The Art of Bonsai

Category: Aerial root

  • Taking a tree apart to improve it

    This is a young rooted cutting of Ficus natalensis but the two roots as indicated did not look right to my eyes. So I split the tree and allowed it to sprout back. I like the two new pieces and with more growth I think each may work out to be a reasonable bonsai tree.

  • Aerial roots

    Aerial roots grow faster than the trunk. A fact to keep in mind as you design and change your bonsai over time. I am not sure why the aerials grow faster but it seems that they do.

  • 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…

  • Slave branches

    Slave branches are used to thicken a bonsai trunk or even branch. By allowing wild and untrimmed growth of these branches the trunk or branch can be thickened. Once the thickening is done the slave branch can be removed or trimmed back.   The branch thus thickened, as in this case, now has a proper…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Not behaving for me

    Ficus burtt-davyi can be a difficult bonsai subject. Sometimes it just won’t grow properly. This tree has been a problem for me over many years. It has just not been vigorous and I have had to consider discarding it or perhaps re-styling it. My decision was to get radical and to cut the tree in…

  • Moving An Aerial Root

    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…