Ficus microcarpa in the Denver Botanic Garden

I was gifted this Ficus microcarpa from my good friend David Fukumoto in 2004. It was just accepted into the bonsai collection of the Denver Botanic Garden this July of 2015.

Defoliated to show the branch patterns

Partially re-leafed after defoliation

In full leaf

Larry Jackel, curator of the DBG bonsai collection, and his Ponderosa pine

I am greatly honored to have one of my best trees find a wonderful home for the next phase of its life. A place where it will live and be admired for many years.

To review the history of this fig please refer to:

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/RainforestFicus.html

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/RainforestFicus2.html

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/RainforestFicus3.html

http://www.fukubonsai.com/5a30.html

The definitive reference work on Ficus
for bonsai. The book is a softcover, 8 by 10 inch volume, with 144 color pages, containing detailed information for the beginner as well as the advanced hobbyist. Click here for more information

The evolution of a large Ficus microcarpa – Part Two

The first 5 years of progress with a Ficus microcarpa, Chinese Banyan, was outlined in a previous blog see http://www.bonsaihunk.us/public_html/?s=part+l

This is an update on how this fig has progresse as of April, 2015. It still has some years of refinement to undergo before it can claim its position as a mature bonsai.

Two procedures were accomplished today that are helping bring this bonsai in training a step closer to its end point. One, is to reveal the thickening produced by the second set of fusion grafts of rooted branches that were started 5-6 months ago.

Apex dated as a single sprout of very thin dimension

Apex as a single sprout of very thin dimension, allowed to grow wildly to thicken it up, 2013

First set of fusion grafts are successful but not yet thick enough, 2014

Second set of fusions at apex current appearance, 2015

Roots from fusion in moss conduit leading to plastic container to the bonsai pot

Plastic pot of soil leading roots down to the soil in bonsai pot

Roots can be seen already growing into the bonsai pot

Roots can be seen growing into the bonsai pot

Red arrow shows the path of the roots from the apex fusions to the bonsai pot

The second procedure was the approach graft on the right . Previously 3 approach grafts were tried and all failed for various reasons. A fourth approach graft was done today to once again try to get a branch established in this position. Since it it is the first branch and lowest branch on the right side of the tree it is crucial to have this set in proper position of good size and of the right shape as it will be key to setting the design of the rest of the bonsai tree.

Bonsai with first branch on right grafted and first set of apex fusions underway at the top of the tree, 2014

Close up of the graft showing already severed from the origin and soon to be knocked of and grown on its own to become the 4th approach graft

Close up of the lowest right graft already established on its own but soon to be accindentally knocked off – planted and grown on its own to become the 4th approach graft

Rooted cutting flipped vertically and graft held to stock with wire

Above cutting, rooted, flipped vertically and graft held to stock with wire

Approach graft’s root are led into the pot of soil, 2015

As of 2015 the process is now 5 years along since started by Jack Pollock and the tree is moving along amazingly well. I am guessing that another 3-5 years will pass by before the tree is an attractive bonsai. In the meanwhile the tree has provided me a lot of reason to continue to learn and grow in the wonders of the bonsai world.

An unusual species, Pyracomeles vilmorinii

Some 20 + years ago a dear friend gave me a rooted cutting of an unusual plant. It is supposedly a cross generic hybrid of Pyracantha and Osteomeles. The plant has survived growing indoors for all these years and makes an attractive cascade or semi-cascade as it seems to like growing a bit downwards.

Approximate size of the original cutting some 20 years ago

Cascade style works naturally for this specie’s growth pattern

The wood once set is quite hard and cannot be bent safely. All bends done with wire must be done in the green stage of the branches. Cut and grow is also an easy way to shape it.

It has never bloomed for me and it is fascinating that it would tolerate my warm and humid growing conditions and has never been subject to a cool rest period.

If you can find one it may be a fun plant to play with for your indoor bonsai collection.

Unusual style, Ficus ‘Mexicana’

Exposed root styles are one of may favorites.

This fig, Ficus that I call ‘Mexicana’ but whose real species name is unknown, is a root cutting of a mother tree. The original material was found in Mexico.

The exposed roots are interesting to my eye. The canopy is not yet clearly designed. At some future date I may have a better shape for this bonsai.

For now I enjoy it as an “unusual style”.

Ficus in an exposed root styling

What do you think?

How I grow a bonsai from a cutting

There are many ways to acquire a bonsai tree. One way is to take a cutting from a suitable material and to propagate it. In this case the mother tree is a Ficus rubiginosa grown form a seed from Australia.

Cutting taken from the mother plant about three years before the photo, 2010

The mother tree has great bonsai characteristics so a piece of the mother tree was removed and rooted into the large white growing pot. It was allowed to grow wildly for some years and when the trunk caliper seemed about right it was chopped down and tilted to the side.

