Greetings y’all. I’ve been muddling through this bonsai hobby for a number of years, and I’ve got a question about this ficus microcarpa. I’ve had it for fifteen years or so, slowly working on a banyan style and as you can see, it’s way too leggy. I want to prune it waaay back, but am frankly afraid to do it. I tried defoliating it eight years ago. I was nervous about doing it and read that one could do half the tree at a time. I did and that half of the tree completely died.
I don’t want it to look like a bush, but don’t want to kill it. Should I prune it way back and force it to regrow?
I don’t want it to look like a bush, but don’t want to kill it. Should I prune it way back and force it to regrow?