Ficus microcarpa var. Fomosana

[anthonyW]

This species of fig grows quite frantic in my area with its whitish trunk and glossy shiny leaves that stay quite smallish size without the constant pinching back to maintain size like other well known s,probably my favourite fig with willow leave for this reason,anyway this a progression from stock plant to now,just needing more rounded head and some extension of branching and slight definition of areas if you like,this having a more classical head put on it I think you would call it as opposed to free style as I do also and like very much.
The leaders would be grown out and cut back many times for taper sometimes I wire for look and fun early,pushing the trunk left and right,front and back for movement,unfortunately left the wire on a bit too long,so now left on so we would not ring bark it ,fig has nearly swallowed it so no harm there...cheers Anthony

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Ramifying nicely

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[M.J]

Very nice fig !!

[anthonyW]

Thanks M.J
Anthony

[anthonyW]

Hi guys
The fig seems to be ramifying quite nicely and now a bottom branch has now let extend from a shoot and split to go both sides of the stem now ready to ramify,this will give more foliage top to bottom,2d shots don t really tell the story,so here is side shot with it loose wired,and also a side profile shot how I like to move the trunk back from viewer and slowly work it back at the top to the viewer for those interested in building a fig this way...cheers Anthony

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[Kevin]

Hello Anthony,

Love your work, nice progression with this fig.
Thanks for sharing.
The white trunk Figs are quite spectacular IMO.

How many years have you been training this tree for?

Kevin

[anthonyW]

Thanks Kevin,yes the white trunk do look good up close in person/bark and something just a little different to the norm.Leong at Bonsai South nursery has some killer trees in this material if your ever over that way have a look,and this stuff features in his book and has stock for sale too.

4 to 5 years I think for training,I have some cuttings just waiting to mature,then they will be grafted on the front for more surface roots to give more edge to the tree...thanks for interest Kevin.

cheers Anthony

[boom64]

Hi Anthony ,Great looking Fig and fantastic information. thanks. Had the pleasure of working with Min Hsuan Lo at a workshop recently with a Tiger Bark. I can see many similarity's with your Fig and what he was conveying. Cheers John.

[anthonyW]

Thanks John,wow how lucky are you,a fantastic artist and world renowned artist on tropical bonsai's,can only imagine how exciting it was for you,and all the tips you got from him..priceless.

This styling is used/made quite frequently with single trunk figs ..(using 3 piece trunk construction) leaning the lower part away from the viewer then bring the 2nd part slightly forward to viewer and then 3rd part(top) more forward to over centre(base) or slightly forward of centre the artistes(spelling) call there with the portions/ratios for length shortening as we get to the top and viewing front on we also move the trunk left and right hopefully with some taper to the top.

So a little bit going on with this type of trunk design but very do-able if we take our time.

As for foliage work i have wired on early when setting up and now just a little here and there when it gets a bit unruly and a trim

Hopefully John we will get a chance see what he suggested for your tiger bark one day,one can appreciate the time it takes as you can see by my progression,especially building in a bonsai pot...don t torment us for too long but lol

[anthonyW]

This fig has all its branching in place now, so with that in mind and being a vigorous/furious grower, clip and grow is all that is now needed now.

Only a partial defoliation needed this season as the leaf is quite small and healthy ( remember a healthily leaf is good for two seasons ) and halving the get go again

The tree now enjoying a bigger head ...cheers

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winter growth

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Back in sync and partially defoliated

[anthonyW]

Another healthy growing season with this fig and its time to put them all back into shape with trimming and defoliation where needed, this fig representing classical/feminine style if you like.

With before and after images yesterday

Anthony

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[demps]

Wow great tree mate! Such a good journey on your thread are you defoliating once a year?

[anthonyW]

Thanks Demps, yes quite a wonder to look back at the trees journey.

As for defoliating only ever once a year at most, sometimes only partial or slight like last year , basically a trim for shape to see direction (as above last years pic).
Next year if the leaves get through winter it will have a year off from defoliation and just a trim, defoliation is a tool for a reason, if your happy at that stage I do not waste 6 weeks of the trees energy and mind the leaf will last another season if your trees care/health is there...hope that helps mate.

cheers Anthony