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Aerial roots are fabulous but…
Aerial roots are often a great feature for a Ficus bonsai. However, not all bonsai shapes will benefit from aerials. In addition aerials can be difficult or impossible to grow depending on the species of fig; some figs will not produce aerials and even ones that do produce aerials may need very high humidity that…
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Ficus burtt-davyi cutting after 5 years
Ficus burtt-davyi is a very useful plant for bonsai. It can form nice bonsai in even small size due to its leaves that can become quite small under proper cultivation. There are also several clones that vary from normal to very small leaves. The photos below show a larger BD fig that was cut into pieces…
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How to thicken a branch
On this bonsai Ficus natalensis the lowest branch on the right side is not thick enough. Most often the lowest branch should be the thickest on the tree. In order to achieve proper thickness the branch is allowed to grow longer than the style dictates. Note the leaves are also larger than the rest of…
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Slave branches
Slave branches are used to thicken a part of the trunk or branch that needs to be heavier. Slave branches are allowed to grow wildly without trimming and when the thickening has been achieved they are removed. This Ficus natalensis has a slim trunk that would be improved by thickening it to introduce some more taper.…
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Creating a bonsai from a cutting
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…
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Root-over-rock style
Figs grow very well when placed on or grown over a rock. Root-over-rock designs are also very much admired by bonsai lovers. Figs with their aggressive root systems easily tolerate being placed over a rock. The rock is covered with soil and the tree is allowed to grow vigorously to attach the roots to the…
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Multi-trunk fig tree
An unusual style for fig trees is the multi-trunk style. One way to develop this style is to use a seedling Ficus and allow several trunks to form. Another way is to fuse several trunks together. This is a Ficus microcarpa, about 12 years from seed. It spontaneously had several low branches as a seedling…