As a bonsai it is not the easiest of subjects as its leaves reduce but not extremely well. Branching is not dense so the growth tends to be rather open.
The red leaf color seems to be accentuated in bright light.
Leaves are large for this small sized bonsai
Leaves are attractive with a wavy edge and prominent main veins
The bonsai when defoliated shows the beginnings of proper structure for a slant style
Multiple trunks fused together from separate seedlings
Ficus infectoria is an invalid name, according to the botanists, and should technically be called Ficus virens. This material shows a coarser grower than some of my other virens. It seems to be quite happy in container culture with no special needs.
This bonsai is actually 3 or 4 root fused trees that were grown from seed. The seedlings were never separated to their own containers so that over time the root and bases fused to form one tree.
Defoliated once or twice yearly to improve branching, produce smaller leaves and to allow visualization of the branches
As the trees grew they naturally fused to each other so that now this is one root connected tree.
A root cutting is shown from a Willow Leaf fig. The bonsai is now about 10 years old.
Willow Leaf fig from the root cutting removed 10 years ago
This root cutting was removed from a bonsai tree and grew into the above tree
In this example a Ficus ‘Mystery’ was placed on a rock about 9-10 years ago. It was a piece of a larger plant see http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/BreakingUpIsEasyToDo.html
This section was frankly quite ugly and I almost discarded it. Rather than throwing it away I decided to place it on the rock. It was strapped to the rock with plastic tape and grown for years with most of the rock and the roots buried in soil. Over time the roots and the stone were exposed.
You can see the result in 2014. The bonsai has improved dramatically and one day may become one of my favorites.
The ugly plant was strapped to this stone in about 2004
The bonsai as seen in 2014
Root-over-rock designs can be done in many ways but the best and quickest results will be achieved with plants that have super aggressive root systems. Plants that grow slowly and have fibrous root systems generally will not succeed as root-over-rock designs.
Same tree with mid-level lef branch removed
Now the mid-level right sided branch is removed.
Which one looks the best is or the best one the original design and keeping the bar branches as you see below?
Willow leaf fig as it exists now
One of the most interesting aspects of various figs is the leaf. Leaves can be large, smooth or hairy, glossy or dull and have many, many other variations.
The photo below shows some fig leaves and their variation. The size of the leaves varies from 7″ to about 1″ on the right. All can be used for bonsai of various sizes depending on how much the leaves can reduce with proper culture and care.
Fig leaves from the left are benghalensis, ingens, religiosa, microcarpa and salicaria
Fusion is a useful technique for rare or unusual materials and for adding in branches, roots etc. to a fig that needs these parts.
Bind the trees together with anything that will distribute the compression forces over a wider area to lessen scarring and use a binding material that does not stretch. Allow rampant growth of the materials to speed the fusion.
Marks left from the electrical ties can be reduced by allowing a year or two of un-restrained growth after the ties are removed.
For another article on this topic see http://www.bonsaihunk.us/FusedFig.html
Ficus natalensis only one year since the start of fusing
Lower trunk with fusion remaining to be accomplished with more growth
Ficus virens ‘Thai’ with multiple rooted cuttings pulled together with electrical ties
Close up view of the ties and some marks left from earlier ties that were removed
Ficus natalensis (type two) allowed wild growth to speed the fusion process
Close up of the lower trunk showing nicely fusing trees
The first shot shows one of the pieces of the tree that was initially sectioned into 5 pieces.
The second shot shows the piece #4 in 2014.
Ficus ‘Mystery’ as part of a larger plant, 2004
Piece #4, 2014
This material is vigorous and aggressive and shapes up into beautiful bonsai. I would recommend it highly to anyone growing figs as bonsai.
See http://www.bonsaihunk.us/public_html/?p=125 for more about Ficus ‘Mystery’.
Ficus ‘Mystery’ #1
Ficus ‘Mystery” is so called because its exact scientific name is unclear. No matter what this fig is called it is one of the best figs for bonsai that I have cared for.
Ficus ‘Mystery’ #2
You can see how these two figs were created from a tree given to me by David Fukumoto of www.fukubonsai.com by clicking here http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/BreakingUpIsEasyToDo.html
One of David’s figs of this species is in the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington, DC. It is a beauty.
Let me know how you like mine.
See how these various figs in this style work for you.
Ficus natalensis
Ficus natalensis
Ficus ‘Mystery’
Ficus ‘Mystery’
Ficus ‘Mystery’
Ficus ‘Mystery’
