AusBonsai

hey kids

i bough this fig about 2 weeks ago, sorry no before shots, i was keen to get in to it i decided to defoliate it wire throughout, i didnt even get a before of the tree after defoliation, i olny remembered to take pics when it was wired out

this is it after the wire out, i used the whole tree but wasnt happy with its look.
being not happy with the look of it i decided to shorten it.
heres a top view, as you can see there is a large root crossing the front, so the tree got bare rooted and some heavy root work commenced, it was quite a mission and being the warm day it was i had to move pretty quick so no pic of that either.
the root work was quite heavy, i took off about 70 percent of the roots, the ones i had left had some good feeders, i spread them radially out and back filled, i havent checked where i cut the roots off, but i did use a hormone and i assume there is some nice new roots there to.
two weeks after all this work which is today i had a look at the tree and behold there is new buds opening up all over the place.

i reckon in a few weeks there will be a whole ne crop of leaves

the thing about doing this work the tree should be very healthy, and fed well, i know this tree was healthy as i had been watching it at the nursery for a few weeks before i bought it, and i got my mate that works there to give it a feed every week til i bought it

jamie

the prob were the 2 straight bits at the top, minus those would have been right but this way you will make an even better tree! well done.

cheers ant, i was thinking about using the next branch up from where i did chop but i didnt have much to work with, i know its not a prob as it is still in a growing stage, i just figured that where i did cut was a better option as it has brought the height to trunk ratio back down as the tree is now just on 170mm tall with the width of 40mm, the trunk which is actually got more to be exposed as it had the root work done.

this will bounce back in no time

jamie

Looking good mate. Love the work. Cam you get more movement in the first branch?

yeah i can it is just sitting low in the pot at the moment and the branch is hitting the pot, i could cut back but i would like to leave it for a while unchecked to regain some strength, what i might do is cut the side of the pot out, i actually think this one is going to be a candidate for a semi cascade
i need a good semi in my colection


jamie

Jamie,
Looking good.
Jerry

thanks jerry

i dont know if any one has noticed yet but there is some inverse taper in the tree from where the first branch is to the bole of the trunk. will this eventually grow out? or will it always be there?


jamie

It will always be there but you can reduce it. Make some nail holes in the thinner area and get some aerials to grow out of them.
Remove the aerials when the area has thickened.
Jerry

your a champ jerry

i would of never though about that

i still havent got your book yet but i will be trying to get it soonish i take it there is all this sort of thing in your book?

jamie

Jamie,
This tip is just for you.
I believe there are some other hints in my book.
Jerry

Jerry Meislik wrote:Jamie,
This tip is just for you.
I believe there are some other hints in my book.
Jerry

cheers pal i think that would be a good little addition to your site at least as it is a great idea

jamie

Nice one dude! I think I might pick up a couple of these and a couple of natalensis (have a soft spot for natalensis) next time I'm up at Tess's. Hopefully in the next few weeks.
You're right, it will bounce back in no time.
Jerry, with the aerial root trick, I've been thinking about doing something similar to a fig of mine. Was going to get a stanley knife and a put a few small nicks in the trunk. Do you recommend putting some sort of tubing and soil mix over the runk, or just leaving it to it's own devices?

Nathan,
If the humidity is consistently high the punctures should develop aerials without help. In dry areas, packing over them with sphagnum moss, moistened and wrapped in plastic should promote the aerials. Soil could be brought up over the trunk as well but cautiously as too heavy a soil could promote trunk rot.
Jerry

That's pretty much what I'd been thinking. Thanks heaps Jerry
I think I'll probably set up a humidit y tray under it. With our generally warm and reasonably humid climate, plus a little help from a water tray, I may not need to wrap it in spag moss.
I'll get onto it on the weekend I think.
Thanks again mate

the reason i was atracted to this one was the natural small leaves it has, i was amazed to see that the leaves were only 20mm long naturally and i presume they can be reduced further, natals are good aswell so you should have some fun with them and reasonably quick results
i have a small humidity tent i can use for this sort of thing with the airial roots, it was about twenty five bucks so far it has been good


jamie