AusBonsai

Hi everybody ,I'm new to the forum and would like some advice on this fig .I've inherited this port Jackson fig and I can see it has a lot of potential.it does have one destinct trunk but another 5 big branches ,all very large in diameter and very hard to bend , and they all are pointing up not down. I can see that I might have to chop some of those big fingers away and may be do a branch split to try to bend the primary branch down.
Any suggestions would be appreciated

I don't think you need to cut off any of the main trunks, you need to pinch/twist off the growing tip and fertilise well so it back buds. This will give you lots of branching options.

Welcome Scott.

In addition to Isitangus' suggestion you can also wire or tie down those smaller branches that have the active growth on them. I've been doing some experimenting with tropicals in bringing branches right down to the edge of the pot (gradually!). I leave the growing tips on to keep the sap running strongly, but I've found that the branches back bud heavily. I think its a combination of setting up the buds to be apically dominant to the growth tip by being higher, plus getting a bit more sun and light on the bare branches with the leaves out of the way.

I would be leaving the heavy upward branches and look to bring the canopy down to them by getting new growth close to them and running more horizontal. Have a look at some mature figs for inspiration if you can. A lot of them have branches that head upwards before gradually curving horizontally and outwards, often below horizontal on the lowest branches. I think you could get a nice fig faster that way, rather than heavily chopping back (which can be fun!).


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Yep.
My vote all main trunks to stay.
Work on bringing the foliage mass closer to the trunk to start ramification and canopy.

Bright future for this tree I think.

This fig reminds me of Tony Bebbs multi trunk one. See here: https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/blog/TonyBe ... ig-update/

By the way, if you're interested in selling it I'd been keen to take it off your hands.

Thanks for the suggestions. I had planned to defoliate the tree when it starts getting a little hotter and then see what happens,. And no I don't plan on selling it

I agree in not removing any 'trunks', I have already defoliated all my figs last month and will do again in December.