Mahogany Row Studio

Indian Laurel Fig Over Rock

Posted by Rob Kempinski on Jun 29 2009

“Between a Rock and a Hard Place” – An English axiom that  means stuck in a tough situation, such as Britain was when it faced a choice of the rock of democracy and the whirlpool of tyrannical rule.  This Root over Rock Ficus is not in such dire straights but the roots are clasping the rock very firmly.

This tree was featured in the 2008 US National Exhibition photo album (page  78).  It’s been about 7 months since then and time for some rework.  The leaves were hit with a fungus so I defloliated the tree.  Here are views all around.

The front. 

Side

Back

Other side

I did some thinning and pruning along with wiring most branches to introduce more asymmetry into the crown and to create some space.  The birds will always have a tough time flying through this tree as the near shohin size and leaves usually make a full tropical canopy.

That’s not too say the branches don’t have good structure.  Check out this overhead shot.

By the way, the rock came from Japan and was larger but broke into 3 pieces.  This was the largest of the remaining pieces. 

This last shot shows it in 2006  ago with leaves.

Just for Fun, here is another Ficus I started working on this year. When I got the tree I removed all branches and started a new apex.  That was about 3 months ago.  The pot is by John Pitt of the UK.  Note the fungus spots on the leaves.  I have really been fighting fungus on my Indian Laurel Figs (Ficus microcarpa). 

Here it is after new branch selection and a bit of wire.  The new branching is in really good position for a informal upright.