Ficus macrophylla - Urban Yamadori - Collected 1997

[dansai]

Here it is.

IMG_4589.jpg

I will create its own topic after the weekend.

And how it was when I got it 4 years ago.

75L Fig Base.jpg

[anthonyW]

Very nice trunk look forward to it.
Anthony

[Kevin]

Thanks Anthony,
I will definitely head into Bonsai South as suggested, i have read a lot in the threads regarding Bonsai South.

Thanks again to Tony, Boics, Anthony, Sno and Dansai,

I posted my Ficus on here for the sole purpose of attaining your feedback, you people have the experience that i presently lack.

Regarding your thoughts on my Ficus, i have had time to digest them and earlier posted my feedback regarding your "Cut Down" reduce size suggestions which i completely agree with, while still retaining proportions and 'naturalistic' styling. I just need to ensure i go about it correctly. More

The other issue raised was that ROOT. Personally, i agree with all your comments. Sno, i know that comment is an oxymoron, i too liked that root until i saw some images of it. When viewing the Ficus from the front and rear, that ROOT isn't an issue. But those photos i posted do depict ugliness and the word distraction is an understatement. When at home, i do a lot of photography practice (as well as bonsai too now, i just need more stock). Practicing photography for me lately has been utilising, familiarising, composing and learning how to and where to / not to take the greatest advantage from a particular type / size lens. At home i rotate lenses and force myself to use it regardless - the results, at times are not true accounts of reality.

Back to reality now - That ROOT, i now believe has well and truly established itself as a permanent fixture upon the tree, integrating itself into the entire rear portion of the tree. Removal of that root would cause the death of half the tree. This opinion / my opinion is based on observation - the trees changing physiology and a horticultural hunch / instinct.

Further feedback on the above paragraph would be interesting - as i cannot apply EXPERIENCE to my equations.

I do appreciate the efforts you have taken to give me your opinions and advice.

Thanks again,
Kevin

[Kevin]

Thanks dansai,
I can see how you've drawn the comparisons and applied the techniques you explained to me.
I too, like Anthony look forward to your Ficus progression - don't 'dally' on Monday Night. Ha ha, I do realise a lot of time is involved in posting a progression.
Don't forget to mention the air layer - did it work? How's it doing now?
Kevin

[Kevin]

Hello all,

Just a Winter update for the Progression.
She managed to pull through my mismanagement of defoliation and heavy root prune in late January and now sits with her rear tracking the Winter's sun.
I was disappointed with the lack of back budding on the older wood, but not surprised considering the heavy root prune.

The below photo shows a typical apical branch, with quite a few buds emerging, however, only the strongest 2 - 4 developed fully.

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As it sits now.

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P.S. I'd be interested in your opinion on 'that aerial root' from this shot. Personally, i feel it gives the plant an authoritative type stance.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Kevin]

A Summer pre trim update,

I just moved her to a new location and plan very shortly to give her that hard top prune we spoke about 12 months ago.

_DSC5858.jpg

Thanks
Kevin

[wal]

Omg i'm totally speechless.. can't wait to show the mrs that

[anthonyW]

Very nice and healthy,looking very good Kevin.

cheers Anthony

[boom64]

Great work Kevin ,coming ahead in a big way. Looking forward to next update. John.

[Kevin]

Thanks Wal, Anthony and John,

The tree wasn't too healthy last year, hence the reason for the delayed pruning.
Now it's in tip top health the below F. macrophylla is the shape i'll be trying to emulate, twice as broad as it is high.

Morton Bay Fig - Moore Park -1600x1066.jpg

Any thoughts welcome,
Kevin

[Kevin]

Well I know it looks better from the front and rear but I still don't like it from the sides. This is MY opinion of YOUR tree of course - you can do whatever you wish with it. If it were mine I would cut off the root and start to bring the canopy back smaller to make it a bit smaller and compact.

Hello all,

Just a quick reply for now.

It's taken me a while to find this thread. I just wanted to bump this thread back to the top so i can find it easier when i can sort out the technical difficulties i'm experiencing at the moment. I've taken a heap of photos, but suddenly discovered my 10 year old laptop can no longer handle processing 73 MB RAW photos. So i now need to adjust my camera settings to enable posting here.

