My journey with a Fig from 1984 to now and beyond

[aaron_tas]

ok jon,
here's my suggestion...

i can't go for bar branches or reverse taper or brances at 90, call me old fashioned but i think they are unartistic.

you could...

cut for taper, its a fig. the worst that could happen is too many new buds to choose from.

jonsfig.jpg

idea 2...this may sound a little crazy, but ive done it with lonicera and quince down here.
split the trunk vertical, and rip the two problem branches down and off with some root to create some crazy 3 tree setting... you could even get the brances sitting vertical





...just an idea ...

[Jon Chown]

Well, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has put forward a suggestion on this thread. They have given me a lot to think about.

I think the next thing to develop on your tree would be to expose the root flare. And this point , you should let the branch tips go horizontal too, in order to flatten out for a wide canopy of a typical banyan tree.

Si - thank you for this comprehensive analysis, I think you have captured the direction that I originaly wanted to go many years ago. The reason for the hard cut back was in the hope of producing shoots in the right places so that I could get the branches to grow on a more horizontal level and with the shoots that are forming, I believe that I can achieve this issue. I agree that the root flare needs to be worked on next and the main issue of the bar branches may well be able to be hidden by re-growing some aerial roots in the right places.

I will try to catch up with you at some stage and maybe we can chew the fat a little over this tree. It has got quite an impressive tree in there somewhere i think.

I look forward to your visit Peter - it would be great to discuss the options with a fellow enthusiest.

Jon

[Marc]

Hi Jon, I too have a fig that i enjoy very much, tough buggers they are. My idea of a fig is the wide canopy look. And as we see in parks, figs also have very very long lower branches. if you could somehow coax those larger lower branches to lose their elbow (for want of a better word), right at the spot where they change from horizontal to start growing upwards, if you could keep them horizontal and let them grow out, this would be ideal, in my opinion. In Melbourne we have some very large figs growing in public parks with massively long branches starting low down from the trunk, yours would suit this too, if only there was a way to straighten out that bend in them. It would be an awful shame to have to chop them... My experience with figs is that the scars take a very long time to heal. And I agree also to try to lift it a little to get some of the nebari showing. i also like the look of figs with some nice surface roots. I'm looking forward to seeing the progresion on this one.

[Jon Chown]

Hi Marc. Thanks for the comments. Your suggestion as to wide spreading canopy was in fact my original direction, unfortunately the growth and encouragement of aerial roots caused the branches to grow upwards has left me with very little option but to force growth back and cut back.

Jon

[Marc]

I know Fig branches can break easily - unfortunately from experience, however, can you pull them down, even as a long term project? On mine I have a few that I am pulling down with some wire attached to the pot, as time goes by i'll tighten a little to pull down a little more. Is this possible with yours? How thick are those two main lower branches? I daresay you wont be able to pull down from below the bends, but maybe a little coaxing from above the bends might, over time, straighten them a little at least. you'll still have a bend there, but maybe it could be less noticable - especially if an aereal root can grow right from that spot.

I'm just trying to think of anything to save those great thick branches.

[PeterW]

idea 2...this may sound a little crazy, but ive done it with lonicera and quince down here.
split the trunk vertical, and rip the two problem branches down and off with some root to create some crazy 3 tree setting... you could even get the brances sitting vertical

...just an idea ...

That could be be nice.......! Probably hard on the tree, but they (ficus) do respond well after harsh treatment. It would make it a very unique tree also!

Peter

[Asus101]

idea 2...this may sound a little crazy, but ive done it with lonicera and quince down here.
split the trunk vertical, and rip the two problem branches down and off with some root to create some crazy 3 tree setting... you could even get the brances sitting vertical

...just an idea ...

That could be be nice.......! Probably hard on the tree, but they (ficus) do respond well after harsh treatment. It would make it a very unique tree also!

Peter

You can split the main trunk into a multi trunk. you can do it to White pine so there is no reason you cant do it with a ficus.

[Hector Johnson]

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