Contents
Introduction
Out of more than 800 species of ficus trees and plants only almost a dozen fits to be bonsai? Isn’t it frustrating? In general, ficus trees and plants are great compliments to the houses, so their miniatures pose a great interest both for enthusiasts and beginners. Fortunately, these bonsai species can be trained in different styles. Due to that, the number of ficus bonsai increases either. Let’s find out various ficus bonsai styles together delving deeper into their features and characteristics.
Based on styles there are several types:
- formal upright
- informal upright
- cascade
- root-over-rock
- broom
- banyan
This article represents a small trip in exploration of ficus bonsai styles. It will guide you in cultivating different styles and adorn your areas with these fabulous miniatures. To get more and find your favorite type, check on our ooobonsai.com website. Not only can you get useful information about horticulture, but also obtain or add to your collection a new member of green paradise.
Formal Upright Style Ficus Bonsai
While speaking about ficus bonsai styles, I need to mention that almost all types of ficus bonsai can be trained to different styles. It implies that styles are somehow a way or a specific design that can be applied to the plant.
The formal upright style possesses the following features: a thick trunk that gradually becomes thinner with height, a visible trunk tapering, and branches appearing at a quarter of total height.
Among the most common ficus bonsai trees, the Banyan fig bonsai, or Ficus retusa bonsai, is well-suited for the formal upright bonsai style. It doesn’t mean that we can’t train the Banyan fig into other styles, for instance, informal upright style or cascade style.
The ficus retusa plant likes temperatures between sixty and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit and bright, indirect light. While frequent watering is necessary, it should also be given some time to dry out in between applications. To maintain good growth, the tree should be repotted every two to three years and fertilized every four to six weeks during the growing season.
Though Ficus religiosa bonsai is more frequent in the informal upright style, it appears in the formal upright style as well, due to its trunk.
According to the Ficus bonsai care instructions (click on the link ficus care guide-i link), the soil should have adequate moisture. For peepal (a species of ficus religiosa) trees to flourish, they need a lot of sunlight. In order to prevent them from decaying and dying, make sure they aren’t overexposed to the light. Fertilization of sacred fig bonsai should occur every two weeks, since this is the optimal frequency for augmenting inadequate nutrients during hot seasons. It is a bonsai tree that is pleasant since it is typically non-toxic and resistant to illness.
In addition, Ficus macrophylla appears in a formal upright style, not frequent. For these species, the Banyan style is more common.
Informal Upright Style Ficus Bonsai
Informal upright style is the most frequent in ficus bonsai. Almost all types can be trained to grow in this style. However, there are species that naturally grow in this style. Out of all ficus bonsai species, Ficus benjamina, Ficus microcarpa bonsai, Ficus retusa bonsai, Ficus salicifolia bonsai, Ficus nuda bonsai, and Ficus ginseng bonsai are those that naturally grow in an informal upright style.
This style is genuinely characterized by a trunk with gentle curves or bends. It creates a natural and organic appearance. Compared to the formal upright style, here the trunk does not grow straight up; instead, it has subtle, intentional deviations that add visual interest.
In case of the Informal Upright styles, the branches are arranged in a way to complement the curves, typically extending outward at different levels. It helps to create a balanced and harmonious silhouette.
In general, this style mimics the way many trees grow in nature. The informal upright style is popular for its aesthetic appeal and its ability to evoke a sense of age and stability in the bonsai.
Among the Informal Upright ficus bonsais, Ficus Benjamina loves strong, indirect light, yet it is not as sensitive to light as many other Ficus species. It needs to be watered frequently, but in between waterings, it should be given a little dryness. During the growing season, the tree should receive four to six weeks of fertilizer application and be repotted every two to three years. Ficus microcarpa is a distinctive, endangered bonsai tree indigenous to Taiwan. It looks lovely and charming with its small, spherical leaves and sturdy, woody trunk. Ficus pandas’ trunks can be trained to grow in a variety of ways, such as in formal erect, slanting, and cascading forms.
Ficus pandas favor temperatures between sixty and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit, as well as bright, indirect light. It needs to be watered frequently, but in between waterings, it should be given a little dryness. During the growing season, the tree should receive four to six weeks of fertilizer application and be repotted every two to three years. And when it comes to Ficus ginseng bonsai, it has a tall, bulbous trunk and small, glossy leaves, giving it a striking appearance. The trunk of Ficus ginseng can be trained in a variety of styles, including informal upright, slanting, and cascading.
