Ficus ‘Mystery’ developed from root cutting, having little interest
Wrap the trunk with plastic ribbon
Apply heavy wire over the ribbon
Take two small branches and fuse them with cable ties
More cable ties placed along the branches to help fusion and develop a heavier branch more quickly
Final result is a more interesting plant that one day could become a pretty bonsai
Aerial roots are one of the most unique and wonderful features of figs. Aerial roots start out as small fine filaments from the trunk or branches and grow down to the soil. Once rooted into the soil they thicken and can become as thick or thicker than the trunk or branch from which they originated.
Growth of the aerial is faster than growth of the trunk. Designs utilizing aerials may need to be adjusted over time to compensate for the aerials growth.
Ficus virens with aerial on the left side of the trunk, 2016
The same aerial on the left side of the trunk, 2013.
Taking cuttings is one of the best ways to start a bonsai tree. In this example a cutting of Ficus ‘Mystery’ was taken. It was a long straight piece of stem with several aerial roots. A cutting taken with aerial roots is almost guaranteed to root.
In this case the cutting rooted successfully and several years later the bonsai created was an attractive semi-cascade tree.
I take cuttings regularly and place them in bonsai soil and enclose the pot and cutting in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high. The bag is kept out of direct sunlight but in good bright light. Open the bat and water the soil as needed to keep the soil from getting dry but do not keep the soil totally full of water.
The bonsai created from section 4 of the photograph below
Section 4 with its aerial roots was taken as a cutting
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 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
Ficus ‘Mystery’ is an unknown fig given to me in 2004 by friend David Fukumoto of Fuku-Bonsai.
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.
Aerial roots are one of the very useful and impressive features of some fig trees. As with other design elements of a bonsai the aerials must augment the overall design scheme.
In this Ficus virens the aerial root crosses across the trunk and in addition it gives the appearance of a reverse taper to the trunk of this tree. It could be removed or a better option is to move it to the other side of the trunk and use it to improve the taper of the trunk.
The aerial crosses the trunk
Closer view of the crossing aerial
A chisel is used to separate the root from its adherence to the trunk
The aerial is repositioned to the right side of the trunk
Close view showing moss added to the base of the aerial to help promote new hair roots to form
Young root emerging after only two weeks
The moved aerial is wrapped with sphagnum moss and placed into the soil. Within two weeks a new hair root is already formed. The repositioned aerial is now a permanent fixture of the design.