Port Jackson Figs, Training and Progression

[MarcusMaximus]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share some of the training work I've been doing on some Port Jackson figs. Both of these trees where a gift from my grandmother when on my 10th birthday (1990). The trees where left neglected for quite awhile, I restarted there training in 2010. As you can see there wasn't much of them except for a decent base -

bonsai_before.jpg

Here are the same trees 3 years on (from left to right in the before pic), freshly defoliated for the spring growing season -

bonsai_2_scaled.jpg

This tree was cut right back (basically only primary branches) and has since been given plenty of fertilizer and leaf-pruning. I think this fig has a nice natural feel and I'm styling in the fashion of the native figs I see growing in my area.

bonsai_1_scaled.jpg

Big changes for this tree. The branch you see growing to the right in the before photo is now the trunk. Tree has been heavily leaf pruned and wired several times. I'm trying for a bit more of a formal style with this one, with a shape reminiscent of a mature Japanese beech (or something like that). Its fairly gangly at the moment but the branch structure is thickening quickly and I think it will look pretty good in a few years time.

I plan on letting them grow like crazy until a January leaf prune when they'll both be receiving a serious wiring.

Anyway would appreciate any feedback/comments about the training of these trees whilst in there formative stages. For scale both figs are planted in 37cm pots.