This powerfully built gem is from Ficus, the Exotic Bonsai by Jerry Meislik. It looks like a Benjamina cultivar, though I can’t be sure because my copy of the book is in Vermont and I’m not.
On the road number three
Still on the road and just have time to put together a little ficus gallery for your enjoyment. Two are from Jerry Meislik’s book, and the other two are from the web.
Big ficus fan
If you want to grow bonsai indoors (winter or year round), you’ll be hard pressed to find subjects better suited than ficus, though some varieties are better suited than others. A couple that I’ve had luck with are the Green Island (F. microcarpa) and the Too Little (F. benjamina ‘Too Little’). I’ve also had some luck with the Willow Leaf ficus (F neriifolia – there is some disagreement about the botanical name – here’s a discussion by Robert Kempinski, author of Introduction to Bonsai). If you have any experience with other varieties (successful or otherwise), let us know.
A large Willow leaf ficus with some impressive aerial roots from Ficus, the Exotic Bonsai.
A large Benjamina with a well developed nebari by Bradley Barlow, from The Art of Bonsai.
This simple Willow leaf planting is from a bonsai exhibit on Morikami’s website. Though it’s far from a masterpiece, it does have some charm and is the type of project that almost any beginner might attempt.
I have two F. benjamina’s and believe they make great indoor bonsai and are also fairly forgiving for novice/hobbyists like me.
My first ficus was a ‘common fig’. It is much more demanding for bonsai and has very large leaves, it also needs to go dormant in the winter and drops it’s leaves. I gave up on this one as the winters in my area were too cold to survive outside and to warm inside to induce dormancy.
Yeah. I’ve got one ficus houseplant and two ficus bonsai indoors. No benjamina (I like the small leaf cultivars) though. One large leaf house plant and two bonsai; a willow leaf (neriifolia) and a green island (macrocarpa) bonsai. The green island is especially strong. Doesn’t even drop leaves.
Nice trees. Wayne the top tree is Ficus microcarpa, not benjamina.
Jerry Bonsaihunk Meislik
PS enjoy your trip