The Art of Bonsai

Category: Ficus virens

  • Ficus with rounder leaves

    Ficus show lots of natural variations when grown from seed. Leaf shape, leaf size, bark color, vigor etc. can vary greatly from one seedling to the next. This can even occur with seed harvested from the same mother tree. Here is one of many Ficus virens that I have grown from seed. This individual has…

  • Fusing a fig tree

    Using fusion to improve a fig tree is a valuable technique. However, it is necessary to use genetically identical material or the fusion my show differences in bark, leaf, etc. that can detract from the uniformity and believability of the design. In this case seedlings of Ficus virens while very young were fused to create…

  • Thickening the trunk of a bonsai

    There are several ways to thicken the trunk of a bonsai. One way is to take aerials that are near the trunk and pull them over to touch the trunk and hold them tightly in place. Over time the aerials will fuse to the trunk enlarging it, as well as creating improved surface rootage/nebari. Aerials…

  • Aerial roots and growth

    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…

  • 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…

  • Five years development with a fig

    This bonsai was grown from seed and kept in a small container for its whole life. Development of a bonsai for size will occur most quickly in the ground or in a large container.  Although growing in a large container or ground growing can develop large bonsai often the tree will need finer branching and detailing. This…

  • Ficus virens, the White or Spotted Fig

    One of my favorite of the larger leaf figs is Ficus virens, commonly called the White or Spotted fig. Although the species has larger leaves that make creating small sized bonsai difficult, it can be done. Ficus virens is quite suitable for larger bonsai. It has attractive leaves that in some cultivars can  be quite…