Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!

[kvan64]

Collected this biggy last year. Did the usual chop and let it grow for one season. Stripped down the lateral roots to form the base. selected the branches and did the first wiring today. Will carve it soon. Any suggestion is welcome.
Cheers
DK

[Hornet]

looking good DK. I have a few much smaller yamadori's that are slowly starting to recover, one in paticular has quite a nice base but only small, can see it ending up being a 30-40cm tall tree. Love virens, such a beautiful fig

[Craig]

DK, i like the idea of a triple trunk, looking forward to your progress mate, nice collect

[kvan64]

Yeah Hornet, I love the colour of the young leaves. They actually grow very quick. Just give them heaps of water and fertilizer. They also take from thick cuttings very readily so if you have a big tree nearby, take a big cutting and stick it to the round and have an instant big tree

Craig, thanks for the input. I also think it helps create dimension but a mate of mine said twin trunk would be better.

Cheers
DK

[Craig]

a mate of mine said

He said, she said, it's your tree .

I also think it helps create dimension

Same thing i was thinking mate ,depth .

[kvan64]

a mate of mine said

He said, she said, it's your tree .

I also think it helps create dimension

Same thing i was thinking mate ,depth .

Very true mate. Removing the back trunk would make the tree more...stumpy and hence appear bigger (illusion). But depth is also very important too. Hummm

[Jerry Meislik]

DK,
I like your tree and love the species.
How about sitting the main trunk up more vertical?
Jerry

[Ash]

Hey I like the front Jerry used with triple trunk adding depth. When you say carving - do you just mean reducing the wood at the cuts so that they heal over smooth? A Ficus virens will heal over that in a couple of years if you let it - hollows or driftwood are not so successful with this species. Looks good!
cheers
Ash

[bodhidharma]

I like the tree as a triple trunk very much. It would be a shame to lose it. Follow what Jerry has shown you. It will be a wonderful tree in time.

[Hornet]

Hey I like the front Jerry used with triple trunk adding depth. When you say carving - do you just mean reducing the wood at the cuts so that they heal over smooth? A Ficus virens will heal over that in a couple of years if you let it - hollows or driftwood are not so successful with this species. Looks good!
cheers
Ash

why do you say hollows are not successful with virens? There are a couple of local tree's by the creek that have been smashed by floods over the years that have some awesome deadwood and hollow trunks that i would love to re-create on a bonsai. Actually have a yamadori here with a hollow trunk, doesnt loook too bad.

[Ash]

Oh I don't mean unsuccessful from an artistic view point - it is just that the wood rots very rapidly (or at least has for mine) and I gave up with the hollows and let them heal over in the end. Maybe it would be OK if it could be well preserved and kept dry and water stopped from pooling in the hollow.

Looks good!
cheers
Ash

[GavinG]

Nice counterbalanced movement in the two main trunks, for my money. When the third trunk hides behind the big one, it's branches "fill out" the bare length of the big one. So I'd go for the "front?", with the proviso, that of course in reality, as you move around, what you see may convince you otherwise. Good start.

Gavin

[Hornet]

I like the current front but the tripple trunk front also works for me.

For some reason i have never had any luck rooting cuttings of virens, might have to try thicker cuttings, seem to have better luck with thicker cuttings these days, small cuttings dont work since i moved.

[kvan64]

It appears that everyone goes for the triple trunk. I like the repotting angle Jerry suggested too. Thank you for everyone's input. This is why it's great to post here so we could get peoples' opinion. I'm glad that I didn't just chop the back trunk.

[kvan64]

Did some carving this arvo. Will need to find a pot for it.