Advice needed for my Port Jackson Fig

[BonsaiBoy]

Hi everyone

I have had this PJ for about 3 years and I'm not happy with the way it is looking. It is 2 dimensional and looks sad
Can everyone please help me with ideas and I will do what is recommended and post pictures of the progress here for everyone to see.

PJ face A 10.12.08.JPG

PJ side A 10.12.08.JPG

PJ face B 10.12.08.JPG

PJ side B 10.12.08.JPG

Thank you!
BB

[Pup]

Bonsai Boy unless you want a very small such as a Shohin. It needs to be in a larger grow box something like a veggie of styrene.
Then feed feed it will then grow and give you more to select from. Also it will give you a chance to work on the roots. To spread them out so you have a better root spread. Not the twisted ones usually associated with Figs
By the look of the foliage it is under a lot of heavy shade. It needs In my opinion more sun than it is getting at the moment.
Wire is the best way to hold those branches in position. I hope this helps in some way. Could you please, try to get a plain back ground, when you take pics as all those bricks are so distracting. Pup

[Asus101]

If you want thicker trunk, do as pup suggested as well as get a few more from your supplier. Try to match bark and fuse them together.

[Jon Chown]

Both of the previous replies are well stated, the question is as Pup said - What size bonsai are you wanting BB? If it is a Mame then I feel that the trunk is almost there and with a bit more work on secondary and tirtiary branch structure, you could have a very respectable small bonsai in a relatively short time.

This is the way that I would head - if you want a bigger bonsai, start with better stock as the time required to gain girth and size is not what having bonsai is all about in my opinion.

Jon

[PeterW]

You are getting good advise there BB. They only thing i would add (provided you are after a bigger tree) is, dont worry about the branches or anything else just yet. As Pup said....Plenty of sun, water and feed feed feed! You will end up cutting back to a bare trunk in a few years, 2 maybe 3.
Peter

[kcpoole]

Hi BB
Looks like a bigger version of mine.

I puchased this one a year or so ago, and have trimmed it back. Now I am starting to Develop the canopy.

It is about 6" tall

[BonsaiBoy]

Thanks very much for your thughts and advice. I will make a Shohin from it tonight. May even put it into a bonsai pot at the same time cause its getting warmer here in Brissy.
I'll post a piccy here tomorrow.

BB

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi BonsaiBoy,

I think I am too late but the cutting can root. And if you have times and patience, QLD is a good place to collect Australian
ficus seeds. There is even a big ficus tree close to the city I think in Adelaide St?

Regards,

Viet.

[aaron_tas]

im not sure, but i think there's one on the corner of eagle and elizabeth in brizzy.
i was working close by, i think i have a photo...

yea, and i know im in the wrong thread, but if you want to increase aerial roots on a fig...
plant it in the streets of brizzy...

brizzi 023edited.jpg

definitely a memorable tree

[BonsaiBoy]

Hi everyone, I did a little work last night

PJ face A 11.12.08.JPG

PJ face B 11.12.08.JPG

The top of the PJ.JPG

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. What do you think about what I have done?

I'll keep posting as it recovers.

BB

[Asus101]

use those cuttings to fuse with if you want a fatter trunk.

[Pup]

G, day BB I like what you have done so, far the top needs attention though.
Wire it up the cuttings you have taken do not need all those leaves. Pup

[Jon Chown]

Hi BB, I agree with Pup, the top needs to be wired up into a more formal trunk line (unless of course you are thinking along the lines of an Informal upright).

In order to do this, you should make a concave cut at the top somewhat like this picture - Figs heal well

Fig cut.jpg

Jon

[Hector Johnson]

This tree should be showing a fair bit of new growth now?

Is it appropriate to ask whether you could post progression phoyos again, BB?

[MelaQuin]

I would have repotted into a flatter pot, cut just above the third branch and wired the two side branches horizontal after defoliating. And fed it. By this time it would have had a heap of new branchlets....