Ficus Ginseng loves bright, indirect light and temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be watered on a regular basis, but let it dry slightly in between waterings. Fertilizer should be applied every four to six weeks throughout the growing season, and the tree should be replanted every two to three years.
Cascade Style Ficus Bonsai
This style is one of the most picturesque, due to the combinations and variations it takes. The key features of the style are the following: downward growth. In the case of the cascade-style ficus bonsai, the trunk grows downward. It begins from the top and curves gently or sharply downward.
As a matter of fact, the lowest point of the cascade extends below the bottom of the pot, providing a dramatic and dynamic appearance. Speaking about the branches, I need to say that they also follow the downward flow of the trunk, cascading along its length.
Another uniqueness of the cascade style is that, unlike other styles, the apex (the tip of the trunk) is often found at the lowest point of the tree (in other cases, the apex is at the top). This creates a unique visual balance, with the tree’s silhouette often resembling a waterfall.
Last but not least is the visual balance. This style requires careful attention to balance. It means the weight and direction of the trunk and branches should be balanced by foliage. Why not? In some cases, it should be balanced by the arrangement of roots and rock placements within the pots as well.
Another thing to remember is that the branches near the base of the pot often grow slightly upward or horizontally. This helps to provide visual stability and contrast to the downward growth.
Among the cascade styles, the most common ficus bonsai are Ficus microcarpa bonsai, Ficus benjamina bonsai, Ficus retusa bonsai, Ficus salicifolia bonsai, and Ficus religiosa bonsai.
As for Ficus salicifolia, its leaves become lance-shaped, curled, and tawny in color when they mature, and a healthy green tint is visible. When the green figs on this tree ripen, they will be small, brick-red, and covered in brown spots.
Ficus salicifolia grows outdoors and responds well to fertilizer inputs when applied on a regular schedule. When grown under controlled conditions, this can be grown inside. The care instructions for Ficus bonsai include adequate lighting, humidity, air circulation, and temperature.
Root-over-rock style Ficus Bonsai
In Ficus bonsai styles, the root-over-rock style is visually striking and trained to grow over and around a rock, which symbolizes the struggle and resilience of trees because they grow in harsh, rocky environments where soil is scarce. The key features of this style are its prominent roots. They sometimes cling to the rock and extend into the soil below. Surely, it gives additional appeal to the bonsai.
To make the bonsai whole, the rock should be chosen in an interesting shape and texture. The size doesn’t matter, it depends on the owners’ preferences. The only thing to consider is the proportion of the tree and the pot.
Another key thing is the integration of a tree and a rock. Here, the roots should be trained in a way to grip the rock very tightly and follow the rock’s shapes and crevices. Why is it important? As the roots gradually thicken and adjust to the rock’s contour, they create a natural and harmonious combination.
In general, ficus bonsai are well-suited to the root-over-rock style due to their flex root system. But the most common types of ficus bonsai to be trained in this style are as follows: Ficus microcarpa bonsai, Ficus retusa bonsai, and Ficus benjamina bonsai.
High humidity and comfortable temperatures (between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit) are preferred for Ficus Benjamina. When your Ficus bonsai tree is young, it is best to keep it next to a window. Either an east- or west-facing window, or one facing south, is preferable.
As they get older, many ficus bonsai varieties can withstand a fair bit of shade. It does, however, like direct sunlight, so if you leave your tree in dim light for an extended period of time, you can notice leaves disappearing! If you can’t get your bonsai near a bright window, you may be able to keep it looking nice and healthy with an indoor grow lamp.
Compared to other species, this one needs more water. These trees can easily dry up if they are not properly cared for. The nutrients your fertilizer provides are vital to the health of your Benjamina ficus. Fast-growing Ficus Benjamina trees are simple to train into bonsai.
Specialty wire is another tool that many bonsai gardeners use to train their trees’ trunks to take on attractive curves or bends. Ficus Benjamina cultivars and subspecies are characterized by a broad variety of hues, forms, and sizes.
As for Ficus microcarpa, here I will speak about Golden Gate ficus bonsai. It is commonly used as an interior tree and in bonsai since it grows well, and somewhat faster as a shade tree. The smooth gray bark, milky sap, and long, thin, dangling aerial roots are characteristics of the Golden Gate, which has a rounded, dense crown. Being a tropical or subtropical plant, the tree needs both warmth and humidity to survive. The tree is one of the most prevalent street trees in warm areas and was widely marketed as an attractive plant.
