"Quickest" way to develop a large ficus bonsai?

[sheepdawg]

Since I begun this hobby, I've wanted a really large fig bonsai, the bigger the better. I've begun growing some in the ground and let a few develop many aerial roots to act as secondary "trunks" to give it a bulkier a view. But I'm unsure of exactly where to start growing the roots from for the best future look. I'm basically growing branches where I want them then trying to encourage aerial roots to grow from them, so I'm ignoring the thickness of the trunk and using aerial roots to start bulking up the base. I'm hoping this will give me a nice banyan or strangler looking fig in the future.

I also collected a large fig last year

16833255_1198366893552477_219468516_o.jpg

My plan is to let it grow as free as possible then allow it to develop aerial roots to add character to the trunk(s).

I'm also fusing a bunch of cutting together to form a large trunk but they are taking forever to start to thicken haha.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

I really want to go out and collect a nice fig, but have no idea where to look. Anyone know of any places? I'm in Toowoomba

[kcpoole]

No real secret to it, Just plant in the ground and fertilise / water well.
lifting and root pruning periodically will cause a slowdown, but that is essential to develop good nebari while you grow the trunk as to start again later (via layering ) will just set you back again.

Keep the humdity up around the tree will promote aerial roots, but IMHO will only do so from more mature brnaches?

Ken

[seoy]

I like that
SBO

[Piscineidiot]

Keep the humdity up around the tree will promote aerial roots, but IMHO will only do so from more mature brnaches?

Ken

I've just noticed that my PJ Ficus is growing aerial roots from branches that are perhaps 18 months old (grew them out after a brutal trunk chop). Mind you, that's not to say that there would not probably be more substantial aerial root growth if the branches were more mature. Still, it's not an impossibility. I suspect that it was a matter of the tree being so wet this summer and the humidity being so high.

[Jdceng]

Hi Sheepdawg

I sent you a PM.

[Bonsai_creations]

should be some good figs around toowoomba, i use to live there and remember seeing a fair few around,do you just want some big cuttings?

[aubigfig50]

Growing your fig in the ground is a great way of getting a big fig fast. Care must be taken to make sure you don't end up with just a big fig as apposed to a big fig Bonsai. Figs can get out of hand very quickly when in the ground.
The technique I have used over the years is to just pot it into ever larger pots, as it grows out of one I put it into a bigger pot.
Remember it takes time to produce a large well shaped fig. The fig in the picture I have had for nearly 40 years

[Max]

[Tambrand]

]Quickest Way -

here is what I did -
[1] Plant in 5 mm inorganic [ silica based gravel ] 90 % and 10 % aged compost [ kept just moist in a barrel for a year, so all seeds germinate and die, just
moist so it lose nothing by water leaching ] by ------------ VOLUME.

[2] Use a pot that is 2.5 cm deep.

[3] Allow branch extensions of 1 metre and placement is full sun.

Can produce a 10 cm thick trunk in 3 years. I am getting older 38 cm tree/pot can be very heavy.
Laters.
Tambrand

This technique allows control on overthickening of branches / branchlets.

Images show examples. This is a local ficus called Ficus priminoides.

ficus.jpg

ficus 2015 nov.jpg

Ficus 1st year.jpg

[Bonsai_creations]

done well mate, that trunk fattened up good..