Nicely, for the lifetime of me, I can’t discover the primary chop again photographs for this tree, from a number of months in the past……wait, let me verify yet one more time….
Right here we go, from Might 2, 2021. It’s a Ficus microcarpa that volunteered in one in every of my college students yard down in SW Florida, so she dug it up.
Now, first, some botany on ficus (why doesn’t Mr. Miyagi have any ficus bonsai? He’s by no means “botany”….sorry) anyway, the “flowers” (or “inflorescence” as it’s a flowering physique) are a particular construction known as a syconium (for the latin language curious, the plural kind is syconia, although it sounds, to my ear, that it needs to be the opposite means round). Consider syconia as outside-in flowers, with all of the reproductive bits contained in the construction that can finally turn out to be the fruit, or fig (a fig is a ficus, a ficus is a fig)
The way in which most figs are pollinated are by a particular species of wasp for a particular species of ficus, which then climbs into that syconium and appears round. Sadly for that wasp, it will get trapped contained in the soon-to-be fig, and turns into part of the fruit (don’t fear concerning the figs we eat, which is from varied Ficus carica varieties like Mission or Turkey, as they’re what the sharp heads name excellent, which means they self pollinate with out the necessity of a pollinator. So no, you aren’t consuming lifeless ficus wasps in your fig newtons).
What does all of that should do with our tree right this moment? Nicely, I’m glad you requested; by some means, we in Florida both imported the precise wasp that pollinates Ficus microcarpa; they’re native to China, and we import tons of of hundreds of ficus for the bonsai commerce, these dreaded S-curve ficus on the market in all places (right here’s a great submit on some S-curve remedies as regard to them. And for those who observe the back-links you’ll study some air layering strategies, nomenclature in preventing, reducing methods, and a very unhealthy joke you may inform at your subsequent bonsai gathering).
The state of Florida is definitely contemplating banning the sale and motion of Ficus microcarpa for concern of it changing into invasive and supplanting our native strangler fig in nature (Ficus aurea). That will severely wreck the varied bonsai nurseries that depend on the importation as a way of income. Is likely to be why the importers name them Ficus retusa…….the identical cause the Chinese language elm is commonly known as “zelkova” within the invoice of landings on the ships, as an alternative of Ulmus parviflora….however that’s simply me musing. Chinese language elm has been prohibited for importation ever since Dutch elm illness got here to the USA.
Anyway, again to our tree, which technically could possibly be thought of a “ginseng” ficus, because it’s a seedling F. Microcarpa.
Once more, from about three months in the past….
And right this moment (finish of August).
We’ve got new branches and a few extra aerial roots to work with. Let’s get it cleaned up, we could?
I like how this aspect is filling in. Particularly the roots.
Beneath, this was the entrance we went with on the class…
I feel I’ll change it barely, as usually occurs when new development seems.
One downfall of the unique entrance was the window or slingshot impact created by the 2 foremost trunks (we’re going for a banyan type, which has multiple trunk. You possibly can examine it right here and right here). So I’m letting this department (beneath) develop into one other trunk, to fill within the unfavorable “unfavorable” house, versus optimistic unfavorable house, which seems like jumbo shrimp, I do know, however there’s good and unhealthy unfavorable house. Mainly, if it provides to the composition (how your eye strikes across the tree) it’s good. If it stops your eye, it’s unhealthy.
Let’s eliminate some superfluous new development and refine the branching.
Like right here:
And right here:
Let’s get that work carried out and see what’s left.
An excellent pruning. I’m not completely satisfied till I’ve a pile at my ft.
However not an excessive amount of taken off. Now let’s clear up some roots
They ones are proper in entrance now.
We left them in to see what would occur, however now they obscure the trunk. Typically that’s a great factor, however not on this case.
Now let’s sculpt this aspect
Bifurcation!
We wish the roots to ramify as effectively, so when it doesn’t, on ficus or different bushes that heal (like tridents) we will break up them after which unfold them out. and we will unfold out the aerial roots too, enhancing out some that cross.
And we have been leaving this knob so as to add some cragginess, however I all of the sudden don’t prefer it (artists prerogative).
I feel I can transfer it within the pot to get to that higher entrance…
Now for some structural pruning and wiring..
I feel I’ll eliminate this department, after the rotation. It’s too far ahead, what we name an “eye poker” which means we don’t actually see it as a department, only a blob of inexperienced.
Now the remainder….
Mainly, go to your primary styling ideas: solely two branches at every department junction, prune for taper and motion, alternate every department, and many others.
I have a tendency to carry the department down the place I’ll wire it to once I select what to chop off.
The most important minimize is on the high.
This can be a “minimize for taper and motion” chop, one thing that’s carried out on the high rather a lot as most ficus are apical growers.
The brand new “apex” is now right here
Now, large wire, then extra pruning, after which some element wiring and pruning
Getting close to the top. You’ll discover that many small branches I’ve left un-wired. For a demo I would wire them, (for present, , as that’s what the viewers is there for) however that is for improvement and the wire gained’t maintain and most certainly, that department will get minimize off within the closing design, or drastically shortened.
I’ll minimize some rising suggestions for backbudding functions, however go away some to elongate and elongate the department.
And that’s about it
That tiny department must develop extra. With leaving the develop suggestions and opening up the cover to the solar, it’ll catch up fast.
Now the glamour pictures!
Unique entrance.
Different aspect.
And the brand new entrance.
That’s some good improvement for a couple of months. Preserve a watch out for updates.
