Tall BRT!!!

[Petebak]

Not sure how it ever got this tall but not sure where to go from here!

 

[fredman]

I think you'll have to start afresh with it. Its way to young, sleek and tall to make anything of it now. Zip it in the ground and let it do its thing for a few years...that's what i'll do

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Petebak]

I think you'll have to start afresh with it. Its way to young, sleek and tall to make anything of it now. Zip it in the ground and let it do its thing for a few years...that's what i'll do

Problem is, i have no outdoor space, all my bonsai's stay indoors all year around!

 

[Lobaeux]

That's tough. If the trunk was thicker, it'd be a great little tree. That skinny, it's looking a little undeveloped. I'd just let it grow.

 

[groverick]

I have worked with another specie in the genus, and in my experience, when cut to the ground, you stand a 50% change of death.

 

[Petebak]

Update........
I reduced the leaves a bit and now the trunk is shooting out new growth which will help thicken the trunk!
The only thing is that I forgot to remove the wires and the tree has some nasty scars now!

 

[pweifan]

Pete, Is that a Veldt Fig (Ficus burtt-davyi) in the background? Do you have any pics of that? I think I also see a goldfish plant Those are real pretty.

 

[Petebak]

Pete, Is that a Veldt Fig (Ficus burtt-davyi) in the background? Do you have any pics of that? I think I also see a goldfish plant Those are real pretty.

Good eyes , yes it is, i'll post some pics later today!

 

[Petebak]

2 different figs!

 

[pweifan]

I never thought of using goldfish plant as an accent plant, looks nice

I like the figs, how long have you had them? That second one is off to a great start!

 

[Petebak]

Goldfish plants grow like weeds, they tolerate low light and drought and flower all year long (here and there!), that's why i like them.
The second fig i purchased in summer of 2015 as a bonsai about a few months back it was not doing well and lost all leaves, that's why it's in a potting soil mix now, I add a little bit of worm casting to the bottom of the pot, they love that stuff! gonna re-pot it back into a bonsai pot come spring or summer!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Don't worry about wiring scars, you need to double or triple the trunk diameter, in that time the scars should disappear. Keep the BRT in the largest pot that is practical. Let low branches extend as long as is practical. Total volume of foliage is what thickens the trunk. To develop taper will be more difficult. Once you have a number of low branches, you will either have to keep the volume of low foliage greater than volume of upper foliage. Or you can trunk chop, but sometimes you only get awkward shoots, a chop might ruin the graceful trunk you have. Later, some or all of the lower branches can be removed.

Key is to build trunk diameter now while the tree is young. Once root pruned, and in a smaller bonsai pot, you will get little or no trunk thickening.

BRT grow really fast when they have good light, you can build a nice tree in less than 10 years, maybe less than 5.

 

[Petebak]

Thanks for all the info!

 

[Petebak]

Bringing this one back from dead.
The fig has made lots of progress.

 

[ohiogrown]

Does anyone have or know of a good online source for purchasing a nice Brazilian rain tree?

 

[Petebak]

http://brusselsbonsai.com/
http://www.meehansminiatures.com

 

[LanceMac10]

wigertsbonsai.com

 

[Lobaeux]

I like Wigert's myself.

 

[LanceMac10]

I would think they have many. Hopefully there was not too much damage from the recent weather event?!?!