G'day guys and girls, thanks for your feedback on my last post, I have a little more knowledge but now more questions in need of answering.

For today I have just one.

In order to promote more branch growth next Spring 2015, on the below image where a bouts would be the best places to cut the branches to create new branch growth?( if that makes sense?)

Hi there man,

Well, I won´t comment on promoting branch growth directly, since I´d rather a more knowledgeable member of this forum reply to you directly on this subject. I just wanted to point out that ficus don´t stop growing at any time of the year, they just slow down its growth rate. Now, since you wanted done by the spring of 2015 I say, that if taken good care of this tree, you would probably have a few buds sprouting that eventually would turn into branches before the Spring arrives (and that is a good thing alright). Ficus are such a strong growers... You´d be amazed by it.

Now... One more thing, about the wiring you performed... Wires should never cross each other. Turns should be done in a 45 degrees angle and as a rule of thumb you should use a wire that is 1/3 of the branch you want to wire. If you don´t have the right caliber (because the branch is too thick), you can always use the same wire duplicated and travel along the branch side by side. Anyway, here are a couple of links on wiring trees:

www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/styling/wiring
www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_Wiring.htm

I definetely agree that leatherback or/and auk comment on the branch structuring and ramification. I could be wrong, but i think it depends on the style you are going for? I may be wrong but wait for leatherbacks or auks post.

Wire is only used if needed, and in this case I would not use it. The wire will cut in unless you are very careful, the best way with this plant is to clip and grow. So cut to a downward facing bud. The wire is doing nothing for the branches, and it is crossing which is wrong, you need to remove it. As this plant will grow all year you can try to encourage buds now and not have to wait. The cuts will bleed, but that is normal and will stop.
Geofff.

Cool info

I learnt a lot as well

G'day Geoff thanks for your comments.

How does one encourage buds and where exactly do you cut the downward buds.

Cheers

Robbie

G'day Bob, thanks for your comments, my style at the moment is to keep the ficus alive and growing.

I had a rough crack at wiring, and have learnt a fair bit from that venture

G'day, thanks for your comments, looks like my afternoon is shaping up nicely to have a play with the ficus with a couple frosty ales

Thanks robbie

The one thing some people forget with this hobby if to have fun. To be honest i dont mind what you do with the tree (but dont kill it ) as long as you can have fun with your family and spend good time as time cannot be bought back .

For now I would not worry too much about where you want to cut come spring. IF you get this healthy and strong, it will pop buds everywhere once you trim. (And you can trim the branches a bit too long. and cut back to emerging branches when you see them,, if that makes sense). So promoting growth and health should be the focus. Considering I seem to remember you are in Ozzie, temperatures & light should be no problem?