Advice on styling ficus?

Binjjo

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Hello. I’m new to bonsai and would like some advice on styling my ficus. I have been considering making a large cut to improve the taper and any additional feedback would be greatly appreciated. I am leaning towards option 1. Thank you.
 

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Carol 83

Flower Girl
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If you add you location to your profile, we will know what sort of climate you live in and you will get the best advice. I wouldn't do any big chops on my ficus this time of year, since they will have to come inside in a few weeks. I did mine this summer when they were outside and growing vigorously.
 

Binjjo

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If you add you location to your profile, we will know what sort of climate you live in and you will get the best advice. I wouldn't do any big chops on my ficus this time of year, since they will have to come inside in a few weeks. I did mine this summer when they were outside and growing vigorously.
Updated. Thanks.
 

sorce

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I think you'll be alright just cutting out large sections. Where cutting every tip back may cause you some trouble.

Welcome to Crazy!

Seems though, there are a couple branches below that that may need consideration first.
These doubles.

More pics.

More options.

Sorce
 

Shibui

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Agree that the thick area needs to be reduced but also consider the overall shape before deciding how to cut.
You have a lower trunk with lots of bends. Then you cut the top to leave the straightest bit?????
It is hard to give good advice just from a couple of 2D photos because we cannot see the real bends and movement but I would consider cutting at the same spot but cut the left side and leave one of the branches that come back to the right as the new trunk line.
 

Binjjo

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Agree that the thick area needs to be reduced but also consider the overall shape before deciding how to cut.
You have a lower trunk with lots of bends. Then you cut the top to leave the straightest bit?????
It is hard to give good advice just from a couple of 2D photos because we cannot see the real bends and movement but I would consider cutting at the same spot but cut the left side and leave one of the branches that come back to the right as the new trunk line.
 

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TN_Jim

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before removing a branch from the top, if this were my tree I would address problem branches first and then take a fresh look at the overall composition.

the branch in red just plain bothers me in every photo posted. I do not believe that good bonsai can never have a branch inside a bend by any means, though this one is a problem.

the dual branches circled in purple…kinda the same basic fundamentals thinking here. how many branches in a row should you have on one side of a trunk before having one opposed?…not this many
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Paradox

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I agree with Shibui. Try to keep the flow of the tree consistent.
 
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I can tell you what I would do! (And have done with very similar material.) I would only do the work I am suggesting in the middle of summer, not the end. For the next six months, you can get this tree settled into your indoor environment, give it strong light, and get into the rhythm of winter/indoor watering.

I would cut this tree in half right at or above the second bend. Now all those small branches right above that are obsolete, and will need to be cut off. The bottom inch or two of trunk would be cut off the top, the top few inches of branches trimmed back, and the rest gets stuck in a pot and placed in a humidity chamber for a few weeks to root. It will make a nice mame-size bonsai with some growing. As for the base, when it sprouts all green is rubbed off the trunk except for a nicely placed shoot that will come from the top side of the chop and become the apex of the new, much smaller tree - or, with a large pot and several years of growth, the next trunk section for a similar-height but more natural tree.

But if you like the style the tree is currently in, by all means enjoy it. And leave it alone for a while. :)
 

Binjjo

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before removing a branch from the top, if this were my tree I would address problem branches first and then take a fresh look at the overall composition.

the branch in red just plain bothers me in every photo posted. I do not believe that good bonsai can never have a branch inside a bend by any means, though this one is a problem.

the dual branches circled in purple…kinda the same basic fundamentals thinking here. how many branches in a row should you have on one side of a trunk before having one opposed?…not this many
View attachment 399706
 

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TN_Jim

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maybe bring a branch off of right branch down to rest near that hip?

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