[360°] Ficus obliqua (Queensland Small Leaf Fig)

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Steven

Nice tree. I remember it from the dinner and it was a good score.

Some good advice given. I reckon all your problems would be solved if you moved the 1st right branch to just above the 1st left branch Easy fixed.
But seriously, it seems a little symetrical. At the very least I would contemplate shortening the 1st left branch by about 1/3 to give more direction back to the left as the trunk goes. If you could bring some foliage from the back branches around into the space above that branch it would fill it out a little also.

Nice garden too

Tony

[MattA]

Ash it IS a BIG tree

Yes Yes I know that sounds silly I mean big big not bonsai big

Not silly at all.... thats successful bonsai

Tony, the tree is very symmetrical yet when viewed in person it doesnt feel/look wrong.

Matt

[aussie4bonsai]

Hi Steven
Removed the top and bottom left hand branch, trimmed and changed the angle of the other branches.
Just to see what it would look like.
Barry

Untitled-7a.jpg

[craigw60]

I like the branches as they are and think the slight upwards sweep is good, all I would do is wire it from top to bottom and as you said Steven spread out the crown a bit so the top half of the tree becomes one mass of twigs.
Craigw

[aussie4bonsai]

Hi Steven
A change of angle 15 degrees to the right gives a bigger root base and to me seems to improve the lower right hand branch.
Barry

Untitled-1.jpg

[Steven]

Sorry Barry, I missed your virts when you posted them. Thanks mate!

I still haven't done any work to this tree since the defoliation in December. It just sits there and the more I look at it the more content I am with the current shape. The comments about lowering the branches are valid however they are about as thick as my wrist so it would be a difficult bend.

Here is a shot of how it is looking today;

2011 August a.jpg

I think I will edit the apex a bit to spread the branches and see how that goes.

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

Nothing much had happened to this obliqua other than trimming for shape. It was suggested to me by Jonden and Lee Wilson during a trip to my garden that the tree could be rotated anticlockwise about 20° and have the bottom left branch removed. This would give it the widest possible base and a pleasing canopy. The following picture is the 'front' that John and Lee proposed;

John and Lee proposed front.jpg

I contemplated this idea for about 6 weeks but in the end decided against it... for now... I can always restyle and remove that branch later but I can't put it back on
I've tried to create a natural looking ficus and worked with the existing front. Due to the upwards growth of the branches, the tree always looked a bit too young for the sizable trunk. Over a few nights I have wired most branches and put on over 40 guy wires to pull branches down. To stop the guy wires cutting in to the bark I have slipped fish tank air tube over the wire where it touches the bark.

2012 February detail.jpg

The apex always looked too small, pointy and a bit like a pompom so this was widened and lowered considerably to join the lower branches. It now forms a wider and more mature canopy. Following is how the tree was looking late last year;

2011 November.jpg

And this is how it looks today;

2012 February.jpg

If your interested, here is the link to this tree in 360°. I'll get another one put together in the future of how it is now looking.

As always, your feedback and constructive criticism is more than welcome.

Regards,
Steven

[Jerry Meislik]

Steven,
I like it.
Good work.
Jerry

[Ray M]

Hi Steven,
Your last photo looks great. It has been my belief that the bottom branches should come down. It now looks a lot more like an old fig tree.

Great work.

Regards Ray

[emi93m]

I really like it the pot complements the trunk beautifully. The more I look at it and sit back the tree is more and more appealing.

Anyone should be proud to have that tree in there collection

Thanks for posting

Regards
Mick

[Scott Roxburgh]

Good decision to keep that branch, I don't love the 'gap', but I do like the post wiring pic, it reminds me of an old Gum.

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen

I don't love the 'gap', but I do like the post wiring pic, it reminds me of an old Gum.

Sorry Scott, what 'gap' don't you like?

Regards,
Steven

[Bretts]

Shilloett is much much better. The only problem I see now is the direction of the two branches on the right clash a little too much.

I would pull down the front branch to set a pattern with the upper right branch to start with and then if it still looks out of place I would look at way's to lower the first right branch.

Nothing is impossible

I see there is a secondary branch at the front of the first right branch. Put a little wire on that and flatten it out and that could help!

[Ash]

Hi Steven, Looks great. I love the current front, has taper and gentle shape and the branch positions are well balanced. I am not so keen on the alternative shown above that would require a branch to be removed, the widest base aint everything, I think the only reason we go for thick is to look stable and this tree looks stable already. Looks great. Time for another shot in the garden.

cheers
Ash