Root-over-rock Port Jackson Fig

[wrcmad]

Hi all,

Did a bit of work on this tree lately and thought it was a good time to post recent progression.

I acquired this tree as Nesci tube stock around 1986 - a small seedling.
Inspired by the demos I had seen by the late Max Candy, I whacked this one over a rock, and nurtured it for a few years before it became somewhat neglected.
This year, around 28years later I thought I would give it a new lease of life. Better late than never .
It has now almost consumed the rock.

June 2014: A bit gangly, but trunk had potential.

jun2014y.jpg

July 2014: Gave it a trim ready for spring:

jul2014y.jpg

By November 2014, with lots of feeding, and lots of pinching, it was going gang-busters:

nov2014y.jpg

Jan 2015: this week, I gave it a defoliation and fine wiring. A couple of sacrifice branches left to thicken the lower back branch.
However, I am not quite sure about the apex? Cut it lower, or keep the height and grow the branches out to give a more rounded fig-like shape?
Every time I go trim it down, the apex and tree look much more in proportion than the photos show? It really looks OK until I see the photos?
Any ideas would be appreciated.

jan2015y.jpg

Also, the original rock it was placed on can just be seen between the roots:

jan2015y2.jpg

[trident76]

Nice tree.
The small size is astonishing given its age.
My own root over rock figs are this size after only 2 to 3 years. Has yours been kept in the shade/not watered/fertilized etc?

[wrcmad]

Nice tree.
The small size is astonishing given its age.
My own root over rock figs are this size after only 2 to 3 years. Has yours been kept in the shade/not watered/fertilized etc?

Hi trident76
This particular tree lived it's first 28 years in a 30cm pot, shade, not watered, not fertilised, pot only half full of soil, and repotted twice in that time.
It is enjoying it's new life!

Regards

[Nate.bonsai]

Good looking tree and very nicely proportioned and tapered.

Re the height, I have the same issue where I like the look in the flesh but question when seeing photos. I spend most of my time looking at them with my eyes rather than a lens, so am inclined to trust my eyes, but do still use the pics as a 'reality check'.

One suggestion - for my eyes the (I assume) aerial root coming off the first right branch and across the trunk is distracting. At least in the photos, it looks like you have wrapped the first right branch from somewhere at the back of the tree, across the trunk and out to the right. Cutting across the trunk like so, it breaks up the movement of your otherwise very nicely tapering trunk.

Something to think about, but a really good looking tree in general. All the best with branch development t.

[Boics]

Nice!
How about a pot to compliment this old girl?

P.s. Did you notice the little mushrooms in your final pic?

[pasquale]

I agree with Nate. The apex looks right to me, it gives taper. I also find the wrapping aerial root distracting but it may have left an impression on the trunk, which could be just as distracting if the root is removed. I like the tree and am sure it will turn out well.

[Ash]

Hi, Really great balanced movement and excellent taper making the tree looks much larger than it actually is. I thought it was a fairly large bonsai until I saw the lighter.
I agree with comments so far regarding the aerial root at the base of the first branch. You could either separate and move it or remove it. The new aerial root crossing it might change all that though.
I look forward to seeing it develop - it wont be all that long before a pot and display. Ash

[wrcmad]

Thankyou all for your suggestions! They really were appreciated.
Sometimes you need confirmation of your own convictions. When a tree is doing well, it is often difficult to make bold moves that may slow it down. But in the end I think this tree will benefit from it.

One suggestion - for my eyes the (I assume) aerial root coming off the first right branch and across the trunk is distracting. At least in the photos, it looks like you have wrapped the first right branch from somewhere at the back of the tree, across the trunk and out to the right. Cutting across the trunk like so, it breaks up the movement of your otherwise very nicely tapering trunk.

I agree with Nate. The apex looks right to me, it gives taper. I also find the wrapping aerial root distracting but it may have left an impression on the trunk, which could be just as distracting if the root is removed. I like the tree and am sure it will turn out well.

I agree with comments so far regarding the aerial root at the base of the first branch. You could either separate and move it or remove it. The new aerial root crossing it might change all that though.
I look forward to seeing it develop - it wont be all that long before a pot and display. Ash

You guys were right. I knew this was the tree's biggest flaw, but became a bit blinkered to it. So, aerial root gone. Luckily, it hadn't left an impression on the trunk - just a bit of discolouration which will fade with time. Thankyou for confirming that.

Nice!
How about a pot to compliment this old girl?

Yes! I was in two minds about repotting as this tree had become so healthy and was taking leaps and bounds over the last 6 months. Sometimes I struggle to interrupt a good thing. However, not a bad time to repot after defoliation. And probably the best opportunity I'll get until next year. Bit the bullet, and luckily this tree had a very favourably shallow rootball which I didn't have to disturb too much. Also resulted in finding a bit more hidden nebari which is now exposed.
Had this pot in mind for a while. Some may lean towards a slightly wider, shallower pot, but I tend to take small steps... maybe next repot when I can work the rootball further. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

figjan14a.jpg

[Boics]

Wicked.

This is a great tree!

I too wasn't a fan of the wrapped root but suspected it couldn't be safely removed so chose not to mention it.
Very very pleased that it could come off so easily and readily with such minimal scarring.
Tree has benefited immensely.

I'm fond of the pot and don't think it's in any desperate need for anything shallower.

Very well done.

[Ash]

Hey that is a great improvement. Excellent tree and excellent pot combination. It really looks like quite a massive fig!

[aaronwithana]

The tree has become a little oversized for the rock.

it might be worth chiselling the rock away to create a hollow trunk.

[Ash]

G'Day - I think the opposite about the rock - if it were chiselled out the fig would be standing on exposed roots and like too many fig bonsai it would look unstable. I think with the current course of time the rock will be slowly swallowed up by the roots and be a massive thick and nicely textured trunk. Ash

[matlea]

Good looking tree... And agree with ash.

[wrcmad]

Update:

After 12 months of pinching in places and growing in other places, it was looking a bit scruffy:

update1.jpg

After defoliation:

update2.jpg

And a bit of a trim and wire:

update3.jpg

Now, as much as I have tried to work with it for the last 12 months, tried to improve, ignore, look at through rose coloured glasses..... there is a glaringly obvious flaw with this tree that I just can't get past- the first branch.
Once you photograph a tree, things become much clearer - this first branch is actually quite hideous.
There is a small twig hidden behind it that budded with last years defoliation, and I kept this bud there knowing that I may need it later. It was always in the back of my mind... no matter how hard I would try and look past it.
This year, there is also another bud just below the base of this branch. So..... I mulled it over for three days, before realising that this was a timely reminder of the importance of early correction/intervention in bonsai.....

.

[wrcmad]

Yep, chopped it.
this will result in a much improved tree later on, but the procrastination of what I knew to be the right direction has cost me a year or two.
On the positive side, the wait has offered two possibilities for a replacement branch - I have circled the lower bud in the pic below.
I will wait a couple of months before choosing one to grow as the replacement branch, and growing a new bottom branch over the next 12-18 months will be the goal.

update4.jpg

Left side view:

update5.jpg