Large Fig, What to do?

[Raymond]

http://s1085.photobucket.com/user/Capog ... 2.jpg.html
Seeking advice... Negative and positive(if any)

[MoGanic]

Hi there,

I'd place it in a smaller pot to start with. Something with a nice clean glaze to it and much more shallow than what it's in at the moment!

-Mo

[golgotha]

Looks very straight through the trunk. Have considered chopping just above first pair of branches and rebuilding a more compact canopy. This would imo give the remaining trunk alot more power. I would also wire the two branches down if you chose this method. Aprt from that the tree looks like its in good shape.

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[Raymond]

[quote="golgotha"]Looks very straight through the trunk. Have considered chopping just above first pair of branches and rebuilding a more compact canopy. This would imo give the remaining trunk alot more power. I would also wire the two branches down if you chose this method. Aprt from that the tree looks like its in good shape.
Since joining this forum I have had lots of different thoughts. I don't want to ruin it, that is why I am seeking advice...Thanks for your input

[time8theuniverse]

figvirt.png

I've been looking for an excuse to practice using paint for a virt. Hope it helps Raymond. Its just the first impression I got when I saw it and with a different pot as MoGanic suggests but in a lose paint kinda way.

[Raymond]

figvirt.png

I've been looking for an excuse to practice using paint for a virt. Hope it helps Raymond. Its just the first impression I got when I saw it and with a different pot as MoGanic suggests but in a lose paint kinda way.

WOW... Thanks for that. I know the pot is too big, but it was all I could get my hands on at the time.

[Raymond]

I have decided to cut this baby back. I do like the look of the Virt that was done, but, IF I chop the trunk, what do I do with the massive scar it will leave??? I have zero knowledge in carving, but I do have several figs that are too tall... Any help and advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

[bonsaiboy50]

Hi, Looks like a good fig with lots of good branching. My advice is to keep it in the larger pot, wire it up and let it grow for a few seasons. It takes many years to create a good fig bonsai.

[Isitangus]

Hi Ray if you decide to chop, seal the cut and then sit back and let it heal, there is also the "van meer technique" (there was a post on here the other day about it) if your feeling brave. But it's a fig so should heal fine.

[corko]

Here is the link to the van meer technique if you're interested, let me just say I reckon you'd have to have a good steady hand. But an interesting read either way.
http://ofbonsai.org/techniques/styles-a ... -technique

[Guy]

trunk chop half way up--it will give you a more rounded canopy with plenty of branches to play with--the scar will heal----use the offcut as another bonsai

[Raymond]

So I finally grew some genitalia and got around to doing something with this... I put an air layer on it in October. Yesterday was the day to remove the layer..

so this is what remained...

I then V cut the top and pruned the life off it. I stuffed the V cut whith Sphagnum moss that had been soaking in Seasol for an hour or 2, and wrapped it with Raffia and grafting tape...

[Boics]

Hello Raymond.

What is the sphagnum moss in the V-cut for?
Am I missing something?

[Brian]

He said in a earlier post that its been air layered.
I would hose off that soil from the roots as it looks a bit old. Repot it into a freely draining mix. Its now a great time to re pot figs.

[Raymond]

Hello Raymond.

What is the sphagnum moss in the V-cut for?
Am I missing something?

I read somewhere that it helps keep it moist so it doesn't dry out before shooting...

He said in a earlier post that its been air layered.
I would hose off that soil from the roots as it looks a bit old. Repot it into a freely draining mix. Its now a great time to re pot figs.

Yes the soil is getting old, and a repot is on the cards, but I ran out of time...