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Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 10:25 pm
by kvan64
Collected this biggy last year. Did the usual chop and let it grow for one season. Stripped down the lateral roots to form the base. selected the branches and did the first wiring today. Will carve it soon. Any suggestion is welcome.
Cheers
DK
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 10:39 pm
by Hornet
looking good DK. I have a few much smaller yamadori's that are slowly starting to recover, one in paticular has quite a nice base but only small, can see it ending up being a 30-40cm tall tree. Love virens, such a beautiful fig
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 10:55 pm
by Craig
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 10:58 pm
by kvan64
Yeah Hornet, I love the colour of the young leaves. They actually grow very quick. Just give them heaps of water and fertilizer. They also take from thick cuttings very readily so if you have a big tree nearby, take a big cutting and stick it to the round and have an instant big tree
Craig, thanks for the input. I also think it helps create dimension but a mate of mine said twin trunk would be better.
Cheers
DK
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 11:01 pm
by Craig
kvan64 wrote:a mate of mine said
He said, she said, it's your tree

.
kvan64 wrote:I also think it helps create dimension
Same thing i was thinking mate ,depth .
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 4th, 2011, 11:21 pm
by kvan64
Craig wrote:kvan64 wrote:a mate of mine said
He said, she said, it's your tree

.
kvan64 wrote:I also think it helps create dimension
Same thing i was thinking mate ,depth .
Very true mate. Removing the back trunk would make the tree more...stumpy and hence appear bigger (illusion). But depth is also very important too. Hummm

Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 12:24 am
by Jerry Meislik
DK,
I like your tree and love the species.
How about sitting the main trunk up more vertical?
Jerry
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 6:07 am
by Ash
Hey I like the front Jerry used with triple trunk adding depth. When you say carving - do you just mean reducing the wood at the cuts so that they heal over smooth? A Ficus virens will heal over that in a couple of years if you let it - hollows or driftwood are not so successful with this species. Looks good!
cheers
Ash
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 9:18 am
by bodhidharma
I like the tree as a triple trunk very much. It would be a shame to lose it. Follow what Jerry has shown you. It will be a wonderful tree in time.
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 10:56 am
by Hornet
Ash wrote:Hey I like the front Jerry used with triple trunk adding depth. When you say carving - do you just mean reducing the wood at the cuts so that they heal over smooth? A Ficus virens will heal over that in a couple of years if you let it - hollows or driftwood are not so successful with this species. Looks good!
cheers
Ash
why do you say hollows are not successful with virens? There are a couple of local tree's by the creek that have been smashed by floods over the years that have some awesome deadwood and hollow trunks that i would love to re-create on a bonsai. Actually have a yamadori here with a hollow trunk, doesnt loook too bad.
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 4:56 pm
by Ash
Oh I don't mean unsuccessful from an artistic view point - it is just that the wood rots very rapidly (or at least has for mine) and I gave up with the hollows and let them heal over in the end. Maybe it would be OK if it could be well preserved and kept dry and water stopped from pooling in the hollow.
Looks good!
cheers
Ash
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 5:21 pm
by GavinG
Nice counterbalanced movement in the two main trunks, for my money. When the third trunk hides behind the big one, it's branches "fill out" the bare length of the big one. So I'd go for the "front?", with the proviso, that of course in reality, as you move around, what you see may convince you otherwise. Good start.
Gavin
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 5th, 2011, 6:05 pm
by Hornet
I like the current front but the tripple trunk front also works for me.
For some reason i have never had any luck rooting cuttings of virens, might have to try thicker cuttings, seem to have better luck with thicker cuttings these days, small cuttings dont work since i moved.
Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 6th, 2011, 12:24 pm
by kvan64
It appears that everyone goes for the triple trunk. I like the repotting angle Jerry suggested too. Thank you for everyone's input. This is why it's great to post here so we could get peoples' opinion. I'm glad that I didn't just chop the back trunk.

Re: Large Ficus Viren - Next job is carving!
Posted: December 7th, 2011, 7:54 pm
by kvan64
Did some carving this arvo. Will need to find a pot for it.