Ficus burtt-davyi, larger specimen tree

Figs of Burtt-davyi has small figs that are in scale

Figs of Burtt-davyi, smaller size trees

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Unusual material, Ficus thonningii in root-over-rock style

Ficus salicaria, Willow Leaf, another good small-leafed species

Younger specimens of Willow Leaf

Ficus carica, Edible Fig, large leaves restrained by defoliation

Ficus microcarpa, small specimen bonsai

Ficus benghalensis on left, microcarpa'Ginseng' on right-
benghalensis leaves are very much reduced!

 

 

I have grown Ficus for many years, because I was always searching for a plant that would fill all the needs of a Bonsai enthusiast. Alas, there is no one answer to that question.  When I lived in New York (JIUSAN BONSAI STUDIO), I tried many different species of Ficus and found that they worked well for indoor growing. Now that I live in Southern California all my plants are grown outdoors. 

Each person visualizes Bonsai differently.  My favorite for developing a Bonsai is Pine, so I utilized Ficus to create a Pine-like structure – like a painter or sculptor, I utilize plant material to form trees that do not necessarily look like what they do when growing naturally.

I found most Ficus responsive to training with few exceptions.  Some were more difficult for varied reasons:  such as, brittleness causing the branches to break when attempting to bend them.

Size, also, became an important factor as well as a challenge, because so many of my students and customers desired smaller Bonsai to grow in their homes and apartments. Smaller bonsai were less expensive and gave the Bonsai enthusiast a larger, theoretically, more impressive collection.  It also required pruning to reduce leaf size and retain the miniature forms. Using smaller leaf forms like Burtt-Davyi  and Willow Leaf ficus made this task easier.

The photos show a collection of Ficus that respond favorably to training and were just pruned back to maintain basic form. Burtt-Davyi  has been a favorite of mine because of the size of the fruit in proportion to the tree. Aerial roots develop easily in climates where there is plenty of humidity; even where I live in Southern California, which is an arid climate, I can develop the aerial root with some difficulty.

Ficus trees are most rewarding with the only limitation being one’s imagination.  Give them a try – you will be rewarded!