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Advice on my first bonsai
Posted: September 14th, 2014, 1:03 pm
by jgmansell
Hi everyone,
I have recently revived my interest in bonsai after losing most of my trees due to working away from home. I have now retired and would like some advice on one of my remaining plants. This was the first bonsai I started in 1999, so it has some value to me even though it is not very good specimen. I am about to do some work on it and would value any advice. The first branch is too low and the back of the tree has a big empty space. Should I just remove the branch then work with the remaining section, or should I remove all the branches and start again.
Re: Advice on my first bonsai
Posted: September 14th, 2014, 1:13 pm
by Bush bunny
Nice tree! But what genus is it? I am a beginner so not easy to ID trees. I'll leave advise to the experts though. Nice to see you here

But well done, you have cared for it well.
Re: Advice on my first bonsai
Posted: September 14th, 2014, 1:32 pm
by jgmansell
Bush bunny wrote:Nice tree! But what genus is it? I am a beginner so not easy to ID trees. I'll leave advise to the experts though. Nice to see you here

But well done, you have cared for it well.
It is a fig that self seeded from a neighbours tree, and it would be more accurate to say that I have neglected it well.
Re: Advice on my first bonsai
Posted: September 14th, 2014, 1:34 pm
by kcpoole
Not at all bad for a first tree thqt has been neglected for too many years
I assume it is Port Jackson or Moreton bay fig?
I do not mind the first branch myself, so do not be in a hurry to lose it.
The front root annoys me though. it is a little too high and and comes directly to the viewer.
if you cut back hard all over the tree, you may well get a shoot on the back where you want, but if not, graft one there.
now coming into spring, pinch out the growing tips to force back shooting and build ramification in your branching.

that will be the next step for this tree.
The lower branches can be pulled down to develop the pendulous branches of mature figs.
Ken
Re: Advice on my first bonsai
Posted: September 14th, 2014, 1:46 pm
by jgmansell
kcpoole wrote:Not at all bad for a first tree thqt has been neglected for too many years
I assume it is Port Jackson or Moreton bay fig?
I do not mind the first branch myself, so do not be in a hurry to lose it.
The front root annoys me though. it is a little too high and and comes directly to the viewer.
if you cut back hard all over the tree, you may well get a shoot on the back where you want, but if not, graft one there.
now coming into spring, pinch out the growing tips to force back shooting and build ramification in your branching.

that will be the next step for this tree.
The lower branches can be pulled down to develop the pendulous branches of mature figs.
Ken
I am not exactly sure what type of fig it is , but it isn't a Moreton Bay, it's one of the smaller leaf varieties. Thanks for the advice.