Basically this tree, my pride and joy, due to seriously life threatening health concerns has been left untended, to it's own devices since November 2018. Thank god for La Nina . All my bonsai and potential bonsai either died or rooted into the substrate without any care or water until 24 Dec 2022. 2 days ago i hired a team of Arborists to cut down the 2 x 10 metre high Eucalyptus salignus trees (ex bonsai) and prune the remaining 3 or 4 figs. The photos will explain better.

My present dilemma:

- This fig i hope to save.
- Suddenly, the temperatures in my area are going to be in the mid 30's for at least the next week and no rain forecast. The tree is and has been literally frying, full sun all day with it's previously protected trees removed. I cannot move this tree by myself anywhere else at the moment.
- I have a young fella (who seems horticulturally clued in) coming later in the week to help me with the heavy labour involved in transplanting / moving this fig to a more suitable nursery area for future bonsai development.
- I need to buy, sooner than later a reciprocating saw so i can remove the heavier limbs coming out of the top of the tree. So when it hopefully re-shoots they are on limbs that matter (important for future design).

Some general advancements since the last photo was taken:

- The fig is certainly not a Moreton Bay (macrophylla). My best guess is microphylla.
- The nebari (measured at soil level) is now 600mm. That's the diameter of the present circular pot. Huge, by my standards. Where do you find bonsai pots this big?
- That singular massive aerial root which was a dilemma in the above documentation remained. It has now fused with the trunk, increasing the overall trunk and nebari size considerably.
- I'd love to keep this tree / bonsai but i'm unsure i have the capabilities and health to do so.
- I've considered selling this fig and the other 3 or 4 Fig trees / stumps. However, I have no idea of their wealth - but i do know with the right TLC they can become nice trees in several years. They have great potential if only I or someone else can nurse them back to health sooner than later.

Photos to come, time permitting.

Thanks for reading, as always help / comments are most welcome.

I need to go to bed, bugger, I can't believe how late it is / how long it's taken me to post this.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all.

Kevin

[Sno]

Hi Kevin . I am sorry to hear about your bad health , I hope things can get better for you .
I look forward to seeing your fig when you can post the images . I have just repotted my fig today , I um’ed and ar’ed about the pot I put it into because now I can’t physically lift it on my own . The deciding factor was when it was in the old pot I could just lift it which put me at risk of hurting myself . So now I have no choice but get some one to help me move it when I have to . If it becomes to much to get that help I will move it on .
I don’t know the value of your tree , I am sure if you post it up people would give you an honest appraisal . I know bonsai has increased a bit in value for good bonsai stock lately . You maybe could open it up to reasonable offers and keep it private . A lot of stuff sells on Facebook sites these days .
All the best Craig

[Kevin]

Hello Craig,

Thanks for your reply and well wishes. Your fig must be big? Do you plan to make a post? It's still 2022 and you've already got a dedicated thread. I would love to see it, when time permits. My health / heart has been stable for the last 12 months, however, far from normal. Just supervising the Arborist caused severe pain for the rest of the day, luckily it eventually settled and no hospitalisations were required. Basically, i can't do anything physical these days. Anyway, on with the show, no more violins.

I've managed to take some photos, unfortunately the quality is far from what it should be, but it's all i could knock together regarding applications i could find online to process the images taken. I do miss Lightroom, so quick and quality results.

Unfortunately the before shots are RAW files and I'm unsure how to develop those without a new computer. These first 2 photos show an overview of my old bonsai display area as it is now after the big cut down.

DSC5957_1_1280x720.jpg

DSC5958_1280x720.jpg

The next series of photos tries to show this tree a little closer.

DSC5959_1280x720.jpg

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DSC5964_1280x720.jpg

DSC5966_1280x720.jpg

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Can you make out / see that aerial root in one of the above photos taken of the tree from the side photo #DSC5964. I'm amazed at how much the root and trunk have thickened. There's only a few more mm's to go before they are fused into one.

I'll see if i can take better photos later in the week when the tree is hopefully moved out of the baking sun and some more trimming is done. My present thoughts are not to remove to much foliage at this time as I presume when it's moved most of the feeder roots will remain below the pot in the substrate. My theory - the foliage will hopefully power new roots to grow. Does this make sense

Any other tips regarding the transplant / relocation are most welcome. Thank-you everyone.

Kevin

[Kevin]

I didn't miss this

Bonsai Slave.jpg

Kevin

[Sno]

I didn't miss this

Bonsai Slave.jpg



Kevin

That’s me !