Fig Tree as an Elegant Bonsai

In short: Ficus is a forgiving choice for a first indoor bonsai: it tolerates dry winter air and needs temperatures above 14°C without draughts. Use a well-draining substrate mixed 1:2 with fine gravel, grit or perlite, avoid waterlogging and over-fertilising, and pinch shoots back to two leaves once they have 5 to 6 leaves.

Fig Tree as an Elegant Bonsai

The fig tree is the only genus of the subfamily Ficeae, family Moraceae. Botanically, it is always referred to as Ficus. The fig tree represents several species from ornamental, through useful, to fig trees with edible fruits. Edible fruits are produced by the common fig (Ficus carica). The fruits of this fig tree are eaten fresh, dried, or processed into jams and chutneys. Edible fruits are also produced by, for example, the species Ficus glomerata growing in Asia and others. The rubber fig was formerly grown for latex, which reaches heights of up to 30m in rainforests. Interesting is the banyan fig (Ficus benghalensis), which sends down columnar aerial roots from horizontal lateral branches. From one fig tree, there can be a whole grove of trunks; this characteristic is also shared by the sacred fig (Ficus religiosa).

As houseplants, the following species are particularly grown: weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), rubber plant (Ficus elastica), fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), and the narrow-leaved Ficus binnendijkii.

Some species are cultivated as bonsai, for example the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) and Ficus retusa, known as 'Ginseng'.

The fig tree is an evergreen tree originating from India. In indoor conditions, it grows to a height of 0.5-2m. It is a plant with stiff, leathery leaves that are quite robust. Young leaves tend to be fresh green, older leaves darker in shade. The leaves are always characterised by high gloss. Leaves can come in coloured mutations, streaked with white, with white edges, etc. The fig tree is very popular among growers. It is undemanding regarding light, watering, or care.

Growing Fig Trees

If we really want to enjoy our fig tree and delight in an interesting plant, let's try to grow well-shapeable and interesting bonsai species from the fig tree. The choice of bonsai species is important. Ficus are the most suitable and most rewarding apartment plants for growing bonsai. They don't mind overheating or dry air in winter. If you want to start growing bonsai, we can warmly recommend the fig tree. You will be satisfied, the work will go smoothly, the plant will thrive, and you will fall in love with bonsai at the first attempt. Just make sure the plants are not waterlogged, over-fertilised, or in a draught.

We can create both an indoor bonsai and an outdoor one from Ficus. It depends on what space we have, which bonsai species we choose, or how we want the final plant (bonsai shape) to look. With bonsai, it's good to consider the climatic conditions in which the normal-sized plant grows, so we know how to treat it in the form of a miniature bonsai. However, bonsai are not just mini trees. They are classified according to several height criteria, where the tallest bonsai can reach up to 60 cm.

Bonsai means a plant in a flat container. Speaking of the container, it's also important from an aesthetic point of view, as it will decorate our interior for several years.

How to Approach Bonsai

Bonsai are miniature plants that add character to any interior. They appear majestic and trustworthy. They are a passion for nurturing over several years, perhaps for a lifetime. From Ficus trees, beautiful and interesting cultivars can be shaped, and those who are already somewhat experienced can shape virtually all types of bonsai according to Japanese standards. Although bonsai originated in ancient China, the Japanese perfected this art.

5 Basic Bonsai Styles:

• Formal upright style - straight trunk
• Informal upright style - trunk is slightly curved
• Slanting style - trunk is distinctly slanted to the right or left side
• Informal upright style - obliquely growing trunk with a curved line
• Semi-cascade style - trunk is bent toward the ground or more or less horizontal - the apex is above the base of the trunk or at the same height
• Cascade style - trunk bends below ground level, the top of the trunk lies below the base of the trunk

Ficus retusa and Ficus religiosa are suitable for shaping. It's an interesting Ficus species due to its root flares and belly-like trunk. It has a spreading crown with well-structured main branches - the foundation for shaping. It's evergreen, non-deciduous, with many leaves that have short petioles. They grow essentially directly from the branches. The tree's bark is gray-brown with a greenish tint. Ficus can be placed in direct sunlight, but we must accustom it gradually so the leaves don't burn. In winter, like all Ficus, it requires temperatures above 14°C and no drafts. This species tolerates pruning very well; with sufficient light, it sprouts even from older shoots. It's pinched back after the second leaf, after the shoot has developed 5 to 6 leaves. With this regular pruning, we achieve fine foliage well. When removing a leaf, a small piece of the leaf petiole should remain on the branch. If it doesn't remain and we damage the trunk for some reason, sap will start to leak from it. We treat the wound with thicker latex or grafting wax.

Substrate for growing Ficus and bonsai should be modified by mixing one part with 2 parts of fine gravel, or grit or perlite. We can also use Japanese clay sun-dried. The substrate should be well-draining. If we have a taller container for a larger plant, put coarser gravel of about 2 cm at the bottom. If we repot the plant, be careful with watering so that the soil is not dry, but water should not stand in the saucer. When repotting, always trim the roots. Seedlings of Ficus are repotted every year, two-year-old plants every second year and older plants after five years. If the weather is cooler, we water less, if temperatures are higher we water the plant more often, or even mist it. During the growing season we can fertilize. In September we fertilize with potassium. Be careful about watering with hard water, calcium can harm the plant. We eliminate calcium from water by adding peat to the plant. We can also water with boiled cooled water.

Ficus will thrive wonderfully for us. Its healthy appearance will bring us joy. We can also create several bonsai from one species and have a collection of interesting shapes. Ficus is most commonly shaped into cascade style, twin trunk, triple trunk, upright, tree on rock, also root styles. The crown is then shaped into cloud style or umbrella shape.

Generally, these principles apply:

• strive for the lowest possible bonsai, ideal ratio is 1:7, i.e. tree trunk 2cm, height 14 cm
• preferentially remove thicker branches as they are harder to shape. Keep thinner branches which also create a richer crown appearance
• remove front branches to have a good view of the plant's trunk and its overall appearance
• remove one of the branches that go too regularly opposite each other
• the lower part of the trunk, about 1/3, is completely without branches
• the main branch of the bonsai is set as low as possible and points to the left or right, always slightly forward
• when viewed from above, branches should be evenly distributed and should not shade each other
• after trimming, the crown should appear smaller than its actual shape will be
• branches should not touch each other near the trunk
• every cut is an intervention into the plant, always give it time to regenerate, repeat further cuts after 2 months