An example of the use at great scale of the technique of this tutorial ...



Banana trees are made with the same tecnique ...

BTW, nice to see this post is still available ... Thanks Armorama.

I am having a hell of a time finding a ficus plant to make the fronds. Any other suggestions? I have five trees so I need at least 50 fronds which would cost a fortune purchasing commercial fronds.

Anyone?

Patrick,

I use artifical leaves you can get at most craft stores.
Ones with the center wire are best.
The cutting is still a lenthly process.

Tom

Ohhh, is strange you can't find a ficus benjamina because is a very popular ornamental plant for interior...mainly inside offices buildings...Anyway you can try aluminium foil with wire glued in the Middle of each leaf...you should be careful with paint because it can be chipped easily but the result can be nice too...

I have about 75 fronds to make for the trees alone so I am thinking aluminum foil is out. I just need to get to Bakersfield to find a ficus plant.

But thanks for the idea!

It's a very good Thank for this tutorial

I used that same technique on my VietNam Dio:



It also works for Banana trees:



My dio is almost 2 years old and it still looks good!

Well, I will post a few photos here and on my other thread later tonight but the first try was a disaster as I put the fronds on upside down. And I don't know if it is the heat but the fronds dried out very quickly and don't look as good.

Photos to follow...

here you go, Chas... you're a good teacher!

nice job