20 year old fig

[kcpoole]

Hope you saqid Thanks Dad
I love the aerial roots

Some pics from the other sides would be handy, A little hard to see the entire tree and it form

Once the temps get above 15 deg overnight, Cut back the branches hard ( to about 1/3 the length) and repot. It should respond well and thank you for it .

Ken

[gerald randall]

Srini

Definitely great potential.

These are just suggestions. If it were my tree, I would not keep the split trunk. I would remove the right branch/trunk. I think it is too thick. It is likely to develop a new branch in that position. It needs a branch there, but a thinner branch.

The removal will also improve trunk movement.

I also feel the aerial roots distract from the tree. I would keep the lower roots, but remove the roots which are higher up on the tree.

The other branches I would cut back to half or 1/3. With the repotting, it should burst with new buds. But, it will have to be warmer.

Just suggestions. It is your tree. I just find that growers who are fairly new to bonsai tend to be extremely cautious. It is often cutting hard, which gives the best results over the long term.

[wattynine]

I'm with Gerald, as a 20 year old tree it and if it were mine to play with I'm afraid I would go even harder.
I would lose all the branches as I feel if you remove the lower right hand because of weight then the others carry too much weight to be that far up the tree.
I would lose all the aerial roots, they two will grow back in the right humidity/temperature but then keep them bound close to the trunk to get the fused look of an old fig.
These big cuts are hard to make as a learner (please don't think I am judging your ability, I too am a learner) but reducing a tree to a basic stump can produce an excellent result in the long run and you then have your input on branches, leaf pads etc. You can make this tree in the next three to five years.
Again this is your tree, mull it over, would still like to see more photos of around the tree and would enquire as to if you have had a look under the dirt at the base, often something is there that assists in selecting a front or planting angle.
Excellent material to play with,
I envy you on this one
good luck
Watty

[GavinG]

From the feel of your post, I think you would like to work with what you have. The growers who recommend cutting the right trunk off see a large lump at that spot which is something we often try to avoid - the trunk can look better if it tapers smoothly from bottom to top. On the other hand, your tree as it is, is a mad dynamic thing, and for my two cents worth, I'd cut the smaller branches back, repot into something that drains well, (as you planned) get some health back into it, and see where you want to go from there. If you cut the right trunk off now, because of advice, you can't put it back if you change your mind. Cover the right trunk with some paper or cloth, to see what the tree would look like if you cut it off. I personally think it would lose character and gain not a lot. You are lucky to be starting with some old material, with personal connections.

Gavin

[Bougy Fan]

The mix you have suggested sounds OK - but I would sift out the smaller particles. Believe it or not the smaller particles will keep the roots too moist and it will not do well. Lots of water and fertilise in about a month after a repot. Take you time cutting off anything - you can't stick it back on and figs don't always bud where you want them. Welcome and good luck Oh and join a bonsai club - the best advice you can get

[kcpoole]

I like it almost like it is.
That buttress root and aerial roots lookso cool to me and remind me of very old figs that are around sydney.
The oly thing I do not like is the upper section as it has no taper above the first 2 large branches.

You wil have time to fix that and i woud not remove those lovely roots .

ps, can you get a plain background to put behind it to photograph it? I use and old sheet to hang over the fence when I need to.

Ken

[Isitangus]

I think the work you've done has improved that right hand branch greatly. I agree with Ken, I like the aerials and whilst the taper isn't great you've got the rest of its life to work on it.

[dansai]

I like the tree also and love its movement and dynamics. Not a typical tree at all.

I would be cutting some of the ends of branches back but would leave all the main structure.

As for the aerial roots, I would leave most of them but I would remove the younger ones that emerge from the top of the tree. I have found that if these roots get a good hold the tree can use these to supply the branches above rather that the trunk which can cause thickening just above where they emerge and create severe reverse taper. Also they appear pretty straight, which happens when they hit the soil line and tension themselves, which for me distracts from the movement in the rest of the tree.

So, , repot in a good open mix, cut the branches back close to forks, remove the aerials from high in the tree, and grow it strongly with plenty of fertiliser. Then either give it a trim in sumer or wait until next year.

[hard1all]

Great tree!
I applaud your decision not to cut everything off, including the aerials.
After all, it is a fig tree and fig trees have aerial roots.
Similarly, I am not convinced that this tree needs any more taper. Many figs I see have almost square trunks!
You have wisely retained the inherent character of this tree, you have a good plan for its future, and you just now need a pot to suit!

[dark1]

Hi Srini, Some good stock there. A few suggestions. I would be inclined to leave all the lower branches at least for now but I would like to see the top of the tree reduced. At this stage in its life it should have stopped growing up and be now growing out so it is good to style the tree with more of a lower and broader canopy.The potting mix you suggest using sounds excellent, get the tree moving again in a positive way. I see you are in Brisbane so the re potting and pruning at this time is good, I am half way through re potting my figs now because the growth was there already and the night time temperatures are acceptable. I like Aerial roots on figs too, I like to style figs in the fig style! so leaving the aerial on enhances the fig characteristics. However dont let them become too rampant to the point where they hide the trunk. You will have a great tree there, good luck with it, keep us posted. Michael.

[dark1]

Hi Srini, Some good stock there. A few suggestions. I would be inclined to leave all the lower branches at least for now but I would like to see the top of the tree reduced. At this stage in its life it should have stopped growing up and be now growing out so it is good to style the tree with more of a lower and broader canopy.The potting mix you suggest using sounds excellent, get the tree moving again in a positive way. I see you are in Brisbane so the re potting and pruning at this time is good, I am half way through re potting my figs now because the growth was there already and the night time temperatures are acceptable. I like Aerial roots on figs too, I like to style figs in the fig style! so leaving the aerial on enhances the fig characteristics. However dont let them become too rampant to the point where they hide the trunk. You will have a great tree there, good luck with it, keep us posted. Michael.

[gerald randall]

Srini

Personally I would not defoliate. A lot of the energy has gone into pushing out the new growth. I would wire and wait for next season to defoliate.

It would be nice to have the pics though, to see if the opinion is correct.

I'm a bit cautious. I want to keep a tree growing strongly thought the growing season to have great energy for the next growth season. Just how I like to do it, but many others may well be brave and defoliate also.

[Rintar]

Great tree glad to hear its doing well will be good to see how it progresses

[gerald randall]

Srini

The tree looks strong and healthy. Developing into a really great tree.

Cheers

[hard1all]

Yep, it is looking good.
If it were mine I wouldn't want it any taller and, as suggested, I'd start developing some width in the branches. I don't think you need a lot of width for this tree - just more than you have right now.
It doesn't appear to have been repotted so I would defoliate. I'm not saying you should. But, why not partially defoliate by removing the large leaves at the growing tips?