In a message dated 2/20/2005 11:26:17 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

I have a Ficus rianne

I think this is a cultivar of Ficus benjaminia and requires the same
warning. If you remove all leaves from a branch, the branch will die.

http://www.bonsaisite.com/fatfig.html

This is a site from Australia using a different variety of Ficus and in a
tropical climate. For him the tree is a native species. He is also using a
seedling.

I thought the pre-spring would be
good time as the plant would be dormant but it seems to be showing a
lot of growth (best in some time) and is far from dormant.

A tropical such as this Ficus don't ever go truly dormant.

- Any other tips on performing this procedure?

I doubt it will work and I would try it on a less valuable plant first.

The goal is to create a "large" Ficus with a thick trunk and aerial roots.

Buy one, what you want is very hard to do indoors up north. The large
trunk Ficus you see were grown outdoors in tropical climates either in large
pots or in the ground.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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