Radical fig technique

Ash · Post by **Ash** » October 27th, 2012, 9:48 pm

Hi all,

This is a big fig that was styled by the well known Tony Bebb, I didn't get to see the original demo but perhaps Tony has some earlier pictures of it. I added it to my collection because it was an interesting variety, Ficus microcarpa var. latifolia and because I liked the base. I hope Tony doesn't mind but in the back of my mind I wanted to make it into a smaller tree, lets say about a metre high. So after growing it freely for a year or two I got out the saw...

Big Ficus bonsai.jpg

I wanted to remove the straight sections...

Nah dont want that bit.jpg

Yikes!!!

Yikes.jpg

But keep these bits with roots...

Untitled-1.jpg

...to do this...

root over fig.jpg

I cut them off and screwed them back on where I wanted them. Now to wait and see if the roots 'grafts' and thread-grafts take.

Twelve months to the day...and...

Untitled-2.jpg

Only one approach graft failed, it didn't die, just fell off so I tied it back in place. There was still one more stump to remove and another root over trunk 'graft' and some approach grafts.

removing stump.jpg

I added a plastic cover to the sphagnum and roots this time as last time the littles birds that visit my bonsai each day kept pecking at the moss and pulling it off.

starting to take shape.jpg

And a rough plant for the future.

rough plan for future.jpg

cheers

Ash

The Specimen · Post by **The Specimen** » October 27th, 2012, 9:53 pm

Grand figs do make great specimens and I agree the original was a little over size compared to the base. WD on reducing it. I think it certainly looks better already!

Speci

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » October 27th, 2012, 10:04 pm

You little beauty ASH !!! An amazing progression and transformation for this tree. For me this thread here is what Bonsai is all about !!! Cant wait to see it in future !!!

Rintar · Post by **Rintar** » October 28th, 2012, 12:52 am

Scarey brave cant wait to see were it goes from here.

good luck and keep us all updated

cheers

Jas

lennard · Post by **lennard** » October 28th, 2012, 1:12 am

Love your technique - going to solve a few problems for me also!

Thanks for posting this.

Lennard

Damian Bee · Post by **Damian Bee** » October 28th, 2012, 5:46 am

That's a humongous fig and a fantastic reduction. Looks awesome Ash

I wanna move to QLD.
(or build a greenhouse

)

Ash · Post by **Ash** » October 28th, 2012, 7:06 pm

Thanks for the comments - at least no one said I was completely looney (you are too polite).

I think this is how many of the large root braid Ficus grown in China and Taiwan are 'built'. TInstead of throwing out-of-place aerial roots in the bin, cut them off and graft them back somewhere else to add to the trunk mass and texture. Instead of planting it back in its pot I have planted it into a grow bed on a board. I forgot to mention that approximately half of the shoots are not grafts - I think it is very important to leave some of the original shoots to keep the trunk 'well-fed', at least until such time as some serious fusion takes place.

cheers

Ash

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » October 28th, 2012, 7:29 pm

Ash wrote:Thanks for the comments - at least no one said I was completely looney (you are too polite).

I think this is how many of the large root braid Ficus grown in China and Taiwan are 'built'. TInstead of throwing out-of-place aerial roots in the bin, cut them off and graft them back somewhere else to add to the trunk mass and texture. Instead of planting it back in its pot I have planted it into a grow bed on a board. I forgot to mention that approximately half of the shoots are not grafts - I think it is very important to leave some of the original shoots to keep the trunk 'well-fed', at least until such time as some serious fusion takes place.

cheers

Ash

All good sense mate thanks for the sharing now i too need a hot house !!!

Johannes · Post by **Johannes** » October 29th, 2012, 4:37 pm

WOW WOW WOW Ash , that was a amazing tecniqe and its a awsome tree

Regards Johan.

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » October 29th, 2012, 4:52 pm

A very nice job Ash and that will be a much improved tree. Great stuff.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » November 18th, 2012, 7:48 pm

I just had a look at this tree in its grow bed and in just under three weeks the 'root-over-tree' 'grafts' are sprouting vigorously (they took about six weeks the first time). Now I have to keep myself from getting the shears out and let the tree grow freely to get some root thickening and hopefully some more fusion.

cheers

Ashley

Tony Bebb · Post by **Tony Bebb** » November 18th, 2012, 9:20 pm

Nicely done Ash.

Great technique and vision mate. The Taiwanese do wild stuff like that with Figs. Master Chang spoke about it in his Grafting Techniques demo in 2002. Fabulous stuff.

This tree was taller again when I first saw it, and it was reduced by at least a foot of trunk 5 or 6 years ago. It was certainly let grow again. Bloody huge again when you cut it. I don't have any pics from my first visit.

Look forward to the progress on this one.

Tony

Jerry Meislik · Post by **Jerry Meislik** » November 19th, 2012, 1:15 am

Ash,
Awesome.
Keep us posted.
Jerry

alpineart · Post by **alpineart** » November 19th, 2012, 5:30 am

Hi Ash , fantastic transformation you have done . Figs are my challenge down here , extreme frosts are the greatest threat . I'll keep plodding along with my little figs just the same .

Cheers Alpineart

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » November 19th, 2012, 6:45 am

Ash wrote:I just had a look at this tree in its grow bed and in just under three weeks the 'root-over-tree' 'grafts' are sprouting vigorously (they took about six weeks the first time). Now I have to keep myself from getting the shears out and let the tree grow freely to get some root thickening and hopefully some more fusion.

cheers

Ashley

Congrats mate !!!

AusBonsai

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