ficus clump to a banyan

[Jamie]

hi guys

today i spent a fair bit of time working this tree over, i rescued it from the cheap corner at a nursery in novemeber last year, some of you may remember it, it was only $12 and was basically spindly and not much going for it, it was after some discussion that i decided to pull it all together and tape it up to get it to fuse. it started fusing well, but i realised i would never be happy with the base looking like it did and it was going to take a long time to fill in. i decided to airlayer it where it had fused.

clump start.jpg

this was the tree after it had tape put on it and all that was done was water and heavy feeding with lots of sun. i dont have pics of the airlayer it was pretty standard though. after for weeks i had a pot full of roots and the top was removed. to see what i was originally planing see here----> viewtopic.php?f=104&t=2793&hilit=fusing ... p+of+ficus . i was just reading over this post, my timing was off, i got it november 15 2009. so under twelve months.

Mfbef.jpg

in between the first pic and this one is about 6 months or so. im not entirely sure on the time i have had it etc. it was left to grow like this for another pic for about 6-10 weeks. we moved house, i brough it over like so and we come to today

i woke up, made me coffee jumped on site for maybe an hour while i woke up a bit. then decided to hit it. i tried last night to wire it a little with the foliage on and decided this morning that wasnt happening. so all the leaves come off, that was a massive job in itself. the rest of the day was spent wiring the tree out, approximately 5-6 hours. another hour of placement and it got dark and i had to bring it inside to photo. lighting isnt great so there are a couple of pics. i was thinking about selling this one, if there is interest pm me

Fban1.jpg

Fban2.jpg

Fbantop.jpg

let me know your thoughts guys

Jamie

[Psymo]

Trees grow fast up your way, excellent work, you must feel satisfied with that

[Jamie]

yes mate pretty happy with it

i didnt actually realise how much fine wiring was going to be necessary when i looked at it in full foliage, then once the leaves come off i sat back and went here we go, this could be a night mare! all in all though it has come out well i think i reckon another few seasons and it will be a good tree! my inspiration for styling like this are the higly ramified ficus that the taiwanese create, they are fantastic!

[Amanda]

Crikey Jamie that's a rippa, you sure do have a way with figs.

[anttal63]

Well done jamie that is an amazing amount of growth styling's bloody good too!

[Jamie]

Crikey Jamie that's a rippa, you sure do have a way with figs.

gday mate thanks for that it still has some ways to go, the nebari needs to be built up on it but it will get there i have found if you love figs enough they love you back

Well done jamie that is an amazing amount of growth styling's bloody good too!

gday man yea this one has just powered on the whole time! especially for a benji. midnight beauty. simple as good food, lots of sun and lots of water
and cheers i think my eye is starting to get a little better i would hope so anyways

[anttal63]

Your eye is definately improving. what i love most is that you have captured the feeling of organised chaos. something wild.

[Jamie]

that was exactly what i was hoping for with this tree! you have put the words to what i was thinking and feeling while stlying this one man ORGANISED CHAOS

LOVE IT!!

jamie

[Bretts]

Wow Jamie that looks great. can you put something in another pic to show size in good light tomorrow?
I thought you where Joshing us and it was a different tree!

[Jamie]

Wow Jamie that looks great. can you put something in another pic to show size in good light tomorrow?
I thought you where Joshing us and it was a different tree!

same tree mate! i got some other pics there i can get, just need to find them. i can show where i fused the trunk before the airlayer i think. and yep i will get another pic tomorrow in sunlight hopefully if it stops raining with some size comparison for you, to give you an idea the main trunk with all the fusing is about as thick as a coke can. it stands approximate 450mm high and is approx. 600mm wide tip to tip, depth is about 450-500mm approx.

jamie

[Jamie]

this is where i put the airlayer on after the tree got to the stage there was enough foliage to support it and push the new root system.

when i applied the air layer.jpg

this is about when i put the layer on, it was quite full and very strong at this point.

airlayer point.jpg

this is approximately where i put the air layer, where the fusing starts basically to try and get the best flare i could

Fbansize.jpg

i still had the tree in the house from when i took the pics so i took another quick one with a normal coke can for size comparison. hope it helps some

the lower section will be used for a clump style

[Bretts]

Thats Crazy

[bodhidharma]

bloody awesome Jamie I love the detail. How long to wire We will talk about the offer you pmed me when i get back from O'S. Can you pm me your new address asap to send the willows to.

[Jamie]

bloody awesome Jamie I love the detail. How long to wire We will talk about the offer you pmed me when i get back from O'S. Can you pm me your new address asap to send the willows to.

gday mate it took me about 5-6 hours or so to wire it out, lots of wire used about half a kilo of 1mm wire, there was a couple of distractions, taking a break with me back, missus wanting me to get the washing out, little one trying to help

the amount of fine twiggery was unbeleivable, the amount i trimmed back aswell was nuts, the longest part was all the fine work, 1mm wire and a few hundred twigs can take a while

pm sent to mate

jamie

[Jamie]

ok guys, a little update of this one, it is leafing out now very happy with the speed this tree is developing, there were a few minor twigs that died bak but overall 99% have leafed out, albeit still very young. this is quickly becoming one of my favourite trees and i will have to start considering a pot for it, i will be getting a shallow oval "tray"

heres a couple of "front" shots, at slight differing angles to show the depth.

Banfmb1.jpg

Banfmb.jpg

let me know what ya think people

Jamie