Styling a Tropical Bonsai Tree
In this captivating blog post, we will unveil the art of transforming ordinary, mass-produced Ficus trees into stunning Bonsai masterpieces.
Ficus trees have gained immense popularity among beginners due to their adaptability to indoor environments. However, commercially available Ficus Bonsai often bear noticeable flaws resulting from their rapid development process. Typically propagated in large Chinese nurseries, these trees undergo vigorous trunk manipulation during their early stages, growing several meters tall to expedite trunk thickening. After a year, the trunks are pruned back to create small trees, and young shoots are carefully selected to shape new branches. Consequently, these Ficus trees possess short, stout trunks with conspicuous wounds and only a few underdeveloped branches. Experienced bonsai growers often refer to them as "Malsai."
For beginners in the art of Bonsai, these trees offer an excellent starting point. They are resilient, suitable for indoor cultivation, exhibit rapid growth, and are relatively affordable. However, even intermediate and advanced bonsai enthusiasts can leverage these trees as a source of budget-friendly material to create remarkable bonsai specimens. In this article, we will guide you through the process of refining a low-cost imported Ficus tree into an exquisite Bonsai. It all begins by allowing the Ficus tree to flourish unrestricted in a spacious container for 1-2 years. This approach allows us to develop robust branches and ensure the tree's overall health before embarking on further transformative work.
The Ficus tree before styling in fall.
After Styling (Photo Taken About One Year Later).
The Styling Steps Explained
Upon acquiring the Ficus tree, we made a strategic decision to allow it to flourish in a generously sized container for a span of 1-2 years, free from any constraints. This approach facilitated the development and thickening of the branches while also ensuring the tree's overall well-being. The following steps illustrate the tree's progression over the course of approximately one year. Therefore, the total duration required to transform the tree into the final showcased result was a mere 2 years.
Pruning starts. Notice how after making a cut immediately the wounds are covered with white sap.
Pruning thick branches back to younger growth, which are more flexible and usable in our intended design.
Thinning out the Apex of the Ficus bonsai, as right now the apex is very full and overgrown.
Pruning is done, although the tree looks much nicer now, we'll need to wire it to be able to shape its branches in detail.
Using a guy-wire we bring down this thick branch. The branch still needs to develop over time to become the main directional branch of the Bonsai.
Next we detail wire the entire Ficus Bonsai. The wire will stay on until it almost starts to bite into the bark, most likely about 6 months.
Six months later we repot the tree in early spring. We have also removed the wire from the branches.
We prune the roots to fit the tree in its new, small, bonsai pot. The pot is not particularly great, but it is a nice match for the tree. Eventually we'll pick a better container for this tree.
Using a chopstick we work in the soil. Making sure no air pockets remain is important for the health of the tree.
Aftercare and Next Steps
While the tree's silhouette has undergone remarkable improvement, there is still a need for ongoing refinement. A crucial aspect of this process involves regular pruning, ideally performed approximately once a month from spring to fall. Through diligent pruning, we can continue shaping the tree to achieve its desired form and balance. Furthermore, our long-term vision for the tree includes transferring it to a more aesthetically pleasing Bonsai pot, further enhancing its overall presentation.
For more information about Ficus Bonsai care check our website.