The starter Ficus repository!

[Starfox]

This has been one of the biggest questions I've thought about.... Granted I'm nowhere near an actual "styling" phase, but I think that helps me as well because I am pretty much starting with a blank canvas. What I found most attractive on the tree was the tiger bark, but lack of variety upon further research in styling design has been a bummer. Seems like most of the best looking ficus I've seen are similar dome shaped canopies.

Although this thread has been a real eye opener on different possibilities. I really like some of the 2 trunk and that willow leaf from @Redwood Ryan

I have one very similar to this which I've lost most of my motivation for. It just sits on a window sill in the sun happily. I have no idea what to do with it tbh, so I'll be interested to see what you do.

This is totally why I wanted to start this sort of a thread, Ficus seem very versatile and there are any number of things you can try with them to keep the interest up like air roots and fusing to name a couple. So I am glad to see all the posts from everyone because everyone is different and hopefully there will be a bit of inspiration to try something new or see your tree in a different light.
I mean everything I am doing is totally new to me so I'm always looking to try something different and if I make a mistake, well there is no shame in that and will serve as a precautionary warning to others hopefully.

Either way I think it's great to see all the trees and what people are doing, I thank everybody for sharing.

 

[Starfox]

For better or worse this was a two beer job.

Trim back.


After wire.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Just got this on an auction last night.
Don't know what I will do with it??
Just what I need another pre bonsai ficus.
But I'm addicted. I need to join a support group

 

[Tentakelaertje]

You've arrived at the support group some time ago already.
Support-to-get-more group!

 

[GSCarlson]

Just got this on an auction last night.
Don't know what I will do with it??
Just what I need another pre bonsai ficus.
But I'm addicted. I need to join a support group

View attachment 144097 View attachment 144098

My, what hairy arms you have!

 

[Starfox]

 

[LanceMac10]

My, what hairy arms you have!

Hehehee.....I assumed they were the "seller's"......

 

[Anthony]

2 Ficus b for the group -

and as you see they don't need much soil and it is about 90 % by volume inorganic 5 mm

Placement full sun. Watering 1 evening, 2 morning.

 

[Starfox]

2 Ficus b for the group -

Thank you for sharing Anthony.
Love them both!

 

[twisted trees]

I've been working on this benjamina for about 23 years. The pic is from last year. I have no pics from the beginning though it was just a standard box store purchase about as thick as your thumb.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

My, what hairy arms you have!

I'll show you mine if you show me yours

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I've been working on this benjamina for about 23 years. The pic is from last year. I have no pics from the beginning though it was just a standard box store purchase about as thick as your thumb.

This is nice. I like it

 

[Jeremy]

Not so much a 'starter' but definitely raw pre-bonsai material. I purchased this 4 years ago because I liked the base and the idea of forming it into a banyan style tree. During that time I have chopped the trunks multiple times and have never been happy enough to settle on a design. Yesterday I decided to carve out the large centre trunk. I think it added more depth now that you can see the back trunk, I'm hoping when the callous starts rolling it will add more interest to the trunk. Lots of scars to heal and branches to develop, but at least this tree wont be pushed to the back of the benches again. Going to keep it in the Styrofoam box for another few years to keep pushing along. First pic is from December 2013, after the first cut back. No photos of when I acquired it but all the trunks were the same height

 

[Starfox]

Cuttings from tree no.1.
Going to put them in the grow box and maybe use them next year on the tree.

 

[Anthony]

Hey Group.

you might find this interesting. We had to do a lot of growing on tests plants to get back to an
original effort.

The first Ficus p. was found in the discarded sheath of a short coconut flower shoot. It was a whip
but curved very nicely.
It unfortunately did what a ficus can do, over thicken.
So many years later, new ficus p. were found and a technique on how to grow, control the thickening,
and repair some mega cuts, had to be developed.

So a start over is in the works, Probably will take 5 years.
Here are some images.
Good Day
Anthony


Okay when found back in 1987 or so [ maybe earlier ] it was a whip like this example




Very rapidly got out hand

-

 

[Starfox]

Nice Anthony!
Hard to believe that is the same tree.

 

[Starfox]

OK, Ficus no.1 defoliated.



I really don't know, I'm going to thin it out, remove unwanted/downward/crossing stuff and maybe even treat it to some wire. I don't really have a path on this but I'm hoping the cuttings I took earlier will strike and next year when I repot I might take a couple and attach them to the main trunk to hopefully fuse and cover up a bit of the ugly and hopefully more aerial roots.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Nice Anthony!
Hard to believe that is the same tree.

I don't believe it is, that's just an example. Very cool.

 

[Starfox]

Ahh yes, I read that wrong. My bad.

 

[petegreg]

... I'm hoping the cuttings I took earlier will strike and next year when I repot I might take a couple and attach them to the main trunk to hopefully fuse and cover up a bit of the ugly and hopefully more aerial roots.

I don't think it's ugly. When existing roots fatten, it could be cool as it is.