In a message dated 3/1/2005 10:49:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

1. If I am fusing two trunks what will happen if I lightly "shave"
the inside of the both trunks. Will they merge together to form one
trunk? Is it possible that one trunk might "reject" the other causing
the plant to die?

I have a tree with three trunks. I wouldn't shave, just wrap as
tightly as possible. They will merge to the point where they will look like one
trunk, but they will never be one trunk. I don't think you need worry about
"rejection."

2. Can this be done with mature bonsai with 1" trunk? Is there a
limit on how many trunks should be "fused"?

I think I saw 20+. Ficus, The Exotic Bonsai by Jerry Meislik has a
reference and picture on page 71. A one inch trunk is not "mature."

3. Anything else I should know before I do this?

As the trunks merge you must be careful in pruning. You know that
frequently if you take all the foliage from a Ficus ben. branch it will die. So
you must be careful removing foliage so as leave some foliage to feed each
trunk.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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