ficus first styling

[matty-j]

hello everyone

i gave this little ficus its first styling
any advice or critique is more than welcome and encouraged

before

before.jpg

after

after.jpg

cheers
matt

[Damian Bee]

Hi Matt,

I like the second view, I am assuming that the branches are in the early stages.
Watch the vigour on them, you don't want the top branch to be thicker and heavier than the first branch.
Is the variety a Ficus hillii?

The biggest problem that I see with it at present is the roots, two chubby stumps poking out of the ground.
A few weeks ago I repotted some of my Figs (The Fig is not something I have a lot of Practice with) and I removed the heavy roots leaving the finer more balanced roots to develop. I am not sure if I should have done this but they are still kicking so it can't be all bad.

The idea behind my root pruning was to allow the finer roots to develop and increase the girth of the base by this method. next year I will repot again with the idea of trimming those roots that are too heavy, growing across the trunk and other untidy directions and inspect where roots have sprouted from the heavier cuts and trim if necessary.

I like the feeling that the second pic gives, it is almost like a literati Fig

Regarding the cutting of the larger roots, I think some figsperts need to chime in here as I am but a mere speck of dust with figs

[matty-j]

Thanks for the reply Damien much appreciated

I'm not too sure what type of fig this is, it was given to me
The roots are a problem and I want to remove them
I was sure if Not was the right time, I know they like warm weather
But is it getting too hot?
I kinda wanted it like a literati style, when I was thinking about
How I wanted this tree to look
Was as if the canopy of the tree was just slightly too large for the trunk
And had this gentle curve bending under the weight and wind

Haha I don't know if I can make it look like, one day maybe

[Bougy Fan]

It's a benji - just be careful with defoliation as they do suffer from branch die back. I would remove one root and pack some spag moss there to encourage roots. I would cut back the secondary branches to increase ramification and go from there. Literati are a fair bit of work with figs although the benji is probably a good candidate - I find them very reluctant to back bud on the trunk.

[Boics]

I too like the look of this ficus.

From my experience making some cuts and covering with moist Sphagnum and even a cover of foil or similar will result in Ficus sending new roots from this area and the immediate surrounds profusely.
Check pages 3 and 4 from this thread here - it details this process.

I too have had similar results with Banyan and Moreton Bay Figs..
I would ASSUME that Benji might act similarly but can't be sure.

Cheers,

[matty-j]

thanks for the reply's bougy and boics much appreciated

the 2 large roots do look terrible
i think this weekend ill repot it and have a look around down there and see whats happening
i will definitley remove one of the roots make some cuts and re pot it higher up on the trunk

ill post some photo's of its progress

cheers
matt

[Boics]

I too like the look of this ficus.

From my experience making some cuts and covering with moist Sphagnum and even a cover of foil or similar will result in Ficus sending new roots from this area and the immediate surrounds profusely.
Check pages 3 and 4 from this thread here viewtopic.php?f=133&t=11911&hilit=my+bi ... g&start=30 - it details this process.

I too have had similar results with Banyan and Moreton Bay Figs..
I would ASSUME that Benji might act similarly but can't be sure.

Cheers,

Sorry I forgot the link: viewtopic.php?f=133&t=11911&hilit=my+bi ... g&start=30

[matty-j]

Thanks boics much appreciated

[lackhand]

I have a ficus with the same root problem. Two big, ugly things poking out the base. It's nice to see the input as I've been wondering what the best course of action would be myself. I wanted to cut them off when I got the tree, but the majority of the small roots came from them so I was afraid of killing the tree. Looks like it's time to repot and reassess.

Good luck with the literati style, I really like the idea.