PJ Ficus - Opinions and Advice Please

[Kevin]

Hello Everyone,

I would love your opinions please on how the PJ Fig looks now and if my future maintenance plans are on track.

I am not a believer in wiring branches, I have always pruned for effects. Wire has never touched this tree - does that mean it's Penjing? Or does it mean the tree hasn't shaped properly?

Height - 850mm
Canopy - 1300mm wide x 1200mm deep
Trunk / Nebari - 450mm wide x 430mm deep x 1300mm Circumference

I plan on removing all the mondo grass tonight (if I don't fall to sleep) - in hindsight the mondo grass was a silly idea, it looks okay, but the fig has really suffered this season.

Then in spring 2016 start the ramification of all branches except inside ones, which I thought would be a good idea to leave for this season, as i hope to use many if not all of them for grafts. My plan with the grafts are to thicken the canopy clouds where needed whilst also opening the inside a tad for the birds.

The low branch at the front will be the first to be grafted it will be attached on the middle left side.

Basically reduce internodes and leaf size whilst shaping for the broom.

Do you believe the tree is ready? Have i missed anything?

Suggestions and opinions would be appreciated.

Sorry the pictures haven't come through that well. The first photo, I had planned for the front - then anti-clockwise - right / back / left. Lastly is the rough sketch of final shape - if there is such a thing as final in Bonsai.

Thank-you for your assistance.

Kevin

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[KIRKY]

personally I like the right as your front. To me it just looks well balanced.
Cheers
Kirky

[Kevin]

Thanks Kirky,

I see what you mean.

Kevin

[wrcmad]

personally I like the right as your front. To me it just looks well balanced.
Cheers
Kirky

Agree. Trunk angle is good from this view too.

[Pearcy001]

+1 for the right view as the new front. Maybe slightly more rotated so the trunk does not appear to be as narrow higher up.

[Bonsaiforest]

Really like the right as front....left may also work.

[Bonsaiforest]

Really like the right as front....left may also work.

[srini]

definitely agree with the right as being the new front. Beautiful tree, looks great for clip and grow. It shows with a broom style tree that this can be achieved without wire. Cant wait to see the repot and a new flush of leaves

[Kevin]

Hello,

Thank-you to all for your kind words and encouragement on this post and the cafe earlier this morning.

It's been a busy day - at the beauticians all day. I just snapped a couple of shots for further feedback please - regarding her placement.

She may need her back side brought around to the right - maybe.

She's in her nightie, i ran out of fresh mix. But before i do that and bed her in - I need to ran a few errands. I will be back later tonight. Have progress shots to load as well.

Rory, your post was the last i read this morning and i cannot remember exactly what you said but that's all i've been thinking about all day - you make me laugh - you said something about your hand and being good with .... i'll read again. Holding something???

Can you please give her a quick once over for placement, and advise so i can fix before she gets bedded in later tonight.

Thank-you, again,

Talk soon,

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Kevin

[Ryceman3]

Yep, your front looks the goods to me ... I guess the good news is with a round pot the front can pretty much be whichever way you angle it... although if it has a specific point from which to view it (in your garden) you need to sort that as it is probably pretty heavy to rotate (I assume). Great Fig!

[anthonyW]

Here we go Kevin a variant or for a better word resemblance to the trunk of your beauty,you may of changed my thinking on the trunk design...they do exist lol(could not find your other thread hope you don t mind me posting here).

Found this guy in my valley,the pics don t really show the e normative and real beauty through a lens in flat/2d.

Hope you enjoy.

cheers Anthony

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[Kevin]

Thanks for posting Anthony,

I continue to wonder how such a tree was formed.
It appears i'm not the only one pondering this either, considering the condition of the foreground fence.
Hard to get a perspective of the tree's size - do you think it dates pre European settlement?
Before the dairy farms the entire area was Cool Temperate Rainforest.
I'd love to see the tree in the bark too and not too far away if you can recall the street name?

Thanks again,
Kevin

[Jdceng]

Hi Kevin

Just checking on the pot is that a fiberglass water bowl ?

Also can you post the fig up with something as a scale comparison, like a beer bottle or something ?

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi Kevin,

I love your Fig mate, it has a very natural look to it and reminds me of some of the Figs that are on Observatory Hill Sydney, such as in the photo below.

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What are your intentions with a pot for it in its future ?

Great tree again Kevin, looking forward to following its progress mate.

Cheers

David

[Kevin]

Hi Kevin
Just checking on the pot is that a fiberglass water bowl ?
Also can you post the fig up with something as a scale comparison, like a beer bottle or something ?

Hello JC,

The pot, well it was all i could find big enough at the time. It appears to be a conglomerate of fibreglass, cement and polymer.
It was purchased from Bunnings as a pot with just one hole in the bottom which i added about 20 more holes.
The trees a prolific grower, its roots constantly do a 'Houdini' and escape the pot. Right now the roots have started to grow over the pot's rim.
I'm not 100% sure as it hasn't flowered in the 20 years i have had it, but i believe it to be a Moreton Bay Fig.
The below photo was just taken.

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Thanks for your interest,
Kevin