Ficus benjamina 'Natasja' styling

[GerhardG]

Hi All

I bought this plant several years ago mostly as a source of cuttings and to practice some techniques on.
Turns out I gave all the best cuttings away, and more of the experiments worked than didn't, so it's got a good base ( not apparant in the photos) and good taper.

That's where the good news stopped...

I think I went for Pine tree "style" for a while , and thanks to the apical dominance etc etc this has never really worked, and being a sort of formal upright (accident) with branches in all the wrong places doesn't help.

It's about 30cm high from the base.

ANY styling ideas would be very welcome!

Thanks
Gerhard

 

[GerhardG]

Sorry for the double pic....

From the side....very 2D

 

[GerhardG]

the front....or other back

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

Very first impression would be to make this a flat top style. With some aerial roots dropping from the main branches it would be pretty dramatic.

Another option is to do a slanting style.

In both designs first 3 or 4 branches would be removed.

Post an update when you work it.

 

[KennedyMarx]

It looks like it would make a great formal upright, but I don't think I've ever seen any pictures of ficus in that style.

 

[GerhardG]

Hi

Unfortunately way too hot & dry where I live now to ever get arial roots, but maybe the flat top is not a bad idea....
"Problem" with that it this ia Acacia country, so everything is flat top style in nature.....could be a bit boring....

I've also thought of changing the planting angle completely, but I hesitated because there's no plan after that......just planting it skew and hoping for the best is maybe not the best idea.

I tried grafting branches in the open space between branches 1/2 and 3/4, but no success, and obviously no backbudding.

BTW, removing the first 4 branches aren't an issue, 3&4 are by now thicker than 1&2 so it's a problem anyway.

Thanks, will post when I decide what to do......keep the ideas coming please.

Cheers
Gerhard