AusBonsai

This old tree belonged to I an Edwards who gave it to me in 1992, under much protest from me I wasn't that enthusiastic about owning it but Ian swore black and blue it would be a nice tree with time. 4 years ago I swapped it with a close friend for an old cedar which was also grown by Ian. About a month ago the fig came back to me in a very sorry state, there was lots of die back in the branching and the foliage was a sick yellow colour, 2 of the lower branches are very weak. I have kept it in the poly-tunnel and have been feeding and watering it heavily. The bulk of the tree has bounced back to life except the weak branches which are not looking good. Having noticed the forecast for the next week (hot and humid), I decided to cut back most of the tree today as all the twigs were very spindly with a few large leaves on the end of each one, I have not worked the weak branches in the hope they will recover some strength.
The large bowl at the base of this tree is what turned me off it initially, over the years to top section of the tree has begun to blend with the base and a few surface roots are beginning to appear, I think Ian was correct and in the next 10-20 years with good cultivation this one can be a really good tree.
This tree is big and heavy, its a 2 man lift. Its 85cm high and wide, the base is 35 cm across.
Craigw

Hi Craig,
Any idea how the branches became so weak?

Cheers,
Mojo

I think the tree has been starved of food and water for quite a long time, a big lump of a tree like this guy needs lots of feeding
Craigw

Love the water retaining mulch. Special stuff!

The tree is really starting to look good. Just needs some tough love and years of ramification and it will be very nice!

Thanks Jarrod, its a special mulch which retains moisture and feeds at the same time
Craigw

Graig, I can feel your pain on this one:

Last year I bought a Lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis) at a bonsai convention to help with cancer research(The most I ever paid for a tree!). The tree also has this strange nebari.

Not knowing this species at all and how it will react to being work on frustrates me quite a lot:
Lucky for you, you have a Ficus!

Here is a virt if you can get yourself to do some drastic work on an old Ficus:
Lennard

Now thats feeding Craig, better buy a big pair of shears ...

Craigw,
That is one awesome tree. It will be a stunner very soon.
Jerry

I will watch this closely Craig. It is much harder to grow figs in Victoria and i would love to hear of its progress and what you are doing. Has it been grown solely in Victoria or was it an import. A little history would be good if you have it. Very nice tree.

Wow, what a monster I love it!! And I love figs in general!!. With your skill mate, it’ll bounce back to better than it’s former glory!!
LOVE IT!! And would kill for something of this level in my collection!

Lennard, it would take a large pot and lots of years to put those roots on this tree but it may happen in time, thanks for the virt it sure looks good.
Thanks Jerry, I hope it will get better very quickly
This tree was found out the back of a nursery in the good old days before quick turnover became the norm. It was growing in a cut off 44 gallon drum, I don't think they exist any more either. My old friends Ian and Jack took it home and put a saw through the trunk at the widest part and used it as a cutting, it has always been a local tree. Ian was trying to give it to me for years and I always told him he should sell it, he got it to me in a very sneaky way, by giving it to my partner, I roared with laughter when it came home.
The massive dose of food won't stay on it for too long I just want to get maximum buds so I can start rebuilding the ramification.
Its a good lesson in how ramification can be so easily lost with a couple of years of neglect. I used to defoliate and wire it every year it was dense with twigs
Craigw