Ficus Techniques : 41
Shortening a branch changes the perspective
by Jerry Meislik
This is a Ficus natalensis, one of several trees created by sectioning up one plant. You can see the whole story here.
This tree is a semi-cascade plant and has a certain feel to it.
To make the design more dynamic and to emphasize the base of the tree I shortened back the cascading arm. At once the emphasis was shifted back to the base and not away to the long branch.
Either one looks good but they are different views of the same material.
What do you think?
PS the removed branch will be rooted as another bonsai!
Ficus natalensis, with long branch 2010
Same Ficus, branch shortened, removed section of branch below
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