名媛直播

One reason why is because nobody wants to go through all the work that has to be done just to reduce leaf size. I on the other hand would enjoy doing things like this.

FicusCaricaLover wrote: One reason why is because nobody wants to go through all the work that has to be done just to reduce leaf size

Leaf size reduction does seem to be possible

FicusCaricaLover wrote: One reason why is because nobody wants to go through all the work that has to be done just to reduce leaf size. I on the other hand would enjoy doing things like this.

yeah, because over all the years and years that have passed in the history of bonsai.. every single master, pro, decent semi-pro, etc were all just too bloody lazy ..


or did they just ignore the species since it was.. erhm.. not very suited for bonsai?

I cannot find a picture of it but if you go on youtube and go to Ma-Ke 名媛直播's channel, there is a video that shows a very beautiful fig tree.

The thumbnail is the tree I'm talikng about.

I get what you mean, but I really want to try making one. If my experiment ends up failing, than I will believe you. Besides figs, what other kinds of tree's are "not suited" for bonsai?

FicusCaricaLover wrote: I get what you mean, but I really want to try making one. If my experiment ends up failing, than I will believe you. Besides figs, what other kinds of tree's are "not suited" for bonsai?

I won't hesitate to tell when someone is not on the right track. However, if ficus carica is your passion and if you want to try and create a bonsai out of it, by all means, do try. While it may not be the best species for bonsai, it was already proven in this topic that it can be done.

FicusCaricaLover wrote: I get what you mean, but I really want to try making one. If my experiment ends up failing, than I will believe you. Besides figs, what other kinds of tree's are "not suited" for bonsai?

I thinks what's meant is these have very large leaves, which will take training to reduce. It is possible, as shown in the various pictures. You can learn to do this, and you seem willing enough. Go for it!

Remember that bonsai is an illusion - dwarfing a small tree to give the illusion of an old aged tree. That's a very tall order, considering roots, movement, balance proportions, branches, and definitely leaves. How can you create this illusion when you obviously cannot produce tens of thousands of tiny leaves in a compact form, especially with a species that produces large ones?

That's where the art comes in - condensing your material to the very essence of 'tree'. That's the beauty of shohin and mame when done right - essence of tree, as simple as it can get. When considering material, keep in mind the size of your leaves when considering the size of future bonsai. If you cannot achieve 'tree' effectively, you've wasted your time. For your fig, grow your tree larger, you'll have a much better chance of achieving a bonsai. Larger leaves, even when reduced, appear better with a larger tree.

Enough philosophy: banana, coconut, cactus, ginseng ficus, and palm make terrible bonsai. Large rhododendron (non-azalea), some oak, hickory, walnut... LARGE broadleaf trees in general make for difficult material. Leaf size can be reduced, but to what extent? And overall tree size must be considered.

brkirkland22 wrote: ginseng ficus make terrible bonsai

Just one minor correction:
The ficus that is used for the infamous potbelly Ficus "bonsai" is very suitable for bonsai.
It's not the plant that's terrible, it's what people do to it...

Correction: banana, coconut, cactus, and palm do not make terrible bonsai - they are completely unsuitable for bonsai. Fat bellied ficus (ginseng variety) can be used, but only if properly trained. Thanks Auk

brkirkland22 wrote: Fat bellied ficus (ginseng variety) can be used, but only if properly trained.

Ficus Microcarpa:
Common Names: The Pot Belly Fig, Ginseng Plant, Banyan Fig, Taiwan Ficus, Indian Laurel, Curtain fig, Small-fruited Fig, Chinese Banyan

"This (pot belly) Ficus is a variety of Ficus microcarpa which have the characteristic of having thicker roots than the normal Ficus microcarpa"

"Most of the trees in the bonsai trade have another variety of Ficus microcarpa grafted onto the roots. The other variety has greener, shinier and rounder leaves and the nodes are much shorter between the leaves as with the original species."

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