my little ficus

[manofthetrees]

howdy,
just did a little work on my first "actual" bonsai it was bought for me 3 years ago and was almost killed, she lost a major branch due to a fall after some restyling and time here she is. I'm going for a semi cascade

[img]https://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/kdavidl/IMG_0048.jpg[/img]
front
[img]https://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/kdavidl/IMG_0053.jpg[/img]
cascade side
[img]https://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/kdavidl/IMG_0050.jpg[/img]
pic of the base
the pot is 4 inches across an the tree is 7 inches tall for some referance
the tree is planted over a collection of red ,white and blue rocks I have found which will be exposed over time

[bonsaiboy]

You're off to a very good start. I would start wiring the trunk down now if you wanted to do that semi-cascade, otherwise the trunk might 'solidify', and won't bend as easily.

[manofthetrees]

due to the damage (last pic ,above the first wire turn) the trunk can't be bent that direction. I'm actually bending the top back to center. I'm going for a graceful sweep with a long tail ...kinda like this

[img]https://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/kdavidl/IMG_0071.jpg[/img]

[JTred]

What if you planted it at an angle? The lowest branch on the right as the apex and the lowest branch on the left wired up and out. It might result in some imbalance for now, but with some growing out I think it would even up.

[bonsaiboy]

I wish you godspeed; er, good luck.

[froggy]

if you want that branch to grow that much, wouldn't it be faster to have the tree in a bigger pot? - just curious...

good luck...

[manofthetrees]

froggy,
the weird thing is that branch grew like that on its own the wires are for the latteral branches. its were all the major growth has been over the last year.
ive been slowly raising it out of the pot to give more room for roots and don't want it to shoot up on me, its basically growing on 3 rocks with a little dirt underneath and the majority to the right side. I'm going for a root over a pile of rocks look ,like a cliff edge
JTred,
I'm going for a more feminine style my feelings are the hard cascades are more suited for pines

[manofthetrees]

oh yea! since were discussing this one I don't know what spieces it is??? one defining thing is the leaf buds are red and the leaves sprout with a red edge,the leaves have never been larger than an inch.I'll appritiate any help tnx

[JTred]

JTred,
I'm going for a more feminine style my feelings are the hard cascades are more suited for pines

IMHO ficus do not make the best cascades in general. It just doesn't seem right for a rain forest tree. Any downward growth would fall into the shade of the understory and wouldn't grow well. Though there are always exceptions. Not that we always strive for strict observance to nature either.

[kdodds]

I really like the movement. I so much more enjoy informal trees and trees that "break the rules" (up to a point, when it becomes unnatural like corkscrews and braids it's just like, whatever). They remind me more of the most interesting trees you may happen upon. For instance, when I was a kid, there was a thornless honey locust in a cemetery near me that was shaped, exactly, like an upward reaching hand. It even had a palm, where I'd sit and read sometimes. Even more eery (or miraculous) is that it had a huge scar and branch stump right at the wrist. Nobody designed it as a bonsai, it just grew that way. Anyway, when I see trees that really catch my eye, it's always because they evoke some image. Yours immediately evoked an image of a street clown of the earlier part of the twentieth century, bowing and tipping his hat for change while holding his opposite hand up and behind me. Should be a very nice tree, I'd love to see it in five years.

[manofthetrees]

Sweet I see what you are talking about...sadly to say the street clown is gone.
I gave her a good shot of fert and it is twice the size now. ill post some pics soon. I try not to follow the rules per say of bonsai I let my trees tell me were to go and just help them along I guess.I think trees have there own set design built in, I have noticed too many times how 2 trees of the same spieces in the same location can grow totally different ,its quite intrigueing to me

[Bonytony1]

Looking good so far. Good luck!!!!!!!!!

[Teadrinker1]

Just a slightly bigger pot might be good!!

[manofthetrees]

howdy yall, it's been a ahile since ive posted so I figured I'd update this one since I'm doing some wiring .
its been 8 months and shes doubled the foiliage "AWSOME" I am very pleased

[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0611.jpg[/img]
proposed front

[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0613.jpg[/img]
back

[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0614.jpg[/img]
cascade side

well my camera died so I can't upload the after wire pics ... ill be back soon to update again

[manofthetrees]

well here they are the change is suttle but I'm happy

[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0627.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0630.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff377/manofthetrees1/ficus%201/IMG_0629.jpg[/img]

I am going to let the next leaf set emerge and then pinch the terminal buds and hope for some backbudding since the defoiliation didnt work.until next time...

[manofthetrees]

well finally after 4 years I have found the speices...it is ficus natalensis or african strangler fig perfect for ROR plantings which this is ...awsome!!!