Bonsai - Qu's about how to grow 'em

[Julles]

I'm playing around with making a bonsai out of a little scraggly ficus from the Dollar Store.  I removed all but one stem, plucked the bottom leaves, and bent the plant into a "windswept shape" with the help of a piece of wire.

What I'd like to happen is for the base of the "trunk" to thicken and get fat, like you see on bonsais they sell.

Any tips on how to get the bottom part of the plant to swell up?

Any other bonsai tips would be appreciated, too.

[Sunbeam56]

To make a really thick trunk, you may have to cut it a time or two. Basically, they let it grow big, and then chop it back, pulling a branch to the top to become the lead of the tree.

The only success I've had with bonsai is to put them in LARGER pots.
So what I know is from books only....