A few weeks ago I worked on my shohin ficus nerafolia to get it back into shape.  As you may remember I priuned this tree pretty hard to get it close to the trunk.  Well just a few weeks have gone by and the tree has pretty much completly filled in and regained its great shape. 

It still needs so refining, but it won’t be long until my negleted little tree is back in show shape.

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Even though my bonsai collection has been greatly reduced over the past few years, I still find it challenging to keep up with it.  At times I am actually overwhelmed with the wiring, pruning, repoting, etc that goes along with bonsai.  However I find no greater satisfaction then when I maintain a tree and get it back under control. 

Take this tree for example.  I worked very hard to reduce the branches a couple of years ago, however I wanted to give the tree a chance to recover healthwise so I’ve let it grow out.  Problem is now the branches are leggy and too long for the trunk.  I’m thankful it’s a ficus nerafolia.

All it takes to regain control of these trees is to cut the branches back, way back.  These trees will break back beyond the green.  This means that when you cut a branch back you don’t need to leave any leaves.  There are trees such as junipers, Brazilian raintrees, boxwoods in which the branch will die if all the leaves are removed.  In the case of the Ficus Nerafolia you don’t have to worry.

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This little tree just keeps getting better. I wired down the first branch on the left and it really framed the trunk a lot better. I would have to think that by next year this tree will be ready for show. Sept 2006

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This tree has come a long way in a short time. In this picture this tree looks huge, however it is only 5 inches tall. It still needs a lot of development, but it has its overall shape and is looking very healthy. Aug. 2005

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