The Ghost Fig

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » December 11th, 2010, 7:21 am

I everyone , Just thought I would share a pic of my largest fig. I call it the Ghost because when it is defoliated it looks like a ghost . It stands 1 mtr high ( including pot) and is 1.450 mtrs wide. It is just coming back into leafe after defoliation. I know it has many design faults but it has taken many years to develop , especially the airial roots, and I just love this tree. Love to hear any comments you have on this tree.
regards Bonsaiboy

Glenda · Post by **Glenda** » December 11th, 2010, 7:31 am

Hi Bonsaiboy,

I think your fig is just perfect (JMHO). I love the crazy tangle of roots - I have never seen a mature ficus tree with the arial roots growing perfectly straight down and not crossing - they just do not seem to grow that way. I guess I am a fan of trees that look 'natural', and not 'overstyled' and this one fits my preferences perfectly. Great work.

What species is it?

Glenda

lewis_milnes · Post by **lewis_milnes** » December 11th, 2010, 8:25 am

Hi BonsaiBoy,

That is a really great tree! Like Glenda said it looks natural, I could imagine it in a mangrove somewhere. Top tree!

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » December 11th, 2010, 9:06 am

Thanks for the kind replys.
Glenda, Most of the airial roots have been trained to grow down straight and then splay out. Not sure of the species. It came from the same area as all my other wild figs which are Qld small leaf but this one shows unusual characteristics, it hates defoliation and is difficult to reduce leaf size but has quite good internodal space

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » December 11th, 2010, 9:10 am

I Think you've done a very good job of designing this tree, it dosnt look as big as you say it is.
Great tree I like it alot.

Hugh

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » December 11th, 2010, 9:24 am

for those who like airial roots . This is the back of the tree

Glenda · Post by **Glenda** » December 11th, 2010, 10:02 am

bonsaiboy50 wrote:Thanks for the kind replys.
Glenda, Most of the airial roots have been trained to grow down straight and then splay out. Not sure of the species. It came from the same area as all my other wild figs which are Qld small leaf but this one shows unusual characteristics, it hates defoliation and is difficult to reduce leaf size but has quite good internodal space

I was refering to the ones growing down the trunk and cross over some of the other roots. It looks more natural like that. I love it! You could always send it up to north Qld so I could give it some extra growing time each year

Glenda

Aussie_Bonsai · Post by **Aussie_Bonsai** » December 11th, 2010, 11:19 am

i love this bonsai!

the hanging roots are so plentifull and make the bonsai so interesting. the branch structure is also a high standard.

you should be very proud of this bonsai

Ben

Ash · Post by **Ash** » December 11th, 2010, 12:37 pm

I just got in trouble from my wife for coming back and looking at photos of this fig again! It is very nice and shows its age well and is well worth a third and fourth look. I have been trying to work out what species it is but I am unsure from the photos. Have you got any cuttings that your have grown on that could show the full size leaves of this collection?

I like the wide proportions, the enmeshed roots close to the trunk and free hanging vertical roots further out on the strong first two branches. I am unsure about whether I like the single apex on the central trunk, most of us do it (including some of mine) but I am not sure that what we have been doing with fig bonsai apex is naturally 'figish'. I think you have done well with the leaves considering the difficulties you mention in defoliating. Must be impressive to stand in front of given its size.

Thankyou everyone for posting so many more photos of figs lately- it has been great fodder for a northern grower!

Ash

Post by **Steven** » October 26th, 2011, 1:52 pm

G'day BonsaiBoy,

I'd love to see an updated picture of how this ficus is looking now. It's an awesome natural looking tree!

Regards,
Steven

chrisatrocky · Post by **chrisatrocky** » October 26th, 2011, 10:39 pm

very nice fig Bonsaiboy. the root give it a natural quality which you don't see in a lot of the larger figs. great job so far.

chris

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » October 28th, 2011, 10:02 pm

Hi Steven, Glad you like this fig, I will post an updated pic soon
regards Bonsaiboy50

Steven wrote:G'day BonsaiBoy,

I'd love to see an updated picture of how this ficus is looking now. It's an awesome natural looking tree!

Regards,
Steven

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » October 29th, 2011, 6:07 am

Any pics of it defoliated???

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » November 13th, 2011, 7:10 am

I finally got around to taking a new pic of the ghost.It is looking a little messy at the moment but I will be defoliating it soon and giving it a trim. ( will post a pic of it defoliated as well) Let me know what you think Steven
regards Bonsaiboy50

bonsaiboy50 · Post by **bonsaiboy50** » November 13th, 2011, 7:48 am

I hope the pic comes out this time (new camera takes much larger pics than the old one)

AusBonsai

The Ghost Fig

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Ghost Fig Picture (i hope )