No knowledge of ficus

[Colorado]

This was my vision, sounds like it's not too crazy, maybe doable this year?
Thanks!
B

Personally, I would not chop it that hard. You have nice taper up through those upper 3 branches. I’d pick the front one of those and cut it back to a couple inches. Then remove the other 2 and the 2 large lower branches completely also.

 

[ShadyStump]

I'm always hesitant to cut back to nothing, so I do it in steps. Big steps, but steps, leaving just a few leaves near each cut.

 

[brentwood]

Personally, I would not chop it that hard. You have nice taper up through those upper 3 branches. I’d pick the front one of those and cut it back to a couple inches. Then remove the other 2 and the 2 large lower branches completely also.

Oh sure, take the reasonable approach ... The lowest branch seems disconnected from the rest, on my radar to lose - maybe that and the major cut to the branch you suggest is a reasonable first step....

Thanks for looking,
B

 

[brentwood]

The roots keep trying to grow out the sides in this newer pot, so I made a trip to my local guy, bit on a Chinese pot - I'll let it settle in here briefly, then start a little surgery...
B

 

[brentwood]

Cut cut cut, slowly to start.... Took some smaller and larger cuttings, too

B

 

[brentwood]

Took that nub break to the trunk, didn't like it pointing straight out at viewer

 

[brentwood]

It's really happy now, the soil, rootwork, sun - just exploding. Just leaving it now, may trim heard again next spring.

 

[19Mateo83]

That first one, in the tan pot, the roots starting over the edge intrigued me. Otherwise it looks like they've only been building trunks on these, so all the other work is up to you.
So, are you up for spending $100 on just a trunk you like?

That one with the roots spilling out is bad ass.

 

[brentwood]

That one with the roots spilling out is bad ass.

That's the one I bought, I trimmed the spilling over parts of the roots and am trying to get a bigger base, think 6-8 inches easy. I left everything inside of that original picture, started the cleanup at the knuckles ala Alien.

 

[brentwood]

Last pictures for the year probably, let it stew inside for the winter. It's really recovered from what I got last fall, geeked to see it at this point next year.

G

 

[ShadyStump]

Looking good