AusBonsai

The following photos were taken on 21/March/2009:


View 1 - 1


View 1 - 2


View 1 - 3


View 1 - 4


View 1 - 5

The measurements:

• Pot diameter: about 30-35 cm.
  
  Pot height: about 7-9 cm.
  
  Height of the tree: 35-40 cm.
  
  Length of rock base (widest): about 10 cm -- View 1 - 4.
  
  (I kept forget to measure them.)

The texture of the rock is like type of rock that is used to make
roads. (It is heavy.) I am not sure if it is Australian or imported.

The pot is Japanese. It is not a signed pot.

*
* *

My father has been training this fig for 10 years. He bought it as a
tube stock for few dollars.

It has no "head", but a lot of little branches radiating around the top
end. It is a bit disappointed consider the times that it has been in
training as a bonsai.

The attractive feature of this composition is the roots. But, I also
feel that from certain angle they do actually suggest funny things.
For example, View 1 - 3 is like the bottom of a monkey who has
two long tails: the two lower small roots. But this could easily be
corrected.

View 1 - 5 shows the major fault, the root on the right leaves
a big gap from the rock. I think this root will be cut off.

It needs some major corrections. But overall I like this tree. Given
the right care, I think it could turned into an attractive fig bonsai.

before cutting the rot off, make some small deep cuts, put on rooting hormone and pack it with sphagnum moss and try fill it with roots.

with a fuller canopy i think this tree could look much better!

i've always like root over rock compositions. i agree with antonio in regards to the canopy.
The roots are great but the lack of foliage makes it look like it needs a little bit more work

I like your tree very much.
I particularly like 1-4 view of the rock and roots.
I too feel that the apex of the tree needs more development. Perhaps selectively remove a few branches at the trunk reduction point and allow one branch or two to begin wild growth to form a definitive apex or apices.
Keep us posted.
Jerry
PS over time the fig will totally envelop the rock and lose the root over rock look. You may wish to remove some of the finer roots to keep this from happening.