Dirt cheap Ficus Benjamina, any potential?

[bonsai_beginner]

Hey everyone,
Hope you're all having a great day.

I just got three Ficus Benjamina for dirt cheap. They are quite large and wild, and looks like they were once multiple trees but have formed into one.

I'll upload a few photos of each tree, I'm just curious if there is any potential with them. They have nice bases and trunks with lots of strong root growth.

Tree 1. base of tree 1

tree 1

tree 1

This is tree 2
base of tree 2

tree 2

tree 2

This is tree 3:
This tree is quite large and really root bound

base of tree 3

tree 3

tree 3

tree 3

this is what the tees look like


What do you guys think?
Potential for a bonsai in these trees?

Any opinion or advice is very much welcomed.
Thank you



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[kcpoole]

They look quite similar to one i got a year or so ago. mine is only twin trunks tho.
Cut them Back now to forceback buds low down and then in a few weeks one it warms up, Repot and sort out the roots.
Maybe wire them to pull some space between the trunks too.

Ken

[Bougy Fan]

Yep what he said Get some movement in them as they grow back - most benjis look like telegraph l poles,

[Andrew F]

I'd try and configure the roots so that you can make a forest/multi trunk banyan out of all three combined. Only because Im pretty keen to try it my self.

I bought a similar benji and did this with it: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=953&hilit=benji&start=2745


Not everyones cuppa, but it was something from nothing.

[bonsai_beginner]

Thanks heaps guys!

So it's okay to cut them back now? I live in Melbourne and I've been told not to do any major cuts till it's warmer. Is this correct?

I was pretty happy with the buy. All 3 for $24!!


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[bonsai_beginner]

I've just done a little draw with a black line as to where I think I might cut it back to.

Thoughts?

Tree 1:
I wanted to cut it above the section where it had grafted together but I'm not sure if it is too high up



Tree 2:


Tree 3:
This one is very messy with quite a few different trees in the one. I'm a little unsure what to do with this one and where to cut, but I've still drawn on the image as a possibility




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[Andrew F]

Thanks heaps guys!

So it's okay to cut them back now? I live in Melbourne and I've been told not to do any major cuts till it's warmer. Is this correct?

I was pretty happy with the buy. All 3 for $24!!


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Yeah I would pump the brakes on that till its warms up more. For now you can feed and water it accordingly to get the the trees as healthy as possible so they bounce right back when you prune them.

[bonsai_beginner]

Yeah think I'll hold off till it warms up before cutting.

Thanks guys



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[mtarros]

Just be carful when cutting back Ficus Benjamin, always cut back to the lower leaves as they won't always back bud if you cut back to no leaves.

I lost a big one trying to trunk chop it then read something about not doing that.

[bonsai_beginner]

Just be carful when cutting back Ficus Benjamin, always cut back to the lower leaves as they won't always back bud if you cut back to no leaves.

I lost a big one trying to trunk chop it then read something about not doing that.

Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?




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[Pearcy001]

Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?

You may need to do it over a couple of seasons if you want to play it safe.

Chop to the lowest piece of foliage when it warms then wait for it to back bud lower. Then you can select the new lowest bud again for the new leader and chop again.

Rinse repeat until you got to the desired height.

[bonsai_beginner]

Oh really?! To the lowest leaves? Gosh that could be too high up the tree though?

You may need to do it over a couple of seasons if you want to play it safe.

Chop to the lowest piece of foliage when it warms then wait for it to back bud lower. Then you can select the new lowest bud again for the new leader and chop again.

Rinse repeat until you got to the desired height.

Thanks for the advice!! Very very helpful



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[alpineart]

Mate if you want to play simply layer the tops of for instant clump / group banyan style tree's that are easily wired . The layer will have the same effect as a chop top and force back budding down the bases . An open pot layer is easily done and maintained and pre potted on removal , although with Figs make it a bigger than usual pot for the layer .

Cheers Alpineart

[Jarad]

If they are pot bound, it might also be a good idea to get them into some bigger pots to let the roots grow.

[vtbao]

I think make a forest is a good idea. In summer, put them all in a big pot, chop them, and feed them well for few years.