joel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1200
- Joined: November 12th, 2008, 3:04 pm
- Favorite Species: A yet to be found native
- Bonsai Age: 0
- Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
- Location: Gladstone, QLD
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: Ficus tree I'm getting
Hi coocarch,
Ability to bud back on F. benjamina depends on the genetics of that specific tree AND the health (as Ken mentioned). I have cut back to mere stumps twice with this species. One shot out very sparsely and then died. The other sat there not donig anything for almost a year then shot growth out sporadically and gradually increased vigour to what is now an overgrown shrub that needs some attention. Due to time of year, I suspect it won't do anything until spring. Keep it quite dry until then and then hope for the best.
Good luck!
Joel.
Ability to bud back on F. benjamina depends on the genetics of that specific tree AND the health (as Ken mentioned). I have cut back to mere stumps twice with this species. One shot out very sparsely and then died. The other sat there not donig anything for almost a year then shot growth out sporadically and gradually increased vigour to what is now an overgrown shrub that needs some attention. Due to time of year, I suspect it won't do anything until spring. Keep it quite dry until then and then hope for the best.
Good luck!
Joel.