AusBonsai

I find these natal figs back bud on the trunk the best out of all the figs so I would chop them off. It's not like you need a sacrifice branch to thicken the trunk For my eye the trunk needs some of those old aerial roots cleaned up. And I would put in in a stryene box to get some lateral root growth as mentioned earlier.

And what is your name FG ? Perhaps you can do a signature with it like I have if you want to keep your member name ?

Bougy Fan wrote:I find these natal figs back bud on the trunk the best out of all the figs so I would chop them off. It's not like you need a sacrifice branch to thicken the trunk For my eye the trunk needs some of those old aerial roots cleaned up. And I would put in in a stryene box to get some lateral root growth as mentioned earlier.

And what is your name FG ? Perhaps you can do a signature with it like I have if you want to keep your member name ?

Sacrifice branches

When I repotted the other day I did remove some old, dead, aerial roots, but I will definitely clean up more when I remove these branches here shortly. I only put it in the deeper pot to really allow it to grow over the winter and get really healthy.

And my name's Ryan, good thinking about the signature

A few more bottom branches removed:

Great to meet you Ryan I wish I had started bonsai when I was 19 - I would have some really great trees now after 25 years. With this fig just tidy it up and let it grow a bit and wait for the tree to speak to you about where it wants to go.

Bougy Fan wrote:Great to meet you Ryan I wish I had started bonsai when I was 19 - I would have some really great trees now after 25 years. With this fig just tidy it up and let it grow a bit and wait for the tree to speak to you about where it wants to go.

Pleasure to meet you as well Tony

I actually 'started' growing trees indoors and under lights when I was 16, so I've been doing this hobby for a little over 3 years now

There are still some branches on the lower backside of the tree that I have not removed, I dunno why I haven't though. I guess I just fear they may be needed or something

I grabbed the wrong bottle of "water" and ended up watering this guy with "Carl's Soap Solution (homemade stuff)" for pest control. Should be fine, there aren't really any harmful things in it, just Dawn dish soap, vegetable oil, and a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol. I washed that out with some clean water after, but silly me

Here's the other side of the trunk:

I'd say it's safe to assume I won't be needing this bottom branch?

I went ahead and removed that bottom branch. Looking the tree over today, I noticed it's got spider mites (or aphids....?), so maybe this is a good excuse to do a defoliation......?

Good move getting rid of that branch I have never defoliated any of my natal figs - I find once they get into a bonsai pot the leaves reduce naturally.

This guy is now dropping leaves, for what reason I don't know. Even the healthy looking green leaves fall right off. Great.

Have you repotted it ? I had problems a while back with some figs and found it was the mix staying wet and wasn't free draining enough. Not only did they lose leaves but they started dying back on the branches and trunk. I know it's not the ideal time of year now - but you may have to ?

Bougy Fan wrote:Have you repotted it ? I had problems a while back with some figs and found it was the mix staying wet and wasn't free draining enough. Not only did they lose leaves but they started dying back on the branches and trunk. I know it's not the ideal time of year now - but you may have to ?

Well, I slip potted it, but I think you may be right, there may be a lack of light getting to the lower parts of the tree, which is resulting in the soil staying too wet. Ughhh

G'day FG

If the leaves are only coming off from the inside foliage don't worry too much yet. Trees will shed inner foliage when stressed to support the tips. As long as the outer foliage near the tips is still ok you should be right. Do let the soil dry out between watering though as Figs do not generally like wet feet.

Loving this tree mate.

Tony

Tony Bebb wrote:G'day FG

If the leaves are only coming off from the inside foliage don't worry too much yet. Trees will shed inner foliage when stressed to support the tips. As long as the outer foliage near the tips is still ok you should be right. Do let the soil dry out between watering though as Figs do not generally like wet feet.

Loving this tree mate.

Tony

Thanks Tony! It's foliage all over, but I believe it's due to over watering. I'm having trouble getting the soil to dry out. I've also noticed little gnats flying around, so I'll have to take care of those. The tree is still pushing growth, thankfully...

Still dropping leaves