Radical fig technique

[Steven]

Exciting times Ashley!

I'm really looking forwards to seeing this progress

Regards,
Steven

[anthonyW]

WOW, very very tasty and exciting tree Ash,thanks for sharing.
Anthony

[Ash]

It is exactly a year to the day since I last worked on, and posted on this tree. Today I had to shift it to the other side of the garden so I took the opportunity to prune it and direct some of the aerial roots and growth. The root 'grafts' (for lack of a better term) have grown well on the right hand side lot that I did in 2012 and were even more established on the left hand side which I did in 2011. Around April 2013 I lifted it out of the grow bed and planted it back in its bonsai pot. It kept growing vigorously all through the winter and now needed a bit of a prune. I am still heading with my original plan of having a wide canopy somewhere near 90 cm wide and overall tree height at about 70 cm.

Fmicrocarpalatifoliabefore.jpg

One of the shoots at the front had some burnt leaf margins which I put down to fertilizer burn. This is where the watering can hits. I usually like to water from both sides but this tree was too heavy for me to move. That is why it took a trip to the middle of the garden where I can get at both sides.

Fmicrocarpalatifoliaafter.jpg

After the prune I still had to find a helping hand to get it of the work turntable onto a bench.

cheers

Ash

[Steve B]

Spectacular stuff ash!!

Pretty brave move from my perspective, but great vision and technique to pull it off. Base looks fantastic now and guaranteed to only get better as you work the canopy into shape. Be great to get some insights into how you build this canopy out as you've done some spectacular stuff in the past and my money is on this one being no exception.....

[Jerry Meislik]

Ash,
Super work showcasing several excellent techniques.
Thanks.
Jerry

[healyj2112]

Looks terrific

[Ash]

The following image compares the tree over the last two years. The photo on the left is what I took in 2011 the first day I did work on the main trunk, the middle photograph is after doing work on the subsidiary trunk and the photo on the right is how it looked after a years free growth and a 'hair-cut'. Unfortunately the last image is not in front of a clean background - I just can't lift this tree around on my own!

Fmicrocarpalatifoliaprogression.jpg

cheers

Ash

[bonsaiLov]

I have been doing both these techniques for years,WD

[bamboos]

Gee whiz Im looking forward to some photos bonsaiLov
Steve

[Peterji]

Hi Ash Any update photos for this tree?

[Ash]

Hi Peter,

Here is a photograph I took for you this afternoon. The tree is growing strong - plenty of leafy growth. All I have been doing is trimming a general profile and keeping it leafy so that it grows those roots to fuse. Plenty of years down the track for finer branch work! I do however need a larger bonsai pot. I have my eye on one that would suit just nicely.

Ficus_microcarpa_latifolia.jpg

I can hardly lift it so the photo is where it sits in the garden.

cheers

Ashley

[Neli]

This tree is getting better and better. I love it.

[Djs19992]

Wow this is breathtaking! Such an inspiration


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Brian Bishop]

Good work Ash,
In one of your threads you mentioned that you need help to move the fig.
Cheers.....Brian

[bonsaisensation]

hi Brian
where do you buy the little helper from and how much??