Orlando Bonsai » ficus https://www.orlandobonsai.com The purpose of this site is to share and enjoy the art, history and horticulture of bonsai and to provide current bonsai news and information. Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:47:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.41 Before and After Shots https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2249 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2249#comments Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:15:20 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2249 Not talking about what happens at the friendly neighborhood bar… This is about remembering to take before and after photographs of your bonsai as well as the work in progress so you and your bonsai friends can feel adequately impressed after all the work (er… drinking) is done. Well, maybe not done as in finished since the growing continues but you can always take follow up pix too.  Taking photos help you to remember what the tree used to look like, to really LOOK at your tree, to see things that can be improved, to remember what you planned to do next, gives you a journal for future reference on similar trees, and either make you humble or give you bragging rights.  Heck, you might even enter a photo in a contest or use it for an exhibit entry. Most of all, the pictures help you to learn about the tree.  I don’t have a fancy camera so I use my phone and the pictures are only adequate right now and usually just make me humble.  So here are a few humble photos of two very different trees I worked on recently.

This is how it looked when purchased.  Lots of foliage, branches to choose from, healthy looking and look at those small leaves – sweet!

Dwarf Ligustrum – Before

 

Below is a close up shot. You can almost see the original outline of the tree before all the outrageous, straight up growth!

Dwarf Ligustrum – before – close up

Below is the tree after the first styling.  Definitely starting to look like the makings of a bonsai.  Will let it grow in the pot for a year to increase the trunk size.  These trees make nice little forests too. Needs a little tweaking yet and will find a nice pot for it before next year.  Have to remember to take OFF the WIRE!  The photo file date will help with that.  Time to set a reminder!

Dwarf Ligustrum – first styling

Here’s the Ficus Microcarpa that was worked on last summer – see where the lower branches were tied down.  Also used a wedge cut to lower the upward tilt of the two lowest branches to a downward angle.

Ficus Microcarpa – before second styling

Ficus Microcarpa – post defoliation

Brother can you spare a leaf? (Sorry – bad recession joke).  It was best to defoliate to see the branches and when repotting.  The leaves will sprout quickly; especially since it is a ficus.

Ficus – defoliated

It’s been less than a week and the new leaves are already sprouting!  Lots more branch pruning to be done then it can go into a pot.

After some drastic root cutting, I like the banyan-style in the new home. A few branches and banyan roots need adjusting but it’s coming along nicely and the new growth is already starting one week later. The new angle in pot is helping the bar branch look and next year, we will be able to maximize the angle after the roots adjust.

 


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=2249 2 finally https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=217 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=217#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:52:17 +0000 http://orlandobonsai.com/blog/?p=204
Here we are 4 months later and you can see how this tree has recovered from the root pruning. This tree is just a joy to take care of, and maintain. Sept 2007


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=217 0 At last https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=400 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=400#comments Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:11:57 +0000 http://orlandobonsai.com/blog/?p=389

This little tree just keeps getting better. I wired down the first branch on the left and it really framed the trunk a lot better. I would have to think that by next year this tree will be ready for show. Sept 2006


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=400 0 Filling in https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=204 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=204#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2005 18:44:36 +0000 http://orlandobonsai.com/blog/?p=192

April 2005 – Some areas have filled in since last year. I shortened the right bottom branch to help center the tree over the trunk. It look more balanced this way. I defoliated the tree about a month ago, so the leave are a bit smaller than they will be and the tree will be more filled in that it is now.


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=204 0 new growth https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=227 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=227#comments Sun, 21 Mar 2004 19:10:26 +0000 http://orlandobonsai.com/blog/?p=215

About a month went by and new growth has started. You can see how drastic a cut was made from the back shot. However the wound should heal up nicely.


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