Root-over-rock Port Jackson Fig

[kvan64]

Looking very good. I like the reduction of the wrong root and the wrong lower branch. Will be awesome one day with more ramifications.

[wrcmad]

Update -
The tree was planted back into a training pot in August 2016 to encourage the lowest branch to grow. Finally settled on the new bud circled in the previous post for the new lowest branch, as it was better positioned. That bud has developed well this year. Here is the tree after it's annual major service today - ramification is starting to get there.
The new branch was not defoliated to encourage a growth that is needed.

jan2017.jpg

[Kevin]

A very nice Fig wrcmad,

Thanks for the update.

Kevin

[wrcmad]

Update -
Just bursting into life after it's annual defoliation and service a couple of weeks ago. Ramification increasing slowly but surely. New 1st branch continues to develop, and should catch up in regards to ramification in a year or two.
Finding an asymmetric direction to the right too - which it was missing a couple of years ago.
Cheers.

fig1Jan2018.jpg

[Freckl]

Cracker fig, testament to your skills as a practitioner.

[Boics]

Very well done WRC.
This is coming along fantastic and i really enjoy these threads which take us on a multi year journey.
Do yourself a favour and check out your humble beginnings.

[wrcmad]

Update:

Four and half years since this one began, and finally in maintenance/refinement phase.
It went into a new pot this spring.
Here is an update pic after today's defoliation and tweaking.
Still a lot of wire - these branches seem to have a bit of a memory for UP!
The new first branch is being cranked a little rear-wards to open up the view a little when the tree is flush with foliage.

PJfignov18.jpg

The scar left after the main branch removal 3 years ago is healing well, and the new replacement bottom branch is coming along - although it has a bit of catching up to do with regards to ramification.

PJfignov18b.jpg

Ramification is getting there, and I am quite happy with the progress of this tree.

PJfignov18c.jpg

[anthonyW]

Very nice Indeed, good call on removing the lower branch and your ramification looks solid, great to see when trees are de-leafed and developed like yours, also look forward to seeing it suited up,.. thanks for showing.

cheers Anthony

[mjhc]

Amazing work is such a short time (the years that you worked on it). Can I please ask you ramification technique/ conditions to create ramification like this? Cheers. Mike.

[MJL]

Wow! What a progression! In a relatively short period after the first 28 years too; the tree seems to be loving you back even though you neglected it for 28 years! It clearly loves being looked after.

wrcmad - I reckon this progression is great to see - thanks for posting - you're a star!

[wrcmad]

Amazing work is such a short time (the years that you worked on it). Can I please ask you ramification technique/ conditions to create ramification like this? Cheers. Mike.

Well, that made me think . I don't remember having been asked to specify my own technique before... and development of figs is not something you come across in the mainstream books or vids. But my technique is a mixture of my own experience and hints I've picked up from others over the years. Also, my location generously provides about a 9 month growing season per year, which I take full advantage of.

I suppose, briefly(?):

1. I have found a fiberous root system is imperative to development ramification up top. My experience is that it is true what they say about the roots reflecting the top of the tree. This tree's root system was developed very much in tandem with the ramification over the last 4-5 years. A lot of foliage requires a lot of roots to sustain if the tree is to stay healthy.

2. To develop the desired fiberous root system, I use a very loose and 'airy' soil composition - figs love it. My mix consists of about 1 part pumice, 1 part diatomite, and 1 part pine-bark nugget-containing potting mix. Debco Succulent mix used to be my go-to potting mix for this, but is no longer available in my part of the world. Searles Cymbidium & Bromelaid mix with the big chunks sieved out seems to be working OK for me now.

3. To develop quickly, feed them! I feed with generous serves of chook-poo pellet + blood and bone mixed 1:1 in tea bags to apply. As well, I supplement with osmocote. I even give them an occasional drink with powerfeed or miracle grow. I have had bad experiences with the chook-poo pellets applied directly to the soil and decomposing into a mush that affected the porosilty of the soil and hence the fiberous root system. In my case, the suffocation and die-back of the fiberous root system via this mess caused ramification (and even some branches) to die-back. So I always apply in teabags now, and have not had a problem.

4. To develop ramification, the tree needs to be very healthy. The above 3 items on this list should ensure health. Then it is a matter of letting shoots extend 4 buds, and cutting back to two. The resulting 4-5 flushes per growing season quickly grows ramification. However, this ramification needs maintenance - the dense growth will quickly shade out inner foliage or branches, so 1 or 2 thinnings per season is necessary to allow light through to all areas of the tree - I use partial defoliation of around 40-50% of the foliage, using a combination of leaf removal or leaf cutting, which also often promotes some nice back-budding.

5.While many advocate full defoliation of figs multiple times per year, I am not so keen on it. I have fould multiple defoliations drains the tree of health and energy. I defoliate a maximum of once per year (sometimes none per year) to maintain maximum strength. As can bee seen in my pics, I defoliate in December, and only ever to perform wiring and refinement work on the tree. This defoliation should also promote back-budding, providing shoots for future maintenance of branch structure.

Hope this helps.

[mjhc]

Thanks so much wrcmad. Thats an absolutely great break down. Looking forward to creating something like this now! Cheers. Mike

[Stimson]

Thanks so much wrcmad. Thats an absolutely great break down. Looking forward to creating something like this now! Cheers. Mike

[DangerousDave]

...and 1 part pine-bark nugget-containing potting mix. Debco Succulent mix used to be my go-to potting mix for this, but is no longer available in my part of the world. Searles Cymbidium & Bromelaid mix with the big chunks sieved out seems to be working OK for me now.

Great tree

..if you don’t mind me asking.. do you sieve the fines out of the potting mix too? What sort of particle sizes are we talking?

Thanks

Dave

[Max]

ramification is outstanding, do you think you might have started it earlier than you would have liked? ie- branch thickness, movement? do you think cutting right back, even grafting down low the left?