Chop 6' tall 35 yr old ficus w 9" trunk to create bonsai

GailinNJ · Sep 17, 2017

Hello friends, I have had this beautiful ficus for 35 years. It has weathered travel across the country three times and a cold winter 20 years ago in New Jersey outdoors. It has outlived many beloved pets and other loved ones. I think it is time to create a drastic change. It has remained in about the same size pot spending summers out doors and inside. I wish to create a bonsai from this tree.

At its base, the trunk is 8 1/2 inches in diameter. 10" up where the two branches emerge, it is 9 1/2 inches around the trunk.

The weather is turning slightly cooler here in NJ, and I would normally be moving it indoors by the end of October.

My questions to the forum are the following:
1. Is this tree a good candidate to create bonsai?
2. Where should I chop the tree, and how should I chop the tree? What to use?
3. What is the process for cutting the root ball and transplanting into small pot? What are my options? How far to cut roots, pitting ideas?
4. What happens first, chop or transplant and can I do these simultaneously?

Thank you very much

M. Frary · Sep 17, 2017

GailinNJ said:
At its base, the trunk is 8 1/2 inches in diameter. 10" up where the two branches emerge, it is 9 1/2 inches around the trunk

Diameter is measured across not around. That's circumference.
Always chop first then repot.
These ficus need to be done in summer I hear.

GailinNJ · Sep 17, 2017

M. Frary said:
Diameter is measured across not around. That's circumference.
Always chop first then repot.
These ficus need to be done in summer I hear.

Thank you. The tree is 3 inches across at the base and 3 1/2 inches across 10 inches higher. Do you have a suggestion of where to chop? And any advice as to how this would be done perhaps an instructional video you could direct me to?

M. Frary · Sep 17, 2017

I don't really know of good instructional videos. Mainly because I don't watch them.
A good rule of thumb for chopping a tree is to chop it off at 2 inches for every inch of diameter. At 3 inches that's 6 inches up. That makes the finished height right around 6 inches tall.
Once you chop it you let it grow one leader until it is almost the stumps diameter then chop again. This gives you taper and movement in your trunk.

GailinNJ · Sep 17, 2017

M. Frary said:
I don't really know of good instructional videos. Mainly because I don't watch them.
A good rule of thumb for chopping a tree is to chop it off at 2 inches for every inch of diameter. At 3 inches that's 6 inches up. That makes the finished height right around 6 inches tall.
Once you chop it you let it grow one leader until it is almost the stumps diameter then chop again. This gives you taper and movement in your trunk.

Thank you very much for your advice, I plan on doing this today. I have been reading about this and understand that I would create a horizontal cut. My question to you is this if you could give me your advice: should I leave the root ball undisturbed in the existing pot? Also, should I move this tree indoors so that it has some more warmth?

GrimLore · Sep 17, 2017

GailinNJ said:
I plan on doing this today.

I would strongly suggest any drastic cutting to be done while actively growing along with a root reduction in SUMMER. For now bring it inside for the Winter and keep it healthy.

Grimmy

M. Frary · Sep 17, 2017

GailinNJ said:
Thank you very much for your advice, I plan on doing this today. I have been reading about this and understand that I would create a horizontal cut. My question to you is this if you could give me your advice: should I leave the root ball undisturbed in the existing pot? Also, should I move this tree indoors so that it has some more warmth?

You should really wait until the proper time to do major cuts. The outline I gave you for chopping trees is just that. A basic outline to follow.
But when you do it yes you reduce the roots too. After the cutting.
Someone will respond with the proper season or time to chop ficus. I don't own any. I have temperate trees but the basics cor chopping trees is for all species.
Don't get hasty. They'll show up soon.
Let's make a couple calls.
@Redwood Ryan
@sorce
@amcoffeegirl
@Vin
That should do it. Now we wait a bit.

GailinNJ · Sep 17, 2017

Wow, thank you for tagging. Have a great day.

markyscott · Sep 17, 2017

Hopefully it's not too late, but ficus benjamina can not be trunk chopped with any guarantee of success. It does not bud back reliably from old wood. If you do chop it, you'll more than likely kill it.

If you do decide to try it, in terms of timing, this is a very poor time to chop ficus. You should do it during active growth in late spring or early summer. Right now the tree is winding down for the year and it won't grow much until next season.

Scott

markyscott · Sep 17, 2017

If you like the tree for bonsai, what you might consider instead is air-layering above the slingshot branching. I think FB take to air-layering reasonably well, so you might give that a try next summer.

In general though, I'd advise you to steer clear of this species for bonsai. Although there are a few excellent examples of Ficus Benjamina bonsai, they are a finicky species and there other ficus varieties to learn with that are much more amenable to bonsai culture.

M. Frary · Sep 17, 2017

markyscott said:
Hopefully it's not too late, but ficus benjamina can not be trunk chopped with any guarantee of success. It does not bud back reliably from old wood. If you do chop it, you'll more than likely kill it.

If you do decide to try it, in terms of timing, this is a very poor time to chop ficus. You should do it during active growth in late spring or early summer. Right now the tree is winding down for the year and it won't grow much until next season.

Scott

Cool. Someone who knows about these trees.

amcoffeegirl · Sep 17, 2017

It looks like you have gotten really good advice already.
Work in spring or summer
There are better ficus choices for bonsai.
If you enjoy this species maybe just pick up a different tree for that purpose.

Redwood Ryan · Sep 17, 2017

Some trees are good for bonsai, some aren't. Unfortunately I think this one fits into the "not" category. Being a benjamina, as mentioned, it's finicky to bonsai techniques. The big scar is kinda awkward and would make trunk chopping difficult.

Since it's such a beloved family tree I'd honestly just keep it as such. I'd rather not risk cutting it down to attempt to make something out of it. Repot it in the spring into a smaller pot, keep it trimmed back, and enjoy it.

GSCarlson · Sep 17, 2017

I cut back and repot my benji when I bring it in for the winter and it has always done well. I don't do a trunk chop, though. She has never shown any ability to grow new shoots down low. Maybe do a drastic pruning and see how yours responds.

sorce · Sep 17, 2017

That's an interesting tree.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

GrimLore · Sep 17, 2017

M. Frary said:
Cool. Someone who knows about these trees.

WTF - that is what I said

Grimmy

GrimLore · Sep 17, 2017

GrimLore · Sep 17, 2017

sorce said:
That's an interesting tree.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Yeah that

Grimmy

GrimLore · Sep 17, 2017

markyscott said:
Hopefully it's not too late, but ficus benjamina can not be trunk chopped with any guarantee of success.

Sorry I did not mention that - goes for a LOT of plants, always 50/50...

Grimmy

markyscott · Sep 17, 2017

GrimLore said:
Sorry I did not mention that - goes for a LOT of plants, always 50/50...

Grimmy

Good point G - there is risk, but it's also true that some plants take to it much better than others. In my experience, FB is way below average in its ability to handle a chop. Probably closer to zero percent chance of success than to 50.

S

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