Any help for this ficus?

[Steve C]

I've been into bonsai for about 2 yrs, this ficus is my 2nde bonsai I ever owned (I now own 10) I almost killed this ficus about 16 months ago due to my own fault. Now after a trunk chop and massive prune, it has come back some. But the branches are all coming out of the same two spots.

I just yesterday pruned it down, but it still looks like crap. Any advice as to what to do with this ugly little guy?

(Pic #2 shows how all the branches come from one shoot)

 

[jaholmes]

The first question for you might be what style/direction would you like to go with this tree?

If you like the location of the bud breaks (the points where the branches are originating from), I would advise that you reduce the growth to one branch at each "origin". These could then serve as primary branch and apex. I think the curvature of the trunk line might naturally lend itself towards a [semi]cascade. One branch could be developed into this cascading branch eventually, while the other could be developed into the apex.

 

[Steve C]

Originally it was planned as an informal upright, but that was before it was so chopped. Now, I really don't know.

Far as liking where the branches are sprouting from....no, I honestly don't at all. That's actually my main dislike of this tree right now is how all the new branches are coming out of the same two spots.

I actually was thinking of doing like you said and pruning down to just one branch out of each spot, but wondered if that would maybe promote new backbuds others places or ???

I dunno, I hate to say it but this one I have been close to just giving up on I know it's my own fault but this one is hard to see a future in for me.

 

[Neli]

You can even leave two branches on the upper spot. One as a leader and one as second primary branch

 

[KennedyMarx]

I would reduce the clusters down to one branch at each and let it grow. A healthy ficus will backbud on the trunk. You just need to get it to that point. In the meantime though you don't want those clustered branches making swollen spots where they emerge from the trunk. Do you keep this indoors year round?

 

[quietobserver]

I've had quite a few in this state from time to time, although they were all narrow leaf. In addition to what everyone has said regarding style remember the health/metabolic side of things. Fertilizer, sunlight, and leaves give this little guy the energy to pop branches where you want them. The longer you let it grow wild and ugly the more energy it will have to respond to aesthetic cutting and backbud on the trunk, etc. I think Michael Hagedorn has used the phrase 'metabolic energy for you to manipulate' or something thereabouts, kind of a variation of Walter Pall's 'hedge trimming' so to speak.

 

[Steve C]

I would reduce the clusters down to one branch at each and let it grow. A healthy ficus will backbud on the trunk. You just need to get it to that point. In the meantime though you don't want those clustered branches making swollen spots where they emerge from the trunk. Do you keep this indoors year round?

It spends the winter indoors but then goes outside from about now till fall. I actually had taken him outside a couple days ago to leave him for the summer but we had some pretty bad storms come through yesterday so I had to bring them all inside for the night.