Any Restyling Ideas On This Ficus Passed On To Me?

Happy Gilmore

Last fall a neighbour gave me this ficus (and it all kickstarted my bonsai interest!) he brought back a few years ago from Japan.

It's shape/style has never 'grabbed' me and the last couple months some deep wiring wounds have healed VERY well and are nearly gone. It's growing quickly at present and I'm considering a major restyling and would appreciate hearing thoughts/opinions (or virts!). I can't see a vision for the new design but I do see that in pic3 the trunk flow seems more natural if the right 3 branches are removed, and thus I could see removing the 'front' 3 branches (see top picture) at that single trunk/branch union which would just leave the two remaining branches. If I did do this I'd like to save the front 3 branches as nursery/donor ficus. Can I just cut it off and root it as a mature cutting? Not sure their's room present to airlayer.

Lets discuss if you think they should be removed or any other thoughts....trunk is still somewhat flexible and other branches very flexible.

Thanks!

Pics below

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see revised pics below

Jerry Meislik

happy,
Can you show us where the surface roots are. Expose them and then take another picture of the tree.
Jerry

__________________
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

Happy Gilmore

Thanks Jerry, can do. Of my plants this one I'm most sensitive about damaging as it was quite treasured by my neighbour who visits it when in town (he lives right across the street but travels lots)....the plants to date I've 'exposed' were nursery stock with tons of matted roots/lots of work to untangle etc.

So working carefully from surface downward on this ficus shouldn't do any fatal damage at all then? I know they're hardy so sorry for my sillly questions but I'm just paranoid on this one plant 'gifted' to me.

It was fully repotted Oct of last year FWIW.

Happy Gilmore

OK, exposing roots was WAY easier than working with nursery stock Looks like root over rock may be good or fully lifted above soil eventually...aerial? I'll post overall pic and then closeup of same roots, sequentially rotating to the left.

Pic 1

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