As Scary as this seems, it was not too bad. We mixed up some bark based soil similar to Al's 5:1:1. Then removed the trees and started working on the root ball. This seemed like an impossible tangled mess, but it just took a little patience. I will translate that for you. I sat in the chair and my son Zach worked on it.

After this task was done, I had to get in on the hero shot.Now, following advice from this forum, we trimmed off 20% of the bottom roots. We did find one very thick, twisted tap root and removed a lot of it. This looks scarier then it is.After trimming things up, they fit in the pots nicely. The final root ball is almost an umbrella shape of light roots under each tree.I also remember a strong reference from al about timing and fathers day, so all of this work was completed on fathers day last week end. Here are the two boys in their finished configuration.I have a dappled sun area on the patio and we will set them there to recover. It has only been a couple days, so potential leaves falling off etc. may still be in my future. I will keep everyone updated on how the boys turn out.

I like doing heavy pruning in late winter. Reduces stress.

Anthony, please stop with that. The best advice for Tropicals such as ficus would be to do any root pruning and repotting around Father's Day when the trees are at the top of their stored energy. These trees are not deciduous. Late winter, but more like early spring would be good for deciduous trees before their buds pop.

potting up, however, can be done just about any time of year.

Good job Larry! Nice looking FLF's you have!

Nicely done Larry, and well timed. Looks like a fun Father's day father/son project! I bet those trees are happy to have more space now.

Dave is of course right regarding tropicals and timing. I had my own ficus project this last weekend I have waited months for, but with the intent to fuse rather than separate. Maybe later I will post about my frankenficus, assuming my ministrations didn't kill the poor thing. Undoubtedly you will have better luck than I. :)

Al, I second that. Seeing as he's posted that same sentence on multiple threads.

Thanks Al, I enjoy and glen information on all your posts. I will post a pic of my only Bansi I almost killed when I brought it home.

It has been a week and my two trees have not lost any leaves and they look good.

Nice plants, Larry Just a point of information. This is a Ficus lyrata aka Fiddle Leaf Fig, rather than 'Fiddler', named for the leaf shape.

Well, the fiddler would have a fiddle, right? Just kidding! As you can tell, I am quite the amateur, thank you for the clarification . Eventually, I might sound half way knowledgeable . I am sitting outside at the moment trying to watch how the morning sun plays across the patio where the Fiddle leafs sit. (Look I am trainable)

We all knew what you meant, Larry.

Glad to hear things seem to be stable & the plants are still looking good.

Al