AusBonsai

Good morning everyone,

A few months back I picked up a Port Jackson Fig starter from Bunnings, just to have something to watch and grow and hopefully down the track create somewhat of a decent bonsai. Over the weekend I put it in a larger pot as it seemed to be growing out of the tiny pot it was in previously. This is what I found.
I was hoping to just let it grow relatively freely and have the trunk develop for some time, up potting when necessary. I love the idea shown in Steven's tutorial on 'How to Developing Figs Quickly' and that's something I have in mind. My concern is with the large ugly spiral of a root and if I were to leave it, it would make root pruning and training down the track impossible. This holds majority of the thin wispy roots that I want and there are almost none coming from the trunk itself, so I can't cut it back? The cross root also looks unappealing to me.

As I am obviously quite new and the specimen may be sub-par to begin, I may not be making any sense.

Am I just over thinking it, should I just let it grow? Any help and advice is welcomed.

Hi Aaron where abouts in Aus are you? Nsw down to VIC it's too late to do any major root work too it. That should be done during summer.
It's never too early in a trees life to pay attention to the roots. When the correct time of year comes you would look to chop the main root just after that first set of feeder roots on the right. I also chop my starters back to create taper and movement at the same time -and it also helps as there aren't too many leaves that don't have roots to support them.
Why not get a couple of starters and try the fast grow method vs "normal" growing? Good excuse for another plant!


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Definitely not something to be too concerned with. In time, yes you can literally cut off the entire large root from the base if you wish, as there will be enough feeder roots established to the right for it to be okay. Figs are like one of the hardiest of all bonsai material. But for the sake of not slowing down the growth substantially yet, I'd let the feeder roots that are not part of that root become a little more set before you cut that root.

When you do cut off the thick root, make sure you reduce the leaves heavily down to only about 5 or 6 leaves, as this will reduce the work on the remaining feeder roots. However, I would wait until Summer to cut back the root. In the mean time leave it potted up, just below where your thumb starts.

I'm up in Brisbane so it's just starting to cool down now. I figured for the time being it would be okay and best to let it grow so more of the feeder roots can establish. Isitangus, I might just get another plant anyways it's becoming an addictive little hobby!

Thing with figs is you can let them grow strongly and cut both the top and roots back very hard and the tree will respond by growing many new shoots and roots. At the moment just best to pot it up in a free draining mix, you could take of the end of the large roots, then feed it while its still warm and come summer, as mentioned above, you can cut back the roots hard then. You could even grow it strongly for a few years and then cut the bottom flat below some feeder roots and go from there.

The fast grow method you refer to can be done from cuttings which you can take after you have grown it for a while. I know its tempting to cut and shape and do root work as you are new and want to do something. In a few years from now you will have more patience to do a bit of work and then leave your trees for a period of growth.

Remember that the more leaves to make food the tree can make and the stronger it will grow, and the bigger it will get quicker.