AusBonsai

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 5:15 pm**

Hey everyone,

It might not look it but I’ve had these figs for around 10 years from seedlings I found on a wall. Just thought I’d post some pictures to start a progression and some advice anyone might have also. Thanks in advance

0650C33B-C213-48EC-B482-530DCB2C8DE2.jpeg

2AB8B043-7779-4918-8DD8-2A84C1B4CC55.jpeg

3D8EC419-3825-4C58-9EC0-E345C33A35B7.jpeg

ED8F4FF4-4FCF-4C6A-B10F-7BBFC5D96D05.jpeg

F56E750B-2589-4CE0-8785-E42117F16DDE.jpeg

9DA4FDA1-472A-4252-8629-ED9D86FD1693.jpeg

293A744C-05A0-4005-BF58-E4D4FC667E3F.jpeg

4C737906-48A5-4404-AAFD-A5B9E341B2B0.jpeg

EB17BD0F-ED8B-4219-82FE-26FA1E0E5A01.jpeg

B354F410-1BC1-41E5-ADB9-1CBC7F969C32.jpeg

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 5:31 pm**

I like them. can't find the "LIKE" botton.

if you can ramify and reduce the size of leaves they would look perfect for me. i have a lot of figs but mostly are fat. everytime i find a slender one, i try to ramify and reduce the leafsize without overthickening the trunk but i always end up with sumo trunks.

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 6:27 pm**

They look like Ficus benjamina, which would explain the lack of sumo trunk. You need to be a bit more careful with pruning, in case you cut too much off, since they have a reputation of dying back if you cut below the green...(In other words, always leave at least one leaf or more.) This means cutting back regularly. Pierre has been using the technique of cutting all the leaves except the end leaf, and has had some good success with ramification that way...Of course feeding well, and lots of good sunlight is also important if you want strong growth.

They're looking good, a bit of extra work will make them look much better!

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 7:13 pm**

bki wrote: ↑February 10th, 2020, 5:31 pm I like them. can't find the "LIKE" botton.

if you can ramify and reduce the size of leaves they would look perfect for me. i have a lot of figs but mostly are fat. everytime i find a slender one, i try to ramify and reduce the leafsize without overthickening the trunk but i always end up with sumo trunks.

Thanks bki ive got plenty of larger figs aswell which is why i wanted to keep these ones smaller. My thoughts were pretty much the same as you are saying about the ramification.

melbrackstone wrote: ↑February 10th, 2020, 6:27 pm They look like Ficus benjamina, which would explain the lack of sumo trunk. You need to be a bit more careful with pruning, in case you cut too much off, since they have a reputation of dying back if you cut below the green...(In other words, always leave at least one leaf or more.) This means cutting back regularly. Pierre has been using the technique of cutting all the leaves except the end leaf, and has had some good success with ramification that way...Of course feeding well, and lots of good sunlight is also important if you want strong growth.

They're looking good, a bit of extra work will make them look much better!

Thanks for the kinds comments mel. Im hoping to use some of the new shoots on the straight as a new leader and maybe a back branch. As well as with the larger one im thinking mi should wire the lower branches down to give it that look of large long braches like you see at the trees at a park.

198118D1-1FD4-414F-90FC-6CAA65CF28B9.jpeg

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 9:03 pm**

Hi melbrackstone . is this leaf pruning Teknik applicable to PJ and MBP too?

Posted: **February 10th, 2020, 9:08 pm**

I'm not sure, I just know it works with Pierre's benjis. I can't see why it wouldn't, but there are many more fig technicians here who might know.

Posted: **February 13th, 2020, 8:16 pm**

Hi everyone,
Just another fig I’m wondering with this as I should have mentioned with the others what are people’s thoughts on the front and back of this tree? It’s so flat because I collected it off a bridge also for some kind of scale that mushroom cap is roughly 2cm.

Thanks

AFD2F760-6F1F-45EE-8359-0E16D872272E.jpeg

331E39F4-D74D-4AD9-A547-08FFB647E2C0.jpeg

E7E9F029-389F-42A9-8C9F-3E96FCCF72DD.jpeg

40121BB9-4644-4D16-817A-8503E6C54050.jpeg

1F07F4E5-36B7-4647-823B-72A835E9D848.jpeg

E713C09B-EC89-412A-94B1-1D4AC2602509.jpeg

Posted: **February 13th, 2020, 9:17 pm**

It is hard to get a good sense of the 3D from photos but I like the view you have labelled as back. It shows the best dead wood and hides a couple of bad branches and scars. May be even better with a couple of roots removed but that's easy and quick. I did not really look at the upper parts of the taller tree as much of that will be removed at some stage I guess.

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 6:51 am**

Thanks for the advice shibui. I’m guessing it’s related to the taller tree? My main concern with that one is the thicker branch at the top. Do I use the back as the new front and have that branch bending forward as the new leader or use it as a back branch as the current front and choose one of the new shoots as a leader?

228C60C0-9017-45EC-8488-235BAF333B7F.jpeg

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 7:50 am**

I am with Shibui on the back being the new front and the branch circled becoming the new leader for the reason that it is coming towards the 'new' front and creating a more welcoming and interesting posture for the tree.

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 9:28 am**

Hi MJL

Thanks I was leaning that way just wanted some confirmation on my decision. I’ll trim it up and post the results later this afternoon. So with the back being the new front with the branches on the left I am wondering if I just create a flat pad or have the pad and a small “apex”type of thing as well?

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 10:09 am**

Your design decision of course but if it was me - I would not have the smaller one as a flat pad - rather create two harmonious trees. A mother/daughter or father/son type arrangement. One caring for/overseeing the other ... indeed, as the smaller tree has some scarring/shari - it looks older so perhaps ...it is flipped, a younger daughter (taller) look after the aging parent ....

Food for thought - sometimes a story helps you guide the development of harmonious trees and settings.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 11:43 am**

Thanks MJL, that seems like a good way to go thanks for the advice. I’ll do my best to make it happen

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 3:22 pm**

So I’ve just done a little bit of trimming and before I cut too much off thought I would ask for some more advice.

69C6B181-DE78-4326-940F-A3225DBFA259.jpeg

EEC133C7-CBFA-4A36-8790-45A9964989CA.jpeg

96BA797D-42AE-4A02-9E92-671412ACC7FC.jpeg

D949674D-BF35-4C37-B70B-28F7C5EE031C.jpeg

BFC4F325-C63B-4055-9966-4673E21BE722.jpeg

Posted: **February 16th, 2020, 7:57 pm**

Hi Thorne,
Here are a couple of pics I took near Byron Bay a couple of days ago. Theses figs grow abundantly up here. They may give you some ideas re shaping/styling, and I thought the nebari on them is fantastic.
Cheers, Frank.

DSC_0004e.JPG

DSC_0005e.JPG

AusBonsai

A Couple of Figs

A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs

Re: A Couple of Figs