Ficus with ariel roots and a split trunk

[Djs19992]

I've recently acquired this ficus and am preparing to making some rather substantial changes however felt a consult with the wealth of knowledge and opinion here would be best first.
It's my first ficus and I really like the ariel roots, it reminds me of this amazing banyan at Thomas eddisons house which I visited as a young child. The first picture is my intended front it shows less of the split in the trunk. I plan to remove the large branch which is growing frontwards and has a split in it.
I think overall the tree as quite good taper but ramification is definitely a goal.

I am also contemplating removing the very thick ariel root beside the trunk as I feel it's a little over powering and too close to the trunk.
I've been told it's either a port Jackson or a Morton bay fig.

Any thought tips advice are very much appreciated!

Deb


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[ketutg]

I think its a PJ ficus

[bonborn]

looking at the third picture maybe something like this

[shibui]

Nothing for scale so hard to be certain but I'd guess PJ too.
I actually like pic 2 as front at first glance. Pic 1 has 2 strong branches going in opposite directions, Y fork, etc but always hard to tell for sure from photos.

Cut back all long shoots to get ramification and you should have a good tree soon.

[GreenThumb]

Certainly looks like isitangus's pj fig tree he had in the classifieds a while back?

[Djs19992]

Oh it is!


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[Djs19992]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1414710283.624004.jpg

apologies for the lack of scale


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[shibui]

The few remaining leaves are pretty big now we have some perspective. If you search fig entries you will find there is lots of confusion about the differences between PJ and MB. I think the only certain way to tell is by the fruit so you may never be sure. However it does not really matter as long as the bonsai is good. This one is large enough to be ok with larger leaves so don't be too worried about positive id.

I do like that trunk angle, even after a second look. The large branch flowing off to the left evokes feelings of the large trees in parks where the lower branches are very large and long. You just need to build plenty of ramification and a convincing canopy.