AusBonsai

Hi there,

Although I have had a small fig for about eight years now, it has been neglected (until recently) I have only recently become very interested (infatuated actually) with bonsai, so today I went to local nuseries to find some plants to learn with. I have been picking up tiny plants that don't really need much work, but I managed to find this Golden Ash for $12 - It was around a meter tall to start with, but the top part of the tree was pretty much dead (it was rather neglected in the nursery).

I have potted it and trimmed off the main upward section, but have no idea if I should trim back the rest of the branches - they are very thin, but there aren't many leaves on it at the moment. As the brances are much too long at the moment, it will need to be trimmed back at some point, but I would like to seek your advice on whether I should do it right off the bat or let it grow as it wants to for a year, then trim it back? Would pruning it back put it under too much stress, or would it be better for the plant?

Edit: Sorry, I am in Sydney.

Much appreciated for any advice.

G'Day Fluffeh and welcome. If you make your location a bit more specific advice would be easier. Once a bonsai is in a pot it is at the approximate finished size so you need to ask yourself are you happy with the trunk at that size ? If you want it to grow more then take it out of that pot and let everything grow unhindered. If you are happy with it at this size you do need to thicken the branches which will not happen if you keep pruning them.

Fluffeh wrote:I have potted it and trimmed off the main upward section, but have no idea if I should trim back the rest of the branches - they are very thin, but there aren't many leaves on it at the moment.

Having just potted it you want to get some strong root growth and enough low branches to grow some taper.

Ergo, without any other knowledge I'd be letting it grow out for a year. Keep the branches from the upper half a little under control and, if it grows really quickly, remove branches as they start getting as thick as the trunk itself, so as to keep the scar size under control.

Next winter, pick a new leader, shorten to there and remove all the other branches.

Cut paste and concave cutters will be on your Christmas list.1

thoglette wrote:Next winter, pick a new leader, shorten to there and remove all the other branches.

Here is an article which explains the process

Thank you for answering. I am happy with it at the moment, the more the merrier. As I said, mainly I have a bunch of sticks in a pot at the moment, though I have planted a few plants into large outdoor pots which I will pop into a green/shadehouse when I build it in a week or two. I am planning to go trunk shopping on Monday and Tuesday, so I might have some plants with fatter trunks (I wasn't prepared to part with that sort of money at a nursery today) so while this tree hasn't got the fattest, most perfectly tapered trunk, it makes for a nice size change compared to my other plants at the moment - and I don't want a bit white styrofoam box inside the house.