What kind of tree is this? Anything I can do with it?

[woodyb23]

A braided tree I bought about 3 years ago. Growth only occurs on one of the branches in the braid. Was a full canopy when I bought it but most of the leaves died once I brought it home. This is all the growth for the past 3 years so at least its not dead. It is a bit of an eyesore, I was wondering if it was too late to be shaped in bonsai.

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1skrOma0Yi5pu0U51qH9JPkt3TqKmCvOqSub-1n1-vMg

 

[Paradox]

Its a ficus and yes they are used for bonsai.

Not sure how well they respond to chopping back.
I'm sure someone around here knows though.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

This is a Schefflera. Try a google image search for Schefflera bonsai and you can see some examples. Generally it is not considered great bonsai material because of the large compound leaves, so it is more of a houseplant.

 

[woodyb23]

Is it normal for one branch to have all the new growth?

 

[woodyb23]

What if I cut off everything except branch that has growing shoots and reducing it to a stub.

 

[milehigh_7]

Schefflera, definitely not ficus.

 

[Paradox]

Hmmm wondering if the plant I have on my desk that was labeled as a ficus is actually a schefflera.
Damn those inaccurate labels...lol

 

[Poink88]

That is neither ficus nor schefflera.

I believe it is a braided money tree or Pachira Aquatica.

 

[Paradox]

Lol it could be that too......

In fact after looking them up online, I'm pretty sure mine is a money tree.

 

[milehigh_7]

Yep I think you are right Dario.

 

[Poink88]

On your 2nd question...for me (personal choice) it is not a good bonsai material. They do grow thick trunks fast in good growing conditions.

 

[mat]

Looks like a Schefflera arboricola to me. They can be trained as bonsai. Searching the "New to Bonsai" area here for "schefflera" will give you lots of good, basic advice.

For what it's worth - this one doesn't look especially healthy. I'd recommend more sun and fresh air.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

That's definitely a Schefflera. That's no Money Tree.

 

[Nybonsai12]

x3 on money tree

 

[Redwood Ryan]

It's not a Money Tree. Look at the leaves in the upper right hand of the picture and how small they are. Money Tree leaves are much longer than that, especially in low light conditions like this one appears to be.

 

[Nybonsai12]

It's not a Money Tree. Look at the leaves in the upper right hand of the picture and how small they are. Money Tree leaves are much longer than that, especially in low light conditions like this one appears to be.

took another look and I think Ryan is correct. and i wouldn't doubt is ability on identifying ficus!! haha.

 

[Poink88]

I looked again and just noticed there are 2 more pics below with leaf close-up. I conceded that this is not a money tree and most likely a schefflera.

Good call guys!

 

[namnhi]

Whether you are beginner or not. That thing is not bonsai worthy doesn't matter how nice it looks. Don't waste time on it.
NN

 

[mat]

took another look and I think Ryan is correct. and i wouldn't doubt is ability on identifying ficus!! haha.

it's not a Ficus

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would not consider this as good material for bonsai. The species is not a good one, and as far as the braided trunk goes - you'd have to chop below the braids and start all over to get anything that you could develop into a bonsai.

Personally, I would just go to a bonsai nursery and get a nice pre-bonsai juniper. You could spend $20 x 10 buying up cheap nursery plants, or $100 x 1 to get a nice pre-bonsai juniper, and you would be a decade (or more) ahead of the game with the pre-bonsai. Then every Fall you could strike cuttings off your pre-bonsai and pretty soon you would have more junipers than you knew what to do with