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I have a 53-year-old banyan that has become thin and stringy. See the attached image. I've been restricting top growth to see if I can encourage inner growth, but I'm having little luck.

Can anyone offer me any advice as to how much I can prune the tree back? Can I cut back to a few inches from the trunk without killing it?

Many thanks.

Tim

Before you do anything this poor plant needs to get healthy. If you trim it back now, you are likely to loose big sections.

For a 53 year old bonsai it is not very advanced. Have you had it all that time?

It needs water, fertilizer and most of all, light, to recover. Probably if it is healthy again, it wil start producing loads of branches. Ficus is not a dificult plant to get very full and dense canopies.

Thanks for the reply.

I've had it for 10 years. I acquired it after it had been through something of a drought. It may not be as old as I think it is--the person I got it from was guessing.

I've been fertilizing it twice a month for a few years, and it gets plenty of light--it's outside all summer and by a bright window during the winter months. I am simply not sure how to best help it right now.

Tim

What a cool little tree, maybe get more leaves to grow ... You're doing a good job

Odd. Clearly the treee is not happy at the moment. When did you last repot? Could it be the container is stuffed with roots?

Samantha wrote: What a cool little tree, maybe get more leaves to grow ... You're doing a good job

Oh my... you really have lots to learn, Samantha.

mainelyjazz wrote: I've had it for 10 years. I acquired it after it had been through something of a drought. It may not be as old as I think it is--the person I got it from was guessing.

I find it hard to believe it's that age. Looks like not much older than 10 years - but as you've had it for 10 years already, I'd say it's closer to 15 than to 53 years old.

Yes, Auk, I do have lots to learn. That's why I'm seeking help.

Leatherback, I repotted it this summer, trimming the roots a little. It was not root crazy. I did return it to the same pot, however, as I read that mature trees did not need large pots. This one is 10" long.

It's a nice little tree. I just want to make it happier.

mainelyjazz wrote: Yes, Auk, I do have lots to learn. That's why I'm seeking help.

Read again:
"you really have lots to learn, Samantha".

Thanks, Auk. Missed that. But I DO still have a lot to learn, and I don't want to do any permanent damage to this little guy.