Shaping Bonsais, Trimming + Wiring Help

oreoloki · White Belt Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Illinois

HELLO, I am new to Bonsai, and I have been growing some tiny trees for about a year now. I think they are finally ready to start wiring and what not, but I don't know where to start!!! I have 3 ficus trees, 4 baby jades and 3 weeping willows(I cut off a branch, cut it into 3 sections and stuck them in water, they took root and flourished very nicely!). Any reccomendations on how i can go about training them? Like, what shapes are best for each type of tree? And also what kind of wiring and supplies should I buy? Also, I have a few $1.99 Dominick's mishaps that I got a year or two ago. One of them is a ficus and has an awesome trunk but the branches are so wierd looking, i'm not happy with the way it is taking shape. The other one is also a ficus, but I got it for free at Home Depot because I found it under a table ripped out of the pot Sad

it too has a very nice looking thick trunk, but the branches are all funky. I have included photos of these two trees because i can not describe them well enough. Now as for my question on trimming (roots and branches) what exactly am I supposed to trim? How much am I supposed to trim? I have a small pair of trimming shears, and thats about it. I have one well established bonsai that i got from Home Depot with glued on rocks ( Confused

I know I know, I'm working on a way to remove them...) I belive it is a citrus tree, it has tiny shiny leaves and it looks like it is starting to produce tiny flower buds. There is also a photo of this tree if anyone wants to help me identify it! Another problem I have is that I live in an apartment and all of these plants are indoors. I could put them on my balconey if I wanted squirrels to rip them apart...but I don't so yeah. If anyone has any answers please reply!!! THANKS!!!

Ficus #1
Ficus #1
Ficus #1
Ficus #2
Ficus #2
Ficus #2
Ficus #2
Orange?
Orange?

Stymie

Hello Sarah.
Ficus number 1 has a useful trunk and aerial roots. Its top growth needs trimming back to around one inch all round. Decisions on which branches to keep can be made when new shoots have emerged.
Ficus number 2. The straggly growth again should be cut back. A more upright position would be preferable when re-potting.

I am unable to access the citrus photographs at this time.

oreoloki · White Belt Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Illinois

I just feel so bad cutting all the branches off like that, won't it die without any leaves? I was thinking of maybe trying to root the branches I cut off...? I'm just scared to ruin it!

steve

Ficus can take it. If it worries you too much you can cut back to the girst set of leaves and once it back buds then cut back again. Really though there isn't any harm in Stymie's advice.

Dick

Bonsai can be a frightful experience for the first timers. But a drastic pruning usually works fine, especially when done at this time of the year when growth is most vigorous. The tree will want to have leaves if they are all removed and will back sprout the dormant buds which will become new branches.

Stymie

I omitted to mention that figs exude a milky substance when pruned. This should not cause you any concern. It is latex which is common to all the family.

amanda

Welcome to the forum.

I, too, have 3 weeping willows that I just put in water maybe a week ago. I saw some pictures in a book of WWs that were just amazing. The new shoots are so flexible you can tie them in knots if you like, not that that would be very pretty...
Anyway the picture I liked best showed every single branch wired and pointed downward to mimic the tree's natural take on life. That's what I'm hoping to do with mine. They also work well with a broom style, so says this book: Bonsai by Werner M. Busch.