AusBonsai

Thought I'd begin a new prog. This is a bit of a thanks to ausbonsai. I've learned so much here, and the plan for this tree is based on what i've gained:

1. I've switched from a heavy dirt and sand mix with poor drainage to a diatomite/blue metal/coco peat mix (thanks Grant Bowie, Kcpoole, Bretts and everyone else whose contributed to the substrate discussions!)
2. I've learned that figs can be easily grafted (thanks Hackimoto!).
3. I've learned that figs can be overpotted and fed heavy (thanks Steven!).
4. I've had the opportunity of viewing and being inspired by some very sexy figs on this site (thanks Tony Bebb!).

So, my fig with a hole, collected about 2 years ago, is undergoing a makeover. It's getting it's own cuttings grafted to it in an attempt to make it look more like a natural fig trunk and to give it a worthy nebari. It will sit like this with plenty of DL on top, having unrestrained growth for at least a year. More updates then. Thanks again everyone!

Here's an update on this one. Before I begin: yes I'm working on a fig at the wrong time of year. My wife's having a baby in 5 weeks so I need to get the big work done now, or I imagine it won't be done for the summer. I'm also in a very mild part of Sydney and I've never had problems working on figs in winter.

Here's a growth comparison. Here is a picture of the fig just after I originally worked on it, April last year (it's the one on the right):
Here is a picture of the tree now in the same spot:
I've been very happy with the growth, despite a strange disease early on that the tree recovered from itself and caterpillars at various times.

With the trunk, I took off the grafting tape after a few months in order to try to cultivate aerial roots that would naturally graft the trees to each other. This was what it looked like originally:
then grafted:
This is what the trunk looked like a few days ago in the grow pot:
Removed from the grow and sitting in the old pot:
Cut down to the original base:
I cut it higher, repotted, heavy pruned and a little carving, guy wired and wired it into the pot:

Front:
Back:
Left side:
Right side:
Overall, I am very happy with the development of this trunk. The old hole in the trunk is covered. The aerial roots, in my opinion give it a much more natural look.The trunk is considerably larger. I need to think about the primary branches a bit more. There are too many, I need to remove some, would appreciate your thoughts if you're willing to comment.

Thanks again to everyone here who has shown me what can be done with figs!

Great work Dusty.

I don't know that you would have to remove branches. Most mature figs, at least those growing in the open, have wide bases with short trunks and multiple branches the lower ones go horizontal and the rest go up. It would seem you have the start of would could make a very convincing natural fig.

Nice work and good result which will improve with age
Any branching you can regrow as needed later once the trunk is as you want it

Ken

Quick update with a little shaping done.

An update on this one after a prune, wire and pot into a proper bonsai pot. Really happy with how much better it looks to what I started with. Can't wait to see it in a couple more years.

Well done your base looks real good,and structure up top connects,very good vision Dusty..Cheers Anthony

Great work...good research!

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Wow. Good stuff.
This is inspiring.... especially the timeframe in which it was achieved.
I have started a couple of similar fig projects this year with cuttings struck from the parent trees last year, so I am now excited.
I look forward to future updates.
Thanks for sharing.

Loving where it is going.

That is looking fantastic Dusty.

Well done Dusty ,great project and well executed. The base is very realistic .

Update after a defoliation and wire today.

This looks so good. I am sick and tired of trying to look for pine nuggets or pay the ridiculous price at GCP. I might just end up using blue metal as well.

Huge improvement in such a short time. Like this tree.