You can do just about anything with a fig tree. In Japan, they prune them into odd shapes for easier harvesting. For extensive photos of this, check out this link: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Japanese-fig-growing-method-fabulous-photos-4374293 (Same as link shown below) Here is a link that might be useful: Japanese Style Fig Farming

I'm still just a fledgling fig freak, and I'm sure the Grand-Pooh-Bah's of figs will chime in on the subject, but from what I have learned you leave it outside till the leaves drop, them move to a cool, dark location, such as an unheated garage or basement. You CAN plant them permanently outdoors and protect them adequately using several techniques described here as well. I am a fan of a wire cage stuffed (but not too tightly) with dried leaves, which I find for free all over my yard in the fall. Secondly, and don't mid interpret this as trying to sway you from supporting your local nurseries, because I feel we should all do so. But, come winter-time there is likely to be quite a few folks on this forum trading and some even giving away cuttings for only the cost of postage. to wit: I got a few Marseilles cuttings from a member here last winter and one is doing quite nicely in my modest suburban orchard/vineyard. I gave the other to an acquaintance and he also got it rooted successfully. In return, I will certainly be offering up any cuttings I have after pruning my various figs, once they go dormant.

It's hard to tell without a clearer image. As long as it grows then anything should be fine.

That's actually the problem. Both grow quickly and large (although particularly F. religiosa; they can get massive). Space is limited, and while trees can (and will) be trimmed to keep them under control, justifying allocating a footprint for both may be difficult. My understanding is that fig species generally take to grafting well, but I was hoping someone would know more about the combination of F. carica and F. religiosa. BTW, your mentioning the ability to open a crack in a few years raises an interesting possibility - creating a structure where a F. religiosa would be with the explicit intent that it would be attacked by the roots, and take on that classic fig-overtaking-a-ruins look. Elsewhere, there are no "bottoms" on the pots, and root penetration of exterior foundations can be controlled with copper. Probably smart to have aggressive-rooting plants like figs away from the edges nonetheless, however. I understand that there are some F. religiosa in India that are said to trace their lineage back to the original bodhi tree - for example, one growing at the Mahabodhi Temple. Do you know if it's possible to get seeds / cuttings, or are these tightly controlled? I guess I should really be getting in contact with the temple to ask about that... You don't think anyone would take offense to the idea of F. carica branches grafted onto an ancestral Bodhi tree, do you, or that it would ruin its significance?