Ficus microcarpa with few branches worth working with in the lower trunk.
After chopping the trunk down you can see the huge number of new branches that will be used to shape a bonsai tree
How to stimulate latent buds in the trunk
Tag Archives: chop
One way to create a bonsai
There are many ways to shape raw material into a bonsai. In this case the bonsai was created from a Ficus rubiginosa cutting. At first it was allowed to grow long and healthy in a large container. It was then chopped down to a short segment and it was allowed to grow for several years. Next stage is to select branches and apex.
In the last stages it was moved to a smaller container to develop secondary branches and reduce leaf size. This process has taken 7 years but can be accomplished in a shorter time if grown outdoors in a tropical or sub-tropical area and kept in a large container or the ground until the refinement stage of development.
Even raw materials can be transformed into nice bonsai with this sequence of development.
Large healthy cutting of Ficus rubiginosa has been grown with no trimming to develop trunk size
The plant was chopped back(reduction cut) and allowed to sprout out.
All new growth is allowed to grow to regain vigor. Tree is kept in a large development pot and not a small bonsai container during this phase.
Seven years after starting the cutting was beginning its transition to a bonsai. Further development will involve more secondary branches and leaf size control. Pot is about 8′ long.
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What I do when I am puzzled
Very often I have some trees that just seem to be a puzzle. I can’t quite figure out what design might work for the tree. I usually put these on the bottom shelf and just let them grow and wait for a burst of inspiration. Perhaps the tree will speak to me and I can listen to it and style and train it to become a wonderful bonsai.
But, sometimes the tree isn’t speaking or I am not listening. Not all bonsai creations will be created “instantly”. Sometime the bonsai will evolve after the tree or the designer mature.
Ficus virens which has been allowed to grow wild
No brilliant ideas so I take the tree back to the best basic structure and allow it to grow
Another Ficus virens that has not worked for me and it was allowed to grow wild
With no inspiration, I just cut it back to the best trunk line that I could think of. Time and growth may show me a way in the future.
Starting with less than wonderful material
2011, at the start not looking too promising
This is a pretty typical plant. Ficus rubiginosa, that one can purchase in a nursery. It has had little or no training and seems unlikely to develop into a bonsai tree.
First step a chop to reduce the height
Allowing growth
More growth, some trimming to shape, and wiring
2016, partially defoliated to encourage more twigging
At last one begin to see the potential bonsai emerging from its rather humble beginnings.
Not behaving for me
Ficus burtt-davyi can be a difficult bonsai subject. Sometimes it just won’t grow properly. This tree has been a problem for me over many years.
It has just not been vigorous and I have had to consider discarding it or perhaps re-styling it. My decision was to get radical and to cut the tree in half. One part will become a slant or windswept while the top portion with only one root was secured on a rock to justify its poor root system. Time will tell if I can bring these two to a satisfactory bonsai design.
The overall vigor of the tree may respond to less water, coarser soil and allowing it to rest during the shorter days of winter. Time will tell.
Several years back the tree was not looking its best and I just did not care for the design
The tree was cut in half
The bottom half was planted as a separate tree
The top half was totally fine living just on its one aerial root. This was planted on the rock to deal with the one-sided root of this tree.