AusBonsai

Just onother one of my figs. This one has been grown on a piece of petrified wood that I collected in a local creek. Not really happy with the style of it yet, just feel it lacks something. Would love to hear any ideas you guys have as to a restyle or any improvement I could make. Thanks

I prefer the back of the tree myself

Shows off the roots nicely, and there is a great smooth transition for the roots to the lower trunk.

I would maybe open up the lower canopy to show a little more of the trunk, but not much and maybe also reduce the extremities of the canopy

Ken

Like Ken, the back I believe has more interest.

It may be a bit late, perhaps some delicate carving may help, but the first thing that struck me about the backs roots was there, un-natural straightness. Normally one would envisage twisted roots making their own coarse across the surface not dead straight. Did you lay them like that, then bind, or did they form almost straight?

I only ask this as I feel the ironically straight roots are one of the most attractive aspects of the piece. It adds a somewhat artistic abstract essence to it. If it were my plant I would be taking any natural feature of the roots away and carve any remaining bends/bumps etc out of them. I am thinking laser straight root lines, zig zagging across the rock.
Then just keep laying down new roots straight.

Just a thought. Probably just ramblings of a numbskull.

Mitchell wrote:Like Ken, the back I believe has more interest.

It may be a bit late, perhaps some delicate carving may help, but the first thing that struck me about the backs roots was there, un-natural straightness. Normally one would envisage twisted roots making their own coarse across the surface not dead straight. Did you lay them like that, then bind, or did they form almost straight?

I only ask this as I feel the ironically straight roots are one of the most attractive aspects of the piece. It adds a somewhat artistic abstract essence to it. If it were my plant I would be taking any natural feature of the roots away and carve any remaining bends/bumps etc out of them. I am thinking laser straight root lines, zig zagging across the rock.
Then just keep laying down new roots straight.

Just a thought. Probably just ramblings of a numbskull.

Mitchell, All roots are natural placements, I have not changad them at all. I have been studying this tree all day and I think I have come up with an different front that shows the features of the rock and tree much better. I will put a pic up soon and would love to know what you think.

After a lot of head scratching and meditation I think with a bit of a redesign of the branching this will work much better as the front of the tree. Let me know what you guys think .

The first pic shows off the roots beautifully there is no doubt in my mind that this should be the front of the tree.
Craigw

The "back" has varied and interesting roots, to me. The new "front" hasn't as much variety. The top goes sideways, but the rock goes strongly vertical, and I think they compete, without resolving. Maybe tighten and open the top. It's a great rock, and a good trunk - they just need to talk.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Gavin

Your new front maybe has merit if you lean it to the left, because as Gav says it feels like it is all going to the right and arguing with itself
It lookls liek the tree is about to fall off the rock
ps the roots still look better on the original pic tho to me

Ken

G'day BB,

This is another great Ficus Your yard must be full of them.
Have you decided yet on which side to present as the front?

Regards,
Steven

Fig roots will hang through air remember- they may not run through little cracks on the surface of the rock like you would expect from another tree. Therefore I think straight roots dropping from the edge of the rock to the ground is quite acceptable and very natural. What they also do is have smaller roots crossing in a criss cross fashion to wrap around and secure them to the rock (just like a strangler).

What type of fig is this? It has great leaves and I want one!

regards
Ash

Just to be boring I want to agree with Ken. Your original back in the very first pic is ,the best front. I would bury the root system again for another year and get some more girth into them as well.
Unlike Ken I wouldn't shorten the width of the tree as I like it the way it is now, but I would open the tree up and get some layers happening with the foliage pads. Plus of course get some branches going in the former front to add depth to the tree.
Just my opinion, your tree, your style. But if you get sick of it, give me your address and I'll come by and pick it up for you.

Another beautifully grown fig, you keep rolling them out. I would grow a hanging branch on it coming down the rock with the foliage stepped, so it melds with the rock
Craigw