I don't think it wants to be a cascade, I think you're trying to force it. I would try to wire that top branch back to the right as much as possible and cut it back a little bit at the top to try to force some back budding that you can grow out.
Also the gap between the rock and the roots looks a bit weird, but I bet putting some sphagnum moss in the crevice would cause some roots to grow in its place.
thanks for the advice. i'll almost circularly lop off that root when the tree is a bit more established, like in the photoshoped one here, and remove a lot of the fine roots above ground.
i think maybe you are right about the cascade not right. i'll try get some low branches onto trunk on all sides
here i photoshoped in a top from a formal upright ficus. i'm not sure this is the right style either
this i like better and the low branch on the left us already there
by the way, that's my home made cement pot, i put a video on youtube about how to make them, look for 2112design channel