Ficus virens and red leaves

[Jerry Meislik]

Just wondering about Ficus virens - a native Aussie tree- but also found in other countries.
I am growing from seed three varieties of virens. One, from Thailand and two different sources from Australia. One seed source from Australia labeled the seed as Ficus infectoria a synonym for virens. The second Aussie seed is from the Curtain Fig.
The Thai seed grown from bonsai in a Bangkok collection has seedlings that show quite a bit of red color in their new leaves and they gradually over some weeks or months revert to more or less normal green color.
My two Australian varieties seem to have a minimal red color in the new leaves that reverts to green in only a few days.
Hoping that some folks out your way can help me learn more about your native virens.
Thanks.
Jerry "Bonsaihuk"

[Pup]

G,day Jerry I am glad to see you alive and well and still enjoying those Ficus. Interesting about Infectoria I had one a few years ago it did not like the cold.
I was also told it was a banyan!!. It lost it leaves below about 10 celsius, the growth was as you say red but faded quickly.

I took some cuttings which were very easy to strike. A member from our club still has one. When Lindsay Bebb was here he said he was amazed at how small she had got the leaves, and the ramification. Apparently they are popular in Queensland!!.
Which would account for them not liking the cold. I have also been told they are one of the deciduous Ficus. I must admit it was quite a handsome looking tree. The white bark was quite striking.
If I had, had my warm house then I might have kept it. I sold it on and have not had any infomation on it since. Other than the cutting which is still thriving I am told.

Your's in Bonsai Pup

[Jerry Meislik]

Pup, thanks for your information: interesting regarding the infectoria and its leafless/resting state. My infectoria do not go leafless but they do sit around for months not growing but my plant room is not allowed to go below 65F, and none of my other Ficus seem to go leafless but they do not sit around for as long resting.

Jerry "Bonsaihunk