ficus retusa broken branch

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Hi my girlfriend was doing the cleaning today and accidentally knocked the branch upwards and it broke at one side but I immediately put it together and added some tape round to secure it. My question is what the likelihood that it will be ok ? And also if so how long would it take to heal? as I was planning on creating the new apex with that branch as the old top died, I was planning on doing this in April will the tree be healed by then? All being well ? Thanks 🙏 kindest regards Bonsai guys! ❤️279051
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
Welcome to Crazy!

A healthy one of these will have lower foliage still in tact.
Without a good health gauge there's no telling how fast it will heal.

It will though.

But I think you can get away without that branch too!

Sorce
 

Forsoothe!

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,878
Reaction score
9,248
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
6b
The tissue will heal as in glued back together by the sap, but the bones are broken forever and will be pulled apart by any major move. Unless, you wrap it like tying a cigarette in a knot with cellophane around it, back in the old days. And unwrap and re-wrap it every three months or so for a year. I leave a ring of loose wire on such a branch for a long time to remind me of its condition. It will always be slightly out of position for you, and you'll forget why.
 

Paradox

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,338
Reaction score
11,405
Location
Long Island, NY
USDA Zone
7a
You may not be able to salvage the branch but the good news is, ficus will backbud readily
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Welcome to Crazy!

A healthy one of these will have lower foliage still in tact.
Without a good health gauge there's no telling how fast it will heal.

It will though.

But I think you can get away without that branch too!

Sorce
what would you suggest I do to this tree to have a better tree ? someone suggested for me to do a trunk chop but only when the tree gained more vigour! and then possibly create a banyan style tree
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
Seems you can... eventually .....ditch that whole top T. The black, and the one opposite it. There's good movement and taper in the remaining.

What's the setup like?

It may be futile to peruse as bonsai without a little health boost.

What's the soil like?

Sorce
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Seems you can... eventually .....ditch that whole top T. The black, and the one opposite it. There's good movement and taper in the remaining.

What's the setup like?

It may be futile to peruse as bonsai without a little health boost.

What's the soil like?

Sorce
thanks yes its just in a regular potting soil what it came in I had some problems when I first got the tree and the top died back so I added an led light and was thinking about maybe a re pot in spring i did buy some specialised ficus bonsai feed but only did a feed once every couple of months. yer some guy said to maybe prune it hard back. is that what you think litrally just leave the trunk. but what would you suggest to get it real healthy glad summer is coming believe it or not its actually looking a lot healthier than when we it was given to me. it looked like they may have had a problem with top before I even had it
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
thanks yes its just in a regular potting soil what it came in I had some problems when I first got the tree and the top died back so I added an led light and was thinking about maybe a re pot in spring i did buy some specialised ficus bonsai feed but only did a feed once every couple of months. yer some guy said to maybe prune it hard back. is that what you think litrally just leave the trunk. but what would you suggest to get it real healthy glad summer is coming believe it or not its actually looking a lot healthier than when we it was given to me. it looked like they may have had a problem with top before I even had it
Im in England so has to be indoors till summer and not much light in our flat so supplemented with a grow light. would you reccomend just re potting in spring in a better soil like bonsai soil with more aeration then maybe wait till following spring for trunk chop
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
No, I think I'm seeing it wrong.

More pics!

Does it get outside for summer?

Sorce
I plan on leaving it out in the summer. I was wondering if you meant just hard prune the branches back to the trunk or actually trunk chop somewhere below
the bottom branch I guess I just really need to know how it to get in good health first I've read lots of stuff must be going wrong somewhere its approx 6 years old apparently
the 279056279057279058279059
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
If that Is the soil throughout, it could be underwatered.

That is good to chop that whole top t off, and sweet for you that that branch comes off the keeper part!

I'dd say, after excessive watering outside for a summer, chop that t off. It oughta give you some lower branches to use.

Somewhere in there those keeper branches can get shortened and worked up.

Just don't expect a chop to produce buds without a health sign that you will recognize like....oh...this f8ckimg thing won't StOP growing!

Sorce
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
cool thanks nha is just on the top hoped it would deter the fungi gnats so ya reckon just top off about an inch then leave bottom branch all being i get to a healthy stage through summer
 

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,377
Reaction score
15,841
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
But I think you can get away without that branch too!
That was my first thought. I think its potential is more interesting without that large branch. Why don't you take it off and work with what is left. In my house it would already be under a dome on a heat mat waiting for roots to develop.
 

Forsoothe!

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,878
Reaction score
9,248
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
6b
cool thanks nha is just on the top hoped it would deter the fungi gnats so ya reckon just top off about an inch then leave bottom branch all being i get to a healthy stage through summer
Gnats are almost impossible to kill. Their larva are a different story. Drench the top two inches of soil with a 10% solution of 35% Hydrogen Peroxide in water for two consecutive watering and the larva eat dirt. The flying or walking stage doesn't last long and they're always on the move and hard to see so there is no sure killer that won't contaminate the whole area. They lay eggs in damp soil and you know where that is...
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
That was my first thought. I think its potential is more interesting without that large branch. Why don't you take it off and work with what is left. In my house it would already be under a dome on a heat mat waiting for roots to develop.
is there any domes you recommend i thought it would be warm enought in the house its also fairly close to a heat source and i use a humidity tray and mist occasionally
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
cool thanks nha is just on the top hoped it would deter the fungi gnats so ya reckon just top off about an inch then leave bottom branch all being i get to a healthy stage through summer
so would you recommend maybe root prune and re pot guess its hard to say without seeing them
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Gnats are almost impossible to kill. Their larva are a different story. Drench the top two inches of soil with a 10% solution of 35% Hydrogen Peroxide in water for two consecutive watering and the larva eat dirt. The flying or walking stage doesn't last long and they're always on the move and hard to see so there is no sure killer that won't contaminate the whole area. They lay eggs in damp soil and you know where that is...
yer I tried hydrogen peroxide but everywhere recommended 3 percent hp dint work and then tried a bti for mosquito and gnats didnt seem to work either so thinking of adding more next time
 

Aurora88

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
That was my first thought. I think its potential is more interesting without that large branch. Why don't you take it off and work with what is left. In my house it would already be under a dome on a heat mat waiting for roots to develop.
i was thinking branch would create the new top
 

Forsoothe!

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,878
Reaction score
9,248
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
6b
The solution is 10% of 35% HP in water. Or, straight, undiluted, 3% HP.
 
Top Bottom