These were some cuttings that i wanted to use for the purpose of creating a Phoenix Grafted trunk and a fused trunk . After fusing and grafting Maples and crab apples for a few years i thought i would give these a go .As with other Phoenix grafts i grooved the dead wood trunk out for the better placement of the seedlings or cuttings being used .
I used 5 single stem cuttings just after they began to throw out roots .With the plants place in the desired position , then firmly wound grafting tape around the base and up to the apexes .,then placed a small amount of wire on this was done last Spring and left to fuse together.
The other fused trunk was very simple , using 3 cuttings i twisted them together and applied a single wire from the base to the apex . Potted up these were left to grow on , however in Winter they were protected from the frosts . Neither tree was defoliated although i did rewire the fusing trunk in the opposite direction some time ago 
so as not to mark the trunk too much . After seeing all the growth , foliage and side branching on both tree’s i decided it was time to defoliate and inspect the fusing process 
. Bugger me after about 14 months of being strapped and wired not 1 section of any trunks had fused . Being Ficus i would have assumed they would fuse in a matter of 3 Months , not so .
The grafting tape was stretched and the wire had dug into the trunks but no fusing 
, being young green stems i was very surprised . I have rewired them
tighter than Fort Knox and i doubt if Harry Houdini could get out of this . I intend to make sure there is no movement for the figs to expand unless they fuse together .The next batch will be plaited as plaited or braided trunks fus much easier . After a pre style they were re-potted
into larger training
trays/pots and now can grow on .I haven’t trimmed the foliage allowing it to continue to grow on 
unhindered for the rest of this season . Come next Winter i should have a better result .I haven’t considered any particular style for these 2 trees , the aim behind the exercise was to see the results of fusing Ficus .in Winter of this season i will make the decision as to what direction i take with them .
Cheers Alpineart