Ficus virens seedlings

[Jerry Meislik]

Some 5 years ago my friend Andrew Neil sent gave me seed from the Curtain Fig, Ficus virens. The seed was planted and grown in my plant room for all this time.
I finally got to pot up some of the 20 or so trees from that batch.
The photos are not meant to show the great beauty of these small plants but to show that seed can be a viable option for those trying to grow plants that are unavailable in a local area.
Almost all the plants are about 15cm (6") or less.
I also have F. virens from Thailand. These interestingly have very red new leaves.
I also have F. rubiginosa, infectoria, religiosa, microcarpa, and a few others growing from seed.
Jerry
http://www.bonsaihunk.us

[Jerry Meislik]

Another seedling.

[Jerry Meislik]

Another.

[Jerry Meislik]

Another.

[Jerry Meislik]

Another.
The seedling on the left is infectoria, now classified as F. virens. The two middle plants are Ficus virens Thai form with red leaves while the tree on the right is Ficus virens Australian form.
Jerry
http://www.bonsaihunk.us

[Jerry Meislik]

One more Ficus virens Australian form.
Jerry

[Jon Chown]

Almost all the plants are about 15cm (6") or less.

Are you going to grow them as small trees and If so it will be interesting to see if you can get the leaf reduction to look convincing.

Jon

[Hector Johnson]

Deleted by author

[Jerry Meislik]

Hi Jon,
I don't know if I will keep the trees small or not. I guess it depends on how difficult it will be to keep them small and the leaves in scale. Most of the larger leaved trees in my care tend to wind up growing themselves larger over time.
Hi Hector,
It is interesting how variable the trees are from seed. Your trees clearly show the variations.
How long will the leaves stay red-dish on your virens? Can you find a seedling or tree where the leaves remain red? That is one thing that I think would be quite wonderful.
It would also be wonderful to be in Australia where I could find lovely large trees and grow them outdoors rather than struggling with them indoors.
But, one can't have everything I guess.
I will just envy all your trees.
Jerry

[Hector Johnson]

Deleted by author

[Jerry Meislik]

Hector,
Its interesting in that my F. virens from Australia and from Thailand do not leaf drop under my growing room conditions. However, the F. infectoria seedlings, also from Australia, which are a synonym for F.virens do leaf drop and go "dormant" in my room.
The variability in Ficus is incredible even from supposedly identical species.
I have lots to learn.
Thanks for your help.
Jerry