[David Willoughby] F. microcarpa var. tiger bark

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi all,

Thank you for the kind words Ray, Elmar, Kerrin and Neli, it has responded incredibly well in the time thus far and hope it will continue to improve in time with more refinement of the trunk and ramification, I can already see a few tweaks that will happen in the future. It was great to meet you both Ray and Kerrin @ BBTH, it was a fun weekend.

An update on this, I decided to repot it today into a Bonsai pot, yeah its not the best time to do it but I figured the day ends with a "Y", so why not. I don't expect too much growth over the next two months but it will be kept in a warm spot until things warm up.

TBF 17 June 2014 A.jpg

*before

TBF 17 June 2014 B.jpg

*after

Cheers

David

[Rory]

Very nice It's already starting to look like a miniature giant. Great timeline progression pictures. I do love this species

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi All,

Thanks BBM, it is still a fair way off anything decent IMO but it has some okay bones to be built on over the coming years.

Just an update on it, with around 6 weeks left until final submissions are due I decided to defoliate and rewire all my entries and this one was first cab off the rank.

TBF A 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*before

TBF B 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*defoliated

TBF C 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*wire off

TBF D 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*wire on and where it sits now

TBF E 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*overhead view

I hope to start feeding it in a couple of weeks to assist new growth in the run down to the due time.

Cheers

David

[kcpoole]

Lovely tree David

Surprised you are not feeding already. I am with my figs as they are still throwing new shoots and have not stopped all winter

Ken

[Peterji]

Very nice tree David. Congratulations you have ID'd and developed it's full potential!

[Neli]

Looking good! How are the off cuts...I am like you...can not throw a cutting...and I dont even have anyone to give it away to.
BDW which day ends with Y?
I repotted mine yesterday but forgot to take picture of after...With my travels...I find lots of surprises on arrival.

[Bek]

I love this little tree! Now I need to go and find one just like it! I'm subscribing to this topic so I can follow it's progression [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES][SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi all,

Last but not least, Final Submission time for this one.

Out of all my entries, I am not too unhappy with this. Sure, like my other figs, I have payed the price of defoliating it either too late or too soon, it just depends on how you look at it and it will suffer because of it. I should have tip pruned it only and fed it heavily up till now, but instead chose wrong. You live and learn. Considering this was cut back to nothing more than a little stump August 10 last year, I cannot complain on its progress from there.

TBF A 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*14 September 2014 before

TBF D 14 Aug 2014.jpg

*14 September 2014 after defoliating and rewiring

And at that time, I was hoping for a couple of weeks of warm temps but I should know, never depend on the weather LOL A classic case of leading with ones chin..... and here are the final two shots.

TBF 30 September 2014 Ruler.jpg

*the ruler shot as at yesterday

TBF 30 September 2014 B.jpg

*as it stands 30 September 2014

I am under no illusions that all of my entries are a fair distance of resembling anything decent yet, it was a fun experience as I pushed a couple of entries more than what I would normally do but knowledge was gained as a byproduct.

The intention is with this one, as its in an oversized pot, will be to continue to push growth. I intend on feeding heavily and tip prune it only and look to let it have its head until next summer, when I can re assess where it is at and what needs to be done.

All my entries I could have withdrawn from the comp, none of them are anywhere near ready to be shown, but perhaps in a few years and if time is good to them, they should be better for it.

I also have to apologise for the poor photos for the final submissions, they lack accents and the lighting is poor. It will give me something else to improve on.

Cheers

David

[kcpoole]

All my entries I could have withdrawn from the comp, none of them are anywhere near ready to be shown, but perhaps in a few years and if time is good to them, they should be better for it.

Nice tree David

Why consider withdrwaing them?
Very few of the comp trees ( if any) wodu be show quality after only 18 months, so the idea is to get the best developments in the available time and hopefully get the best stock to start with

Ken

[Neli]

I like it a lot!

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi all,

Just thought I would update this thread with a current photo as I had it inside for a bit of a trim.

I am not 100% happy with it at the moment and would love to defoliate it and rewire the whole tree, along with giving it a good cut back, while I could get away with it this late in the season, I will hold back from that until next spring. There are a few areas that I will address then, especially that right side that has issues haha

TBF 31 Jan 2015.jpg

Still a few years away yet to get the ramification and canopy to where I want it.

Cheers

David

[Ray M]

Hi David,
When you think this has been a little over 1 year since you did the major cut, the ramification is coming along very well. If you keep at the pruning the way you have, certainly in another 2 years you should have some very nice ramification.

Regards Ray

[Rintar]

Very impressed makes me really want to have a crack at doing something like that.

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi all,

Thought I would give this a quick update as I defoliated today, I do intend on rewiring it over the next couple of days.

TBF 26 Sep 2015 A.jpg

TBF 26 Sep 2015 C.jpg

A standard before and after shots.

Cheers

David

[Andrew Legg]

Looking good mate. Must say though that that upper branch that come out to the right with wire on it seems very heavy for its position on the tree. Seems pretty straight too. Got plans to change that?