Advcie please on my fig (Second Post)

[gr8bookworm]

Hi all,

i am a novice in Bonsai and this is my second post, the first regarding 2 other trees is here: viewtopic.php?f=129&t=7327

I was first interested in Bonsai a few years ago but the addition of 2 kids quickly put my interest to the backburner. Now they are a bit older I would like to start my journey into Bonsai again. I have a few "trees" that have been sporatically watered and fed over the past few years and what initial training they had has long disapeared.

My first tree that I would like your assistance on is a fig, it has a large aerial root that i am unsure if I should keep or not but quite a few branches to work with. The tree was defoiliated last week but was last re-potted probably about 3/4 years ago?













Ok, so where to from here? Should the aerial root stay or go? What should i do with the roots/nebari? Hope the pics give you all something to work with?

Thanks,

Mark

[rowan]

I think it looks messy and should go (grow another small tree from it). Without it the tess nebari will look a lot better.

Cheers,
Rowan

[Craig]

Hi Mark, welcome mate, i agree with Rowan about removing the aeriel root, the tree looks to have nice taper and i would repot it into a Bonsai Pot now(unless it's already leafed out again) and start training the branches to where you want them .. You could repot into a different(bigger) plastic pot or the same one if you don't have bonsai pot for it. Nice work Mark,, Craig

[gr8bookworm]

Thanks Guys,

What are your thoughts on the rest of the Nebari/Root system? Any advice on the branches?

[Ash]

Hi Mark,

There are two options with the aerial root that can maintain taper. You could cut it off using concave cutters and allow the wound to heal. Alternatively you could bind it very tightly to the trunk and allow it to grow and fuse to the trunk. If it is already too stiff to bind to the trunk then I would recommend that you remove it. Left as it is will lead to reverse taper.

If you think it is week I would recommend that you repot the plant into a good growing medium and allow it to grow vigorously by fertilizing and watering it regularly. A good season of growth now will replenish the xylem (water transporting tissues) and replace the phloem (photosynthate transporting tissues). When that is done you will have a stronger tree and you will be able to cut into it more vigorously and expect more back-budding. The journey to a good fig bonsai will be achieved more quickly if you do that now rather than slow it down now but putting it in a bonsai pot and styling it all in one hit.

If you think it is already strong and growing vigorously then go ahead and train. The time it takes to come back into leaf is a good gauge of how my reserves the tree has packed away. If it leafs up in 3-4 weeks great- if it take 4-6 weeks or longer I would recommend a good seasons growth before hard pruning.

It has a good root spread- if you pot it on try to go for a large shallowish box rather than a standard pot. Cut the roots underneath more than those from the buttress. Given a good seasons growth they could thicken up very nicely.

As to style I think you have a pretty clean slate. What do you like about a fig? Thats what you should put into it. You wont easily achieve flat pads on a tree this size of this species so perhaps go for a more banyan oriented tyle with one or only few large foliage masses.

Ash