The Art of Bonsai

Category: root cutting

  • Growing Ficus from roots

    One method to propagate new plants is from root cuttings. This is a thick piece of root that I cut off during the potting  process. I selected a root that showed some nice movment and planted the lower end into bonsai soil. I watered as needed and in 6 month’s time the end of the…

  • How to create a bonsai form a long and thin plant

    It is not easy to create a bonsai from a long and thin piece of material. One way is to use some heavy wire and shape the limber material to your desires. Be creative and try many different shapes. Some will be exciting and some will be losers. In this case a root cutting of…

  • Root cuttings

    Root cuttings are one of the easiest ways to develop a good bonsai from throw away materials. Repotting a fig bonsai is needed every year to 5 years depending upon growth, species, size of pot etc. On removing some of the larger and more shapely roots the root is potted up with the root hairs…

  • Some steps in creating a bonsai from raw material

    This is a young plant grown from a root cutting of a Ficus natalensis. The root cutting sprouted three branches. To develop a new apex and create a better transition to the new apex, two of the sprouts were pulled together with electrical ties. A month or two passed and the ties were removed. The…

  • Ficus natalensis exposed root style

    Ficus natalensis is one of my favorite species for bonsai. It has many characteristics making it suitable for bonsai. One, of these is how easily it is grown from root cuttings. The images show one of mine that is only 2 years from a root cutting.

  • Root cuttings

    Some species of Ficus will grow from pieces of root. This is fortunate as repotting of figs is required every few years to maintain the health of the tree. At this time thick and unnecessary roots can be removed and rooted to form new plants. A root cutting is shown from a Willow Leaf fig.…