How can I improve this fig?

sheepdawg · Post by **sheepdawg** » May 24th, 2016, 6:03 pm

Hi everyone, I've had this fig for a couple years and have unfortunately lost a lot of its taper because I let some aerial roots developed then ended up chopping them off. It has a boring trunk and is generally un-interesting. I really want to fix it up because I really like the foliage on this plant and it has some sentimental value. I'm thinking of planting it in a big pot up to its first branch. Or planting it in a big pot, but wrapping the trunk with a perlite/sphagnum moss. My thinking is that this will encourage root growth from the trunk and then give it an awesome banyan/strangler look eventually.

Any thoughts/suggestions are more than welcome

bonsaibruce · Post by **bonsaibruce** » May 24th, 2016, 7:20 pm

Greetings, please remember that this a fig. A lot of people new to bonsai try and style all trees to look like a pine tree living in snow country, your long range vision for this cute little tree needs it to make the it look like a fig, wide, squat with good taper and broad spreading branches. It is possible to reduce leaf size by cutting off 2/3 of each leaf. While it is growing well it would be wise to check and sort the roots, there seems to be one very horizontal. Happy bonsai, Bruce.

KIRKY · Post by **KIRKY** » May 24th, 2016, 9:26 pm

Hi sheepdawg,
I agree with Bruce, I would address the roots before doing anything else. Once the roots are addressed I would shorten all branches to two leaf nods. Your idea of airial roots will disguise the lack of taper in the trunk. Or if the roots are really bad you could do an airlayer on the trunk at the widest point below first branches this will give you the taper you are after. And sort out the root problem at the same time.

Cheers
Kirky

sheepdawg · Post by **sheepdawg** » December 13th, 2016, 8:32 am

I've decided to turn this guy into a large banyan styled tree. I've had a few aerial roots coming through in various places, so I've put some sphagnum moss over these to help them along with a bit of extra moisture. I'm also grafting on some cuttings I made to look like aerial roots, so I can speed this along a bit.

Here's some awful pics

sheepdawg · Post by **sheepdawg** » December 13th, 2016, 8:34 am

Sorry that you can't really see much in the pics, but I didn't want to defoliate it as it would only slow things down at this time.

Rintar · Post by **Rintar** » December 16th, 2016, 5:41 pm

Mate. Just noticed this post. I agree that root work would have been a good thing to do before continuing to where you are now. If you haven't already done it then Id wait till November next year once these grafts are well and truly established and night air temps are above 18. I'd then if no other option cut all but the appropriate top roots off and place in wide shallower pot to encourage roots to grow horizontal and feed up with loads of chook poo.

- To the grafts do they go all the way around? One of the photos looks like you have left a space.
- Are all of the grafts outer or a some up against the trunk?
- If you put some up against the trunk they will eventually fuse. Creating character and helping with taper issues.
- If I had seen this in may I would have also suggested waiting till spring and cutting down close to the soil. I did this with a pj just over 3 years ago. It back budded all around the base as the "branches" grew i randomly entwined them. about 2 months ago I cut it down to a 3rd its height and it has since with new finer growth caught up to almost the same height but with much thinner new growth. This is still a project that's along way off. Well at least another 5 years before it starts to get to the level I want it to be.

Jason

sheepdawg · Post by **sheepdawg** » December 16th, 2016, 6:26 pm

Hey Jason, thanks for the reply

I fixed the circulating roots and did a little clean-up already, so that's all good

The grafts don't go all the way around because I don't have anymore cuttings, but I'll make some more once the plant has grown more.

I have one graft against the trunk, and I'll attach more when I get more cuttings.

That's a really interesting technique. I'll have to try it out one day

Rintar · Post by **Rintar** » December 16th, 2016, 6:35 pm

all good mate. yeah I like to do things in a twisted way so that works well for me. I like to experiment alot i dont plan on being a true bonsai artist till i retire in 30 plus years between now and then experiment learn have fun and try keep a few trees alive to play with when i get their hahahahaha

tgward · Post by **tgward** » December 16th, 2016, 7:56 pm

knock out the centre trunk about half way up the grey coloured wood

AusBonsai

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