AusBonsai

Hi all, I think this is a grafted microcarpa. It was purchased for me by a friend who got it from a local bonsai nursery that is unfortunately no longer.
At the time I had been doing bonsai for only a few months and I loved it.
I don't have any pics from that time but it was in a bonsai pot and it had been trimmed and kept somewhat compact...it was basically sold as stock to be trained, styled and developed etc.
So I admired it for a few months as it was and and then decided to grow it on so I repotted it and let it run untouched for about a year.
After a while I became unhappy with the look of the bulbous roots so I decided to try an air layer.
warning, lots of pics
Just before doing the layer... Cutting the layer... After layering I slip potted it up a pot size or two... Then I got a bit lazy with it and just left it alone with the air layer on for around a year It had grown really well and the longest branches were around one meter in length (sorry, forgot to take a pic).
A couple of weeks ago I just cut back the growth...
I figured it was well overdue for the layer to be severed so I had a look at it yesterday and was surprised at what I found... The bulbous roots below the layer had completely rotted away!...
So I cleaned the base up a little and pruned the roots back... I have left the branches intentionally long to see where it back buds etc. I have a few options for a front and I have a good idea of how I wish to proceed with the design. But I am just going to let it regain its strenghth for the moment and then I will decide on which branches to eliminate and where to cut back to. I am pleased with the direction it is taking
Sorry about the quality of some of the pics.
Cheers, Dario.

Haha Brilliant, hate those nasty flea market figs, look froward to seeing what you get from it Dario

Looks like you have improved the future of your fig already. Well done and good luck! Ash

Thanks Andrew and Ash

Andrew F wrote:...hate those nasty flea market figs, look froward to seeing what you get from it Dario

Me too, and I would never buy one myself. This one is growing on me now the roots are getting better and it will be interesting to see what it looks like in 5 years time.
Cheers Dario.

I think that is fantastic. You have improved its future no end. I wonder why it actually purged its lower root system?

looks great! it has a very radial root spread now!

Hugh

Great result from an ugly base!

Thank you Bodhi, Hugh and matlea

bodhidharma wrote:I wonder why it actually purged its lower root system?

Yeah I was really surprised that the lower roots rotted away. I can only guess that it happened because I left the layer on for a year and perhaps in this time the layered section became dominant? But I really don't have a good explanation If the wood was harder I think something would have remained.
Cheers, Dario.