[360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

The revolutionary way to view bonsai online.
Click here to visit ausbonsai 360° and start the new viewing experience...
User avatar
Tony Bebb
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 664
Joined: November 25th, 2008, 10:42 pm
Favorite Species: Conifers/Pines
Bonsai Age: 28
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of Queensland Inc.
Location: Brisbane
Been thanked: 5 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Tony Bebb »

Hi Steven

Nice tree. I remember it from the dinner and it was a good score.

Some good advice given. I reckon all your problems would be solved if you moved the 1st right branch to just above the 1st left branch :lol: Easy fixed.
But seriously, it seems a little symetrical. At the very least I would contemplate shortening the 1st left branch by about 1/3 to give more direction back to the left as the trunk goes. If you could bring some foliage from the back branches around into the space above that branch it would fill it out a little also.

Nice garden too

Tony
Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein
Click here to visit my Blog - A Bonsai Journey
User avatar
MattA
Banned
Banned
Posts: 3112
Joined: February 13th, 2010, 2:37 pm
Favorite Species: Lichen
Bonsai Age: 26
Bonsai Club: Killing Trees Inc..
Location: Lower Hunter Valley
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by MattA »

Ash wrote:
MattA wrote:Ash it IS a BIG tree :lol:
:lol: Yes Yes :lol: I know that sounds silly :oops: I mean big big not bonsai big
:lol: Not silly at all.... thats successful bonsai :!:

Tony, the tree is very symmetrical yet when viewed in person it doesnt feel/look wrong.

Matt
42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
aussie4bonsai
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 161
Joined: June 23rd, 2009, 10:26 am
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 8
Bonsai Club: Sakura Studio & B.F.A
Location: Narrabeen
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by aussie4bonsai »

Hi Steven
Removed the top and bottom left hand branch, trimmed and changed the angle of the other branches.
Just to see what it would look like.
Barry
Untitled-7a.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
craigw60
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1904
Joined: January 12th, 2010, 12:02 pm
Favorite Species: many
Bonsai Age: 25
Bonsai Club: yarra valley
Location: vic
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by craigw60 »

I like the branches as they are and think the slight upwards sweep is good, all I would do is wire it from top to bottom and as you said Steven spread out the crown a bit so the top half of the tree becomes one mass of twigs.
Craigw
aussie4bonsai
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 161
Joined: June 23rd, 2009, 10:26 am
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 8
Bonsai Club: Sakura Studio & B.F.A
Location: Narrabeen
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by aussie4bonsai »

Hi Steven
A change of angle 15 degrees to the right gives a bigger root base and to me seems to improve the lower right hand branch.
Barry
Untitled-1.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Steven
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3408
Joined: November 7th, 2008, 11:21 am
Favorite Species: [color=green]Casuarina[/color]
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: AusBonsai & The School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 60 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Steven »

Sorry Barry, I missed your virts when you posted them. Thanks mate!

I still haven't done any work to this tree since the defoliation in December. It just sits there and the more I look at it the more content I am with the current shape. The comments about lowering the branches are valid however they are about as thick as my wrist so it would be a difficult bend.

Here is a shot of how it is looking today;
2011 August a.jpg
I think I will edit the apex a bit to spread the branches and see how that goes.

Regards,
Steven
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Check out the AusBonsai Store ǀ Wiki ǀ Blogs ǀ Gallery ǀ 360˚ ǀ
Remember to be polite and abide by the Spirit and Intent of AusBonsai
User avatar
Steven
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3408
Joined: November 7th, 2008, 11:21 am
Favorite Species: [color=green]Casuarina[/color]
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: AusBonsai & The School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 60 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Steven »

