Collected Ficus Citrifolia

[saint]

Recently collected this ficus citrifolia from a client's land. The trunk is about 6" across at the cut. The nebari is 2 -3 feet across.

Ficus Citrifolia is indigenous to Barbados, and tends to have large leaves.

Give me a few years to deal with this one!

[saint]

The other side!

[TomStoute]

Hi Leslie...what a trunk ! .. do you have a more established specimen of this species ? also..long range plans for this one.

peace,
tom stoute

[saint]

I only have one other citrifolia that I'm training over a rock at the moment. I've attached a picture of it, but it really is not much to look at at the moment.

Ficus Citrifolia is not the best species for bonsai, leaves tend to be large, however on the tree that is attached they do seem to have reduced considerably. I am told that the trunk on smaller plants tends to swell easily and develop reverse taper quickly so that has to be watched out for.

As far as this tree is concerned, it's a little early to say for sure but I think either a very squat Informal upright or broom may be the way forward. I guess I have to wait and see what branches it gives me.

[carp]

love that nebari. have you thought about angleing the cut so it will be easier to disguise in the future?

[saint]

When there are sprouts to choose from and the tree is established, I'll angle the cut then. Before it springs, I have no way of knowing how exactly to angle the cut.

Learned this the hard way......

[Gadiel]

Hello I want to see the development of this ficus.
If is possible post photos every few weeks to see how fast they grow.
Thanks
Gadiel

[carp]

ah i see , very good reasoning,
.....you learn something new every day.
carp.

[Jerry Meislik]

Thanks for posting this sequence. I would love to see how these trees progress in their development.

[saint]

As requested,

This is about a month to six weeks after collection. This will most likely be the front. There's also a plan view that I'll post below so you can get a grasp of the distribution of the branches.

[saint]

from above....

[Jerry Meislik]

Thanks, keep us udpdated on the progress.

[TomStoute]

Hi Leslie....looking good... :o)> ...
.. seein this sprout makes me homesick for the tropical sun.
Is that a nerifolia in the background to the right?

peace,
tom stoute

[saint]

nerifolia or salicifolia

(not sure if they are the same ficus) but yes that's a long term project that is growing away back there.

[Pedro J. Morales]

Hi Leslie:

Great Trunk!

Looking the photos you send I still like the other front better. It looks like it will be a great specimen. For some reason they don't like to be completely defoliate. Be carefull.

Say Hello to all good friends in Barbados.

Pedro

[Gadiel]

bump

[saint]

This is the latest update the status of the tree on July 5th 2003. The branches are all tied down. This is the overall tree.

[saint]

This is a close up of the trunk.

[saint]

not particularly worried about the leaf size at this point. I have seen these leaves reduced to about an inch or two in length.

This is from above.

[Jerry Meislik]

Nice progress in a short time.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/

[saint]

Here's the tree as of November 15th 2003 8 months after collection.
Here's the front before working on it.

[saint]

I've angled the cut and hollowed it slightly to create taper. I've given it a very slight concave, which doesn't show very well here. Those ficus experts out there: should I make this cut more concave to promote healing?

Advice is most welcome.

[saint]

Here's the front after the work. I think I may have to remove that first branch on the left as it may now be too low. Opinions anyone?

[saint]

Yes there are aerial roots but in the wrong place!!!!!!

These were duly removed.

[Jerry Meislik]

Saint,
i don't know if what I do is right but I do not make my reduction clean up cuts concave. Under my growth conditions the figs just form a large, thick callus. The concave cut would be most useful in species that form a really heavy callus.
The lowest branch now looks low.

[Jerry Meislik]

I meant to say the figs do not form a thick callus.
Sorry.

[saint]

This is how it looks as of October 2004. The second bar will be eliminated later but I've left the two branches to thicken the apex. The lower left branch I may have to cut off eventually.....

So I'd keep the first branch on the right and the second branch on the left. When I cut the top off hopefully this will bud back.

[Jerry Meislik]

Its well on the way to being a prize.
Jerry

[DanR]

Nice tree and progression. Your work is turning out great. OUTSTANDING job keeping us posted. I have really enjoyed reading this thread.

[Plancii]

Keep it up Saint!

Am anxious for the recent pictures. Regards.

[mick]

Great looking trunk keep me posted on its development if possible.

mick

[saint]

This was the first time I repotted this tree, I have attached two pictures one of the roots right out of the pot and one of the tree after I removed many of the excess roots with a saw and spent about two hours combing them out.

I have removed the first left handed branch, as it was too close to a bar, and was messing up the taper. The first branch on the right will be the tree's first branch, and that has now been cut to the second stage of ramification. The left handed branch that is remaining will become the tree's second branch.


Comments?

[Jerry Meislik]

Leslie,
Great progress so far.
Keep us posted.
Jerry

[saint]

Finally trunk chopped.

I think I will cut it further if and when a bud at the red line sprouts. Pardon the angled pot, sloppy repotting on my part is to blame

[Jerry Meislik]

Looking great.
What an awesome base and rootage.
Jerry

[Quanteyin]

This is coming along very well.:) Thanks for keeping us posted,I have a project of similar makings going with a retusa.

[LinK]

Hey how about a photo from another angle to see how is healing the tree? (not a top view)

I would thanks if you do it.

By the way, nice job.