Half a Bonsai- Port Jackson Fig

[Mitchell]

Hi all!

Occasionally I come across a situation that makes me step back and think, this is one of such occasions. Here's one of my PJ's a 14cm thick cutting which was split square down the middle before striking it. This is the monstrosity it has created years down the track.

Would be great to hear your thoughts on this dilemma. I seem to be coping just, carving the full trunks to form, but half a trunk?!?!?

Haven't done anything to this fig since I got it, except defoliate a couple of months ago.

[NBPCA]

Put it into the ground or a decent size pot and let it grow. The cambium will roll around in no time and the trunk will thicken up dramatically and give you taper.

You will then decide how and where to carve it.

Grant

[Mitchell]

Been in a full size poly box for 4 years. Still hasn't rolled over.... and no taper. None of the other cuttings established much/any taper either. Here's the original thread if you missed it.
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=4486&hilit=samurai

Any other suggestions? Perhaps if I was to carve the heartwood down say 3/5mm, so it isn't flush with the cambium, it would role over easier..?

[NBPCA]

Advice still holds so you must fertilize more; much more to get it going and growing. Full sun, wind, water and fertilizer should fix it. After all it is a fig.

Can't see carving helping the situation at this point so go forth and multiply the thickness of the trunk.

Grant

[Mitchell]

Fair enough, they were not in my possession for those 4 years so I am not aware of their feeding regimes.

"fertilize more; much more to get it going and growing. Full sun, wind, water and fertilizer" Was the basic plan for the tree, just wasn't sure it would help the trunk situation.
I'll stick with your advice and not touch the trunk, hopefully in the not to distant future it will role.

I carved it's other half and was not happy with the result yet, much feeding needs to be done to blend the carving... I'll snap a shot of the other half and my shody carving, actually it's not that bad, just not really where I wanted to end up.... Hence the thread on this half


Edit- here's a close up of the cambium, was dark last night, it appears some rolling is occurring but it's a fair way off.

[Craig]

Hi Mitchell, just a thought but maybe if you cut it down in this sort of manner it may develop into someting better???? what you think? Craig

[Mitchell]

That was my first thought, which I tried on the other half, except with a few more cut angles to create taper instead of one hard diagonal cut.

Hang on I'll go grab a pick of the other half. brb

[Mitchell]

There you go, it's identical other half but rough carved. Not happy with this, maybe in a few years with some growth I can pull it off.

[Craig]

that looks ok dont you think ,why not do that to this one Mitchell?

[Pup]

Mitchell I agree with Grant.When he said fertilise PJ" and Natalensis LOVE Dynamic lifter. We have a guy here in the West that has grown Ficus natalensis from a pencil thick cutting to a 10 cm trunk 50cm high in 5 years.
Fully developed trees. By growing them in poly boxes and putting a layer of fresh DL on every 4 weeks. Scrape the first layer off.

Cheers Pup

[Mitchell]

Pup- Then it would be good that, I have 100L of Dynamic lifter concentrate? I don't think the liquid Dynamic is still on the market, is it? Maybe it is...

Craig- I do think it looks ok, I would prefer it if the other side turned out better though. I think it will work in time, doesn't work for me now though.

[Grant Bowie]

Mitchell I agree with Grant.When he said fertilise PJ" and Natalensis LOVE Dynamic lifter. We have a guy here in the West that has grown Ficus natalensis from a pencil thick cutting to a 10 cm trunk 50cm high in 5 years.
Fully developed trees. By growing them in poly boxes and putting a layer of fresh DL on every 4 weeks. Scrape the first layer off.

Cheers Pup

Top dress it with slow release osmocote, then a layer of dynamic lifter and water it in with a mid strength liquid fert like Power Feed, Charlie Carp, Nitrosol etc.

I really mean it! I used to do it all the time back in Sydney and Sthn Highlands of NSW.

Grant

[aussie4bonsai]

+Hi Mitchell
Just photoshoped your photo and took a V out of the middle just to see what it would look like.
You could reduce the old scar even more by having the V larger on the scar side than the back.
Barry

4a4copy.jpg

[Jamie]

hi mitch

im a little confused, this tree was a struck cutting from 4 years ago, in a styro box, and it hasnt grown anymore than it is or rolled over????? something isnt right if thats the case, you should have more healing and growth than that for 4 years? have you checked the root system? might be curl grub holding it back???


Jamie

[kcpoole]

I would take photo #1, and cut off the right corner completely to give taper from the base to mid section, and then repot in a big pot
looks like th cambium is trying to roll now

Ken