It re-sprouted new leaves and branches low down making it suitable for a small bonsai. This re-spouted bonsai was then kept in relatively small pots while the details of the branches and apex were sorted out.

New low sprouts made shortening to a small bonsai possible, 2010

Branch selection and apex sorting out underway, 2013

Progress could have been much much faster if I had left the small tree in a much larger pot but space in my indoor growing area is very limited.

Further growth and maturation of the design, 2014

You can see the result some 5 years later in the last photo. Please remember that this tree is not completed. One, foliage is large and has not been reduced during the training process. More ramification will be produced now that the basic structure has been formed. Another year or two and the tree will be near completed.

Tree is shaping up well. Leaves are not uniform in size as training is still underway, 2015

Lesson, developing your cutting into a bonsai in a larger container will help speed of the process, although better control of shaping may be achieved in the smaller container.

Ficus virens Lipstick Ficus, White Fig

Ficus virens has many common names; Lipstick Ficus in India and White Fig in Australia. Whatever it is called it is a huge tree growing in its native environment. It can stand alone as a single trunk tree or exist as a strangler fig with many aerials. The most famous trees of this species are the Cathedral fig and the Curtain fig in Australia.

Ficus concinna is another fig species that has similarities to Ficus virens. It also has red new leaves and is used extensively in the Philippines for bonsai. There it is called Red Balete. Under my care growing in a plant room Ficus concinna is superior to Ficus virens. Ficus virens can lose some fine branches for reasons unknown.

Ficus virens can make good larger bonsai. Leaves reduce well in container culture. Some cultivars show extensive red or bronze coloring on the new leaves. Unfortunately this lovely red color does not persist for long as it fades into a dark green as the leaves mature.

Ficus virens is not often available as plants in the US so all my trees are grown from seed. The following are all about 11 years old and beginning to show signs of becoming good bonsai. All the trees are under 7-12″ tall or about 30cm.

Photos below are of seed grown Ficus virens. First shot is without leaves to view the branching.

Reverse taper

Trees ideally should have a wide root base that tapers up into the trunk. A bulge or lack of proper taper often ruins the visual flow from the rootline to the apex of the tree and is called reverse taper.

In this case several root cuttings of Willow Leaf fig, Ficus salicaria, were bound togeter in about 2006 and fused together to form a larger trunk accomplishing in a shorter time than it woud take to grow the same diameter trunk in my plant room. Fusion was helped greatly by using a large container and allowing free growth of the tree.

The first shot is taken in 2009 when the fusion was successful but the fusion was not totally complete.

2009, with trunks partially fused

A picture of the tree in 2014 shows good fusion and a reverse taper with the roots and base of the tree appearing narrower at the left side of the base than a bit farther up the trunk.

2014 showing the left side of the base of the tree with weak footage

2014 showing the left side of the base of the tree with weak rootage

Three roots were moved around from the left front and left back of the tree. Two of the three roots were fused to other roots at the base and a chisel was needed to separate them from the base, allowing the roots to be moved. One root at the back was just up-rooted and moved around to the left side.

The lowest root on the back was simply dug out and easily moved around to the front

Side root is fused to the base – it is separated with a chisel

2015, the moved roots now enhance the base of the tree and eliminate the reverse taper

Developing a bunjin/literati fig

Starting with this rather young rooted cutting of Ficus ‘Mystery’ I hope to one day develop a bunjin or literati style bonsai. The rooted cutting is now about two years old.

Ficus ‘Mystery’ from an aerial root cutting

After a quick trimming a nice line has developed in the trunk. Possibility #1

Possibility #2

Possible design #3

Possible design #4

Which of the designs seems to be the best to your eye?

To learn more about bunjin/literati styles see http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/Bunjin_literati_Style.html

Ficus rumphii, a rare bonsai subject

This is a Ficus rumphii, an unusual and rare bonsai subject in the west. This specimen is about 8 years old and seed grown.

Leaves are large but reduce with defoliation. There is some random branch die back suggesting that this may not make the best bonsai subject.

The bark is a rather stark whitish brown.

Ficus rumphii, about 12″ tall with most leaves removed

Defoliation of my Ficus rubiginosa, PJ fig

I have had this fig for many years. In the last year or so I have just pinched out areas that needed restraining and left other areas to grow out to create heavier branches where needed.

You can see the wide variation in the leaf size depending upon how the branch was maintained.

Ficus with leaves varying from small to large

Now defoliated so that branch posiition can be assessed and wired into position if needed. New leaves will come in smaller in of uniform size.

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Fig trees and tropicals as bonsai