Ficus Natalensis on a slab?

[lennard]

This Ficus germinated in a grow bag where another plant was growing. Its roots grew through the growing holes onto a flat hard surface for a distance before entering the soil.

I have removed the tree from the bag, cut the root where it has grown into the soil and chopped the tree.

It has grown for about 8 months now.

Any advice or comments on the tree will be welcomed.

Lennard

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[MelaQuin]

The fig looks as tho it is leaning back away from the viewer. This is probably just an early stage in its positioning but if this is the case you need to alter the angle when next you repot. It is young and there will be many changes but I find the trunk too much 'pipelike' and I am bothered visually but the large root on the right. I have never grown one of these figs and I don't know how fast they develop but I feel you have to work on thickening the main trunk and getting some character and doing something with the large root. The cleft at the base is also distracting. This can be eased by changing the viewing angle slightly.

Does this tree get aerial roots? If so it would be good to bring the roots down the trunk to thicken it more quickly and give it more interest. The leaf size is good. Hope I haven't been too critical but I think you have a lot of work ahead but the potential is there.

[lennard]

Thanks for reply.

You are correct on everything you observed. I think I must take a hard look at the tree. I havent looked at it yet but I think changing the front so you see it from the right hand side will solve quite a few problems. The trees grow quite fast and the leaves reduce to about 5-10 mm with good ramification and pinching. Air roots form easily in a humid atmosphere.

Lennard

[lennard]

An update:

I have replanted the tree more upright in a bigger container and have done some carving on the roots and trunk as an experiment to add some texture. I am going to carve it some more higher up the trunk.

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Any comments and advice welcome.

Lennard