Port Jackson Fig

[lynkearsley]

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Hello
I bought this PJF 17 years ago. It was sent bare rooted from NSW. I'm not happy with it's nondescript shape and it has been difficult, over the years, to keep leavessmall and manage size. Just love it nevertheless!!!
Any ideas on shaping/styling? It's 53 cms from the soil level.
Lyn

[Qitianlong]

Hi there, I've one similar to this, and I've just re-potted it over a rock... could be an idea for this fella?

[lynkearsley]

Good idea. Thanks.
I've just root pruned and re potted. I will defoliate in february (a hot month here in WA). I could do the root over rock thing at the same time.
It's getting a bit heavy for me these days (I'm nursing a pulled muscle from lifting it last weekend) and I'm seriously thinking about selling it.

Regards
Lyn

[bonsaipotter]

Hi Lyn,

This is a challenging assignment with just the one photo. I'd suggest radical surgery. If you are going to get rid of it what have you got to lose.

First up tilt the tree 45% to the right, and rotate it clockwise 45%. Keep it in a big pot.
Scribe a line in the bark at just under the new soil level and cut off those two really big roots. This air layer will allow you in a year or so to cut off the old root ball and base.

fig style copy.jpg

Of the branches keep just two and cut the rest off.
The one closest to the camera becomes the new leader and you can give it an 'S' curve better than I have in this mockup.
The branch furtherest away will become the first branch on the right.
The left hand small branch in the new leader becomes the second main branch.

With this you'll have a fantastic new start. Discourage any roots that emerge ( ie cut them off) above the soil level so that you get flare into the nebari. In 2 years it will be a great tree.

cheers,
Happy Potter

[bonsaipotter]

Played with it a little more - structure might look like this in a couple of years

fig style copy 2.jpg

Cheers,
Happy Potter

[lynkearsley]

Thanks for that - looks like something I can do.
I ended up going for a broom style but had trouble getting enough leaf density (ramification) to make it look good.
Those two branches (as you suggest) are still reasonably flexible and can be wired into shape.
It's a shame that the WA climate does not allow aerial roots as happens in Qld. Would have loved to do that too.
Many Regards
Lyn