AusBonsai

I bought this fig from Steven at the first ausbonsai market day in March 2014.
It was a very ugly stump and not your standard material. I was attracted to it for this reason. I let it grow and recover until now, always not quite sure what to do with it. This is quite challenging material for me.

Well after a lot of thought, pruning, grafting branches together, carving, wiring and repotting, this is where it is now. Windex for size comparison.
It still has a long way to go. The sides and back are very weak due to the angle of the two trunks. Will grow fairly freely to try to fill in these areas.
Despite the weak areas I really like how ugly and unusual the trunk is. Looking forward to its future.

Ugly trees are full of features and just need a fine touch to bring out the beauty. I really like where this is going I'm imagining a broad broom style canopy. Will you grow the branches for thickness and cut back hard for exaggerated movement and taper?

Yeah that's the aim. Canopy that shows off the trunk. I think it's a good style for figs like this. Will grow to thicken current branches and develop new branches in my weak areas. Will keep everything else in shape.

Solid plan Should be looking real good this time next year

Hmm nice result
Goin to look pretty damn fine a few years

Ken

Come a long way enjoy the journet

Update after defoliation, shape review and wire.

I am not too sure about the upper right bit. the trunkline into that is too straight.
If mine i woud remove that and use the 3rd branch there heading to the left as the apex

Ken

Agree with ken, but maybe keep that current leader as a sacrifice branch for a couple of years to thicken up the section below then chop.

Thanks ken. I'm just not too sure which part you mean? Any chance you could draw in the chop you mean? Or describe it another way?

This is hard material for me so advice welcome.

Yep in the morning can add so e lines

A little virt for you to ponder
I have lowered all the branching to develop that more ponderous habit of ficus and reduced the height by removing and or lowering the uppper branching / trunk.

The result will hopefully be nice rounded canopy over larger spreading branches

Ken

hows this going after a growing season