PJ Fig - Hollow Trunk, Advice?

[DustyRusty]

Hi,

I found this fig growing through a small bonsai pot in my neighbour's backyard. It was left out, uncared for, and growing into the ground. A few months later, the neighbours had pulled it up and left it die on the path. I took it in. I discovered that it originally was grown over a rock, because the rock was now enveloped by the trunk. I dug out the rock, cut the tree down, removed the taproot and replanted it.

I love the potential and character of the tree. I hate the current shape. It's too tall and it's unbalanced. Part of the balance problem comes from there not being any decent roots yet. But i'd love your advice. Where do you think I cut it down? Where do I aim to grow branches if it is a short-stubby tree? The other problem is that it has quite a different feel from the front to the side or back. The front looks old and established and deep, the sides make it look like a scraggly tropical tree.

Would love your thoughts.

DR

[emi93m]

Hi Mate

I dont think you are seeing the potential in this tree. Sure it needs a little work but still has plenty of character. I have a similiar fig with a hollow trunk picture below ...that I applied Lime sulphur to the rotted area has now In my eyes come good and added a real feature to the tree that you dont normally see on figs. All in all you can get this Fig back on track easily in one season even if you cut back to bare trunk in sydney. I would not cut back till september though... Good luck and keep us posted.

[DustyRusty]

Thanks mate. It's good to see another fig that is so similar. The current growth on mine is one season but a tough one for the tree considering it barely had a root system when I potted it. I'll keep at it this season and see what happens. Thanks again.

[Bougy Fan]

When it gets warmer I would cut it back to the third branch on the right and wire that up as a new leader to get taper. Then feed and let it grow unhindered for a while. I love the great big uro in the trunk, but I don't think the white that lime sulfur leaves suits a fig I would carve a channel to make sure it doesn't get water sitting and monitor it. You may need to seal it with some Earls if it starts rotting. Figs sometimes don't like having dead wood.

[Tony Bebb]

G'day DR

Definitely potential there after a bit of growth. I would be going with the second pic as the front as the hole is not as dominant, but still interesting, and you see the root on the left giving it a better spread at the base. Tilt it to the left about 15 degrees to put the apex over to the left of the base and it will have nice direction and balance.

Overall it would stay the height it is now as a Bonsai, but it would need to grow bigger for now and then cut back. Let as many branches grow from the trunk as possible as long as there is only one at each point and you will have a very nice Fig in a few years.

Tony

[DustyRusty]

Thanks Tony and Tony! Some good ideas all round. I'll have a think and play around with the front and the angle and make a decision for this season. Might take a photo every year and post it here. Thanks again.

DR

[kcpoole]

I woud not Bother with picking a front or anything yet.
Cut back hard, let it grow for a season or 2 and wire all branches down before they thicken too much
Once you have some nebari to look at, then you can worry about a front and style the tree to suit.

Recovering old trees, is not a 3 month job, but will take a good couple of years.

Nice lower trunk to start with tho

Ken