Broom Style Ficus Bonsai
The style is well-suited to trees that have fine branches and small leaves and can create a dense, symmetrical crown. It is characterized by a straight trunk with a wide, rounded canopy that resembles the shape of a traditional hand broom. In case of the Broom style ficus bonsai, the trunk grows straight and upright vertically. It is supposed to form a clear and clean line from the base to the branching point without any curves or bends. Branches start around one-third to halfway up the trunk. They grow outward and slightly upward, forming an umbrella-shaped canopy that is symmetrical and typically rounded.
Symbolizing simplicity, elegance, and balance, this style is often associated with calm and serenity: The most frequent species among Ficus bonsai are Weeping Fig bonsai (Benjamina), Green Island bonsai (Microcarpa), and Willow Leaf Fig bonsai (Salicifolia).
Willow-Leaf Figs are a popular choice for bonsai because of their graceful appearance and lovely, slender leaves. It is indigenous to Southeast Asian nations and reaches a maximum height of sixty feet.
The Willow-Leaf Fig can be trained into several styles, such as slanting or cascading, although it works best in formal upright and informal upright bonsai forms. It likes temperatures between sixty and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit and bright, indirect light. Water the tree frequently, but give it a little space to dry out in between applications.
The Green Island Ficus plants are frequently utilized as low hedges or ground covers. If you’re wondering how to prune a ficus bonsai tree, it’s simple—all you need to do is chop off the excess stems to keep the tree in shape. They should not be planted too close to other plants or buildings because of how quickly their root system expands. Rarely does this ficus bonsai tree bloom. It is cultivated for its glossy, dense, dark green leaves, which act as a perimeter and shade source. It is recommended in humid settings and can tolerate full sun, while in dry climates, half-shade is preferable to help the ficus bonsai soil maintain moisture.
Banyan Style Ficus Bonsai
The unique aerial root system makes the Banyan style bonsai majestic and expansive in appearance. This style replicates the iconic look of banyan trees and often has a wide canopy supported by multiple trunks or aerial roots. The roots grow down from the branches to the ground. They get thicker close to the soil and give the tree a robust and ancient appearance, resembling a forest of trunks. When it comes to canopies, they typically have a broad and spreading form with dense branches and foliage that is well-balanced. There are a couple of species frequenting this style. Ficus benghalensis bonsai, Ficus macrophylla, and Ficus nude bonsai are among them.
Ficus benghalensis does really well indoors. With its aerial roots and wooden trunk, it has a striking appearance. It is impossible to determine the trunk due to the roots. Its grandeur is truly astounding. Benghalensis ficus is a great option for novice gardeners because it’s low-maintenance and easy to grow.
Although Ficus benghalensis may tolerate light shade, it prefers bright indirect light.
During the growing season, the Ficus bonsai care guide recommends applying fertilizer once or twice a week. According to this ficus bonsai care advice, the soil must nearly dry up before being saturated.
When it comes to Ficus macrophylla, it responds nicely to routine pruning. The least likely ficus bonsai varieties to lose leaves are these ones.
One of the most interesting aspects of this ficus bonsai tree is the root flare.
Once established, these fast-growing ficus bonsai varieties have the ability to surpass even the most delicate ones in size. You can use rocks, pottery, or anything else to make the roots of the tree.
In order to avoid the object, Ficus macrophylla’s roots will eventually grow sideways and eventually form the required root pattern. The bonsai tree is renowned for its strong and distinctive root system, as well as for its excellent branch growth and excessive tapering of the trunk.
Conclusion
To conclude the article, I need to say that ficus bonsai styles offer a captivating blend of artistic expression and natural beauty. It really embodies the resilientfeatures and characteristics of these exquisite bonsai. It doesn’t matter which style it is-the elegant Broom style, the dramatic Root-over-Rock style, the dynamic Cascade style, or the majestic Banyan style-each bonsai represents a timeless beauty, that has a unique story of growth and adjustment.
Ficus bonsai, as living art, not only improves the aesthetics of any area but also stimulates a more profound understanding of the exquisite harmony and balance inherent in the natural world.
Growing various types of bonsai is a fulfilling experience that instills patience, awareness, and a deep regard for the timeless grace of trees.