Large strangler fig bonsai

[Ash]

Some of my favourite trees are giant strangler figs in tropical rainforest with their upright columns of criss-crossed and fused roots. For something a bit different I thought I would show my attempt to emulate the strangler fig as bonsai using a standard non-bonsai trained nursery stock Ficus benjamina that I grew on in a big grow tub. I have seen a few people with some very interesting strangler fig techniques where they plant their figs on a dead stump. For this strangler I chose instead to cultivate aerial roots on its own trunk, that way when the trunk thickened they would (in theory) stretch and fuse (which they did). I think that this approach may overcome some of the reverse taper issue and the instability when the host dies that happens when you plant figs onto an already dead stump. It can be done quite easily from a large nursery standard which you lop off, allow to shoot, then aerial-layer where you want the strangler to start, but instead of cutting off the layering train the roots down the live trunk.

In 2010 I defoliated this tree, wired the branches, turfed it out of its big training tub, laid it on its side and used a pull saw to cut straight through the base removing all the root mass. I then planted it straight into this garish bright blue bonsai pot as a large cutting in 50:50 diatomite and pine bark. Within four weeks it was a mass of leaves. It had become a bit shaggy over the last few months so I gave it a trim today and re-wired some of the branches. Stands about 90 cm tall and the trunk has interesting shape from just about any viewing angle. Hope you enjoy.

Ficus benjamina strangler.jpg

Ficus benjamina strangler trimmed.jpg

Ash

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Ash I really like this style. I have some large diameter benji air layers with little taper that I think would be great candidates. Thanks for the inspiration

[strawbs]

nice work Ash, diff twist on a straight truked benji , yea pun intended
cheers
strawbs

[anttal63]

I like Ash !!! up there for thinking !!! i would like to try this with a PJ...

[boom64]

Fantastic Ash ,truely inspiring. I think you have started something BIG.
Cheers John.

[AndrewC]

That's an awesome idea, Ash, and the outcome looks stunning. Thanks for sharing it.
Cheers, Andrew.

[hugh grant]

i agree its turning into quite a beautiful tree

Hugh

[Jerry Meislik]

Ash,
I like it.
Jerry

[NathanM]

Ash, nice work man, that looks great

[lackhand]

I'm continuously amazed at what you can put ficus through and they just keep right on growing. Another great example, love the tree.

[Paulneill]

Hi ash awesome tree and thanks for your advice and input on my new benji.
How is this tree going any chance of an update ? Maybe a picture with somthing else beside it for a better idea of the dimentions .

Paul

[Ash]

Here is a picture of this Ficus benjamina with figs. They started off pale green, then turned bright yellow, then turned bright orange, then turned a dark maroon purple. Then the little birdies kept coming and picking them off and eating them, so I tried few and decided you would need to be pretty hungry to want to eat Ficus benjamina figs.

Ficus benjamina.jpg

Ash

[Guy]

is that new growth or some sort of epiphytic orchid growing on the left trunk------

[Ash]

Hi, It is one of my wife's Tillandsias, a little type of succulent bromeliad. I grow a few epiphytic orchids on bonsai, this is the only one to have an exotic epiphyte. It goes hot orange with purple flowers in the early summer time. Ash

[Paulneill]

It is looking good ash. I love the tiny fruit. Can you difoilate this without any issues ? I reckon the canopy on this can become much wider and look good.