My biggest Ficus

[The Ficus Guy]

Chopped off half the roots and moved him into an Anderson flat:

[Neli]

Looking good Ryan. Which one is the apex?

[The Ficus Guy]

Looking good Ryan. Which one is the apex?

Thanks. There's a new branch growing from the middle trunk that will become the new apex.

[Neli]

Ryan what do you plan to do with that thick left branch?
Do You know the Chinese school of Lingham, they make horse eye on figs from holes like yours. Try to google. I like it a lot.You dont need to do a drainage hole for that...just seal it .
I like it here:

I would have used all 3 branches and gone for a more broom like style.Banian is supposed to have shorter branches...and you have nice thick branches. I love fat branches on figs.And you have them already. I could have left those bottom little branches to grow, on both left and right lowest branches....and thicken them, and develop it more broom like. You will need to direct them in horizontal direction.
Like this, if you like it:

[The Ficus Guy]

Not sure, but I'm aiming for this:

[Neli]

That is nice also.

[The Ficus Guy]

That is nice also.

Banyan style, like the tree you posted (that's from the National Arboretum) would definitely not suit this kind of trunk.

[Neli]

I liked that style because it is utilizing better the available branches, but he can go for the same style, he chose, too , while using the 2 side branches as branches and the middle one as apex. Why will it not suit this kind of trunk?

[The Ficus Guy]

I liked that style because it is utilizing better the available branches, but he can go for the same style, he chose, too , while using the 2 side branches as branches and the middle one as apex. Why will it not suit this kind of trunk?

The branches on my tree are too thick and lack any sort of taper, and the trunk lends itself to a more upright kind of tree, like the virt shows.

[Neli]

Look at this: Pictures belong to Noryadi Norudin, posted with his permission.
before 2007

2007

2011


2012
Just to show you how thick people make their branches.

[The Ficus Guy]

Yes I know that, but these branches lack any sort of taper, they need to be reworked.

[Neli]

Not really reworked...You need to grow extensions to the thick branches, and you will get taper and movement.

[Neli]

Can you see the big branch on the left. That is a sacrifice branch to create taper on branches.

[The Ficus Guy]

I'm just sticking with my virt, that's the tree I want and am aiming for. Trunk fits it perfectly.

[Neli]

I am not telling you not to do your virt...i am ust explaining to you how to create taper and movement...so you dont chop those nice big branches.