AusBonsai

Hi all,

I've had this fig since August of last year and I think it was about a year old when I got it.



Just wondering if you could give me some advice on shaping. Firstly, I'd like to know if it is too early to begin training it. Should I wait another year? Secondly, (if it's not too early) I'd like something like this:



Of course I realise it'll be years and years before it begins to look like a bonsai, but what can I do now to set it on the right path, so to speak?

I'd be truly greatful for any advice.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the blotches on the trunk aren't any kind of mold or fungal growth, it's just water.

Erm, annoying that the second picture didn't come up. Try this then:

5th picture on this page:

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/MatthaeiB ... ction.html

If that doesn't work, general advice would be much appreciated.

Novac Fig should only be worked in the warmer months when night temps are above 15 deg.
If that were mine I would cut those 3 ugly roots clean off and pull all the leaves off and plant it in a smallish pot and cover with a plastic bottle place in semi shade . Then after a few months bare root it and arrange the roots . You could also split the base of the trunk at this stage . Then choose a branch to continue the trunk and wire it into position. And then just let it grow feed every week along with dynamic lifter.
Get a book on figs if u are into bonsai
Read posts on here check out the post ( how to grow dynamic figs quickly )

i would say awesome 3 roots not ugly

Hi Mate

These are also known as Pot Belly Figs they are imported to australia from places like Indonesia. I dont know if I would be as drastic as to cut of the three Bulbus roots as that is the whole character of this species. I got my hands on three of these figs about three years ago and in September of the first year i owned them I placed them in a 50% zeolite 20% river sand and 30% bonsai soil mix in a large but very shallow container and the growth over 2 years was incredable I would defianetly sorce out the brances and the leader u want to keep and remove the rest giving the fig the energy it needs in the right areas. Being in Melbourne I would not re pot till September as it will strugle with the cold nights and frosts to re establish its root system. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Regards Mick

Hi Novak,

I have a Port jackson Fig that is a little like yours and I didn't know anything about how to grow them as bonsai until I purchased Hoy Lee Kwong's book Growing Figs in the Temperate Climate. It is an excellent resource that you can purchase from his bonsai nursery Bonsai South in Caringbah NSW for $59.95. Give it a go; you've got nothing to lose.

Cheers,

Brad75 aka Brad Jackson.

emi93m wrote:Hi Mate

..... I dont know if I would be as drastic as to cut of the three Bulbus roots as that is the whole character of this species. ......

Regards Mick

I agree wholeheartedly with Mick. If you don't like the roots, choose another fig that doesn't grow that type of root. This is a Ficus microcarpa 'Retusa'. If you didn't like the roots but liked everything else, you would get the same tree in the plain Ficus microcarpa. I like the roots, but of course that is just my opinion, and everyone has one and is entitled to it.

Glenda

Glenda wrote:

emi93m wrote:Hi Mate

..... I dont know if I would be as drastic as to cut of the three Bulbus roots as that is the whole character of this species. ......

Regards Mick

I agree wholeheartedly with Mick. If you don't like the roots, choose another fig that doesn't grow that type of root. This is a Ficus microcarpa 'Retusa'. If you didn't like the roots but liked everything else, you would get the same tree in the plain Ficus microcarpa. I like the roots, but of course that is just my opinion, and everyone has one and is entitled to it.

Glenda

I couldnt have said it better myself Glenda
Regards Mick

Thanks for the advice.

I do like how the trunk(s) look on this species. I'm a bit puzzled as to why I should cut the roots off as well given that, as others have said, this is a natural occurance for this particular species. I may have misunderstood, but do you mean to say that what I have now is 'incorrect'?

With regards to training, I wasn't planning on wiring in winter. I just want to know if it would be possible to do it this year, maybe spring-summer.

Hi novak,

What you have here is a challenge. How do you make your fig look like a large tree miniature-ized while making use of the three legs as a feature? I think that provided you grow the top well you shouldn't have to remove the lower trunk sections because they already look quite good.

Cheers,

Brad Jackson.

A bonsai does not have to aim to look like a miniature tree. You can ignore the fun police and just enjoy your tree.
This was given to me as a present by the mother in law and it has always been lots of fun.
I just brought it in for the winter yesterday. But what you do need is a plan. My plan with this tree was a representation of a surfer. Then it was the surfing turkey. Now it seems to be turning into an Ent
So I would say get a little wild with your plan and see where the tree takes you.