G'day,

Nothing much had happened to this obliqua other than trimming for shape. It was suggested to me by Jonden and Lee Wilson during a trip to my garden that the tree could be rotated anticlockwise about 20° and have the bottom left branch removed. This would give it the widest possible base and a pleasing canopy. The following picture is the 'front' that John and Lee proposed;
John and Lee proposed front.jpg
I contemplated this idea for about 6 weeks but in the end decided against it... for now... I can always restyle and remove that branch later but I can't put it back on :whistle:
I've tried to create a natural looking ficus and worked with the existing front. Due to the upwards growth of the branches, the tree always looked a bit too young for the sizable trunk. Over a few nights I have wired most branches and put on over 40 guy wires to pull branches down. To stop the guy wires cutting in to the bark I have slipped fish tank air tube over the wire where it touches the bark.
2012 February detail.jpg
The apex always looked too small, pointy and a bit like a pompom so this was widened and lowered considerably to join the lower branches. It now forms a wider and more mature canopy. Following is how the tree was looking late last year;
2011 November.jpg
And this is how it looks today;
2012 February.jpg
If your interested, here is the link to this tree in 360°. I'll get another one put together in the future of how it is now looking.

As always, your feedback and constructive criticism is more than welcome.

Regards,
Steven
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Check out the AusBonsai Store ǀ Wiki ǀ Blogs ǀ Gallery ǀ 360˚ ǀ
Remember to be polite and abide by the Spirit and Intent of AusBonsai
Jerry Meislik
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 320
Joined: February 15th, 2009, 1:26 am
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 30
Location: Montana, USA
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Jerry Meislik »

Steven,
I like it.
Good work.
Jerry
http://www.bonsaihunk.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Ray M
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1403
Joined: November 5th, 2009, 3:36 pm
Favorite Species: Figs, Junipers, Maples, Elms, Pines, Banksias
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: The School of Bonsai
Location: Winston Hills NSW
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Ray M »

Hi Steven,
Your last photo looks great. It has been my belief that the bottom branches should come down. It now looks a lot more like an old fig tree.

Great work. :clap: :clap:

Regards Ray
emi93m
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 145
Joined: November 15th, 2011, 9:09 am
Favorite Species: Ficus-Elm
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by emi93m »

I really like it :yes: the pot complements the trunk beautifully. The more I look at it and sit back the tree is more and more appealing. :clap:

Anyone should be proud to have that tree in there collection :tu:

Thanks for posting :tu2:

Regards
Mick
So many Bonsai ......So little time between work hours and wife!
Scott Roxburgh
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1381
Joined: November 27th, 2008, 12:37 pm
Favorite Species: Pine, Maple, and Juniper
Bonsai Age: 8
Bonsai Club: Canberra Bonsai Society
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 10 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Scott Roxburgh »

Good decision to keep that branch, I don't love the 'gap', but I do like the post wiring pic, it reminds me of an old Gum.
User avatar
Steven
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3408
Joined: November 7th, 2008, 11:21 am
Favorite Species: [color=green]Casuarina[/color]
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: AusBonsai & The School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 60 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Steven »

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen :yes:
Scott Roxburgh wrote:I don't love the 'gap', but I do like the post wiring pic, it reminds me of an old Gum.
Sorry Scott, what 'gap' don't you like?

Regards,
Steven
Check out the AusBonsai Store ǀ Wiki ǀ Blogs ǀ Gallery ǀ 360˚ ǀ
Remember to be polite and abide by the Spirit and Intent of AusBonsai
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Bretts »

Shilloett is much much better. The only problem I see now is the direction of the two branches on the right clash a little too much.

I would pull down the front branch to set a pattern with the upper right branch to start with and then if it still looks out of place I would look at way's to lower the first right branch.

Nothing is impossible :reading:

I see there is a secondary branch at the front of the first right branch. Put a little wire on that and flatten it out and that could help!
Last edited by Bretts on February 9th, 2012, 4:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
Ash
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 720
Joined: April 22nd, 2009, 10:23 am
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 25
Bonsai Club: ausbonsai
Location: North Queensland
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 10 times
Contact:

Re: [360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

Post by Ash »

Hi Steven, Looks great. I love the current front, has taper and gentle shape and the branch positions are well balanced. I am not so keen on the alternative shown above that would require a branch to be removed, the widest base aint everything, I think the only reason we go for thick is to look stable and this tree looks stable already. Looks great. Time for another shot in the garden.

cheers
Ash
Post Reply

Return to “360° Bonsai Viewing”