AusBonsai

i have to agree with not worrying about the rock mate, its fine. what i would do is clean up those airial roots, neaten them up some, it looks like there was some braiding of the roots originally anyways. as for defoliation i wouldnt do that now. defoliation is stressful to the tree even if they come back strong, doing it during cold periods and not great sun will cause it to come back quite leggy. possibly large leaves too.

as for getting the banyan look what you need to do is when spring comes along then defoliate and wire the tree through out. movement when wiring, up down, back and forward. this will look more natural in the long term. i reckon for a tree of the size you have you could get it to where you want in about 3 seasons.

jamie

ants are a big problem they farm scale and aphids. They should be evicted pronto

When you look for the front of the tree stay away from the full view 'V'. Turn the tree so one trunk is somewhat behind the other and the V is less obvious. 'Vs' can be a fault and make uncomfortable viewing but with a slight alteration of the viewing angle the tree will looks better.

It is too normally late to work on figs now but you are in Queensland and that is a different ball game from Sydney. We would leave it to grow until mid November and then do a hard cutback. For my taste it is getting too tall so when you start to reduce, I would lower the height of the tree and work the branches to increase the spread. The aerial roots are wonderful. The tree needs work but in one season you could really establish the style that suits it best. Figs are usually worked on when they are in full growth mode. If you work with them in the cooler months they will sulk and you will achieve no more than if you waited. A good cutback in November and they will explode with growth in 5-6 weeks. Cut back now and they will do nothing until November. So let them sit and store food over winter. But again, in Queensland, if the temps are above 16 degrees at night and the fig is powering on.... flash the side cutters.

Stuff the rock... the beauty of this baby is the aerial roots and no rock could ever hope to better them.

Like others have said don't worry about the rock anymore it has done a very good job of creating a wide base on the trunk by swallowing it, good technique anyway don't you think to create larger trunks

Hugh

Jamie, 3 seasons, awesome I hope so!
I have this image and want some of those lower branches to become wider so the roots sprout and shoot down like the amazing curtain figs in Atherton - well not as grand the roots have always gone on their own unhindered so I don't even know where to begin with cleaning them up? You mean get them vertical? I'm hoping with time to have new roots fuse over that old area. I've never dealt with a fig so.. well with so much vigour? The hot-house will be helpful when I get around to completing it
MelaQuin, great advice thanks!
I think I have found a suitable front to make the most of the roots, it looks much better with the depth in the back too, I have just pulled her from a long soak to drown the pests, slaters and ants are gone for now, and there were grubs My crays enjoyed them
Becoming cold down here now so will leave well alone until the sap starts flowing again.

In the mean time I have to source a new pot, which will prove difficulty, finding a fair size.

Any tips? Not very clued with online stores and there's not much other than Bunnings in my area. The few nurseries sell only glazed of unsuitable size.
Maybe I'm not looking in the right place.
Would love to find something OOAK / handmade locally.

Hugh yeah, be interesting when it comes time to repot

anja,

a hot house will be great for this, it will help to continue the trees growing cycle a bit longer while it is cooling off. if everything is done right and it is fed well 3 seasons and you will have something getting close.

i will have to have another look at the pics, i hit reply before looking again re= the airial roots. when i said clean up i basically ment just sort out a little. will get back to ya though

when i said clean up i basically ment just sort out a little. will get back to ya though

haha. i seriously need all the help i can, i look at it the tangles, go blink blink then walk away

hi anja, i have had another look at the tree a few times, it seems to me that the airials are acutually coverin um some of the taper to this tree, and then it forkes out to two heavy trunks. i think one will need to be removed and regrown, the other kept and worked with.
just do a neaten up with the airials, you may want to keep them like that, you may want to pull them in closer to the trunk so the fuse to the trunk creating flutes and channels.

i will see if i can get a virt done for you by tonight, i am quite busy at the moment so no promises but you will get a virt ok

hi anja, jus a quick virt sorry, got a lot to do at the moment but will give you an idea of what could be done, either keeping the two main trunk parts or removing one. you will need to start bring down branches that can be moved. younger shoots are easy to work with and grow and thicken quick so you shouldnt have a prob

Ahh you're a gem, thanks for your virt and advice, given me lots to work with and am again reconsidering, argh

Have a fab weekend

Any updates on this thing that has potential to be a monster??