Caretaking a willow leaf fig

[kvan64]

Wow, very nice trees. Did you guys train them from small seedlings? I started with some cuttings for a year and they are doing good now. Just don't know how long it would take to get to those stages that you have.

[Jerry Meislik]

Dave,
Awesome!
Any ideas on how the base was formed?
Jerry

[Bretts]

Dave
I actually got drawn into this forum when I advertised Noah's tree on ebay some time ago and some members questioned its value.

Ah those where the days.
You can revisit them here
viewtopic.php?f=96&t=446
Glad to see the fig got a great new home

[Matthew]

Dave,

Good to see your still bobbing your head around now and then

There is still some conjecture whether I kept the best one or sold it to him!!!!!! i believe the base on that nerfolia of yours is something else!!!! i know where you are trying to head with it a banyan style which i believe will suit this tree well. another few seasons, maybe expand one side slighly longer than the other so its no so even, define the structure and a shallow pot which i know has been hard to find. I think both trees have there own magic and im quite pleased to have the opportunity to own it and hopefully add to it along its journey

[Dave54]

Hi guys.
Jerry, I believe that they were grown from cuttings off Lambert's first Nerifolia fig.
He grows them all in plastic containers (20 litre drums cut in half long ways) with plenty of 25mm holes in the bottom.
By allowing numerous LOW shoots to grow as "sacrifice branches" is his method for widening the base. He treats the foliage as the "food factory" for the tree and removes none until he is ready to remove that sacrificial branch. Mate,I know you have a copy of my book and it is the same method as illustrated there with Port Jackson Figs.
Having said this, others have tried his methods but don't get the same results.

Matt, I have restyled this tree at different times by having a tall canopy, then shortening it.
It does not look right to me at this time with the canopy looking "Stuck on".
Due to its heavy trunk and the amount of wood underneath, this is the shallowest pot that I can get it into without it sitting too high and looking silly.
I need to get the foliage canopy lower to cover some of those multi trunks and yes, widening that canopy.
The photo doesn't show, however, the canopy is a lot more layered than it appears....They never are finished are they?
cheers
Dave

[Jamie]

hi dave

what has been explained is a very simple yet so effective way of growing figs, if those low sacrificial branches can be grown on and kept going without the urge to cut them off the bases can develop rather quickly, especially with good feeding as figs can be hungry buggers

love your work

jamie

[Jerry Meislik]

Dave,
Thanks for the information.
Jerry

[sreeve]

I thought I would post an update.

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I had the opportunity to visit Canberra recently and noticed yours there Matt, it looked really nice

Regards
Steve

[Matthew]

I thought I would post an update.

image.jpg

I had the opportunity to visit Canberra recently and noticed yours there Matt, it looked really nice

Regards
Steve

Thanks Steve
I havent seen it for some time now. Maybe Leigh Can get a recent photo up sometime so i can get reacquainted.

[anthonyW]

A real beauty Steve.
Anthony

[Steven]

Looks really nice and healthy Steve! So, has the 'caretaking' role been made official yet?

Are you going to continue to maintain it as it is or do you have any plans for tweaking?

Regards,
Steven

[sreeve]

Hi Steven,
Thanks for your comment.

My only plans for tweaking at this stage are to increase ramification and try to give it a more rounded / aged look.
Having said that, would be happy to consider any suggestions.

Not sure if this photo compilation will work, but this the recent journey
Regards
Steve

image.jpg