Hi everyone,
Last month I bought a new Willow Leaf Ficus from a show that was at the National Arboretum. I bought it from a friend who just didn't know where to take it. Here's the tree when I first brought it home:
I decided that right trunk didn't look quite right, so I removed it:
And here's the tree today:
Something I'm considering is rotating the tree to the right to cover up those thicker roots and balance the tree a bit more. I would "air layer" those thick roots (cut a ring around them and dust in hormone then cover in sphagnum moss) to eventually shorten them. I would have to do that to the right side, and remove a little root on the left side:
Then, by rotating it to the right a little bit, I'd get this appearance:
So, yay or nay?
A new Willow Leaf
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A new Willow Leaf
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Ryan - 20 Year Old Ficus Lover from the U.S.A.
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
G'day Ryan that must be an old fig
I like the second last photo as the front taking off the branch and flying root in one cut. The last photo makes the base to wide and too sharp an angle - sort of looks like a volcano to me 


Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
Thanks Tony!Bougy Fan wrote:G'day Ryan that must be an old figI like the second last photo as the front taking off the branch and flying root in one cut. The last photo makes the base to wide and too sharp an angle - sort of looks like a volcano to me
It is a pretty old tree, the size of the the base is huge: I think the last picture gives the tree super taper, which kind of attracted me to it, but maybe others see differently

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Ryan - 20 Year Old Ficus Lover from the U.S.A.
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
Yeah well it takes all kinds . . . . . . . . . .
I like a bit more realistic looking tree. Not into the sumo style with the big oversize fat bases myself.

Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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- Joined: September 20th, 2011, 3:25 am
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
Bougy Fan wrote:Yeah well it takes all kinds . . . . . . . . . .I like a bit more realistic looking tree. Not into the sumo style with the big oversize fat bases myself.
Ah, I'm a big sumo fan. I feel like the tree isn't balanced if I don't tilt it to the right some.
Ryan - 20 Year Old Ficus Lover from the U.S.A.
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 482
- Joined: September 20th, 2011, 3:25 am
- Favorite Species: Willow Leaf Ficus
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- Location: Virginia, USA
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
I started the layer on the right side so that I can tilt the tree that way more, and balance it out a bit at the same time.
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Ryan - 20 Year Old Ficus Lover from the U.S.A.
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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- Joined: September 20th, 2011, 3:25 am
- Favorite Species: Willow Leaf Ficus
- Bonsai Age: 4
- Location: Virginia, USA
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Re: A new Willow Leaf
Lots of growth, but still no roots 

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Ryan - 20 Year Old Ficus Lover from the U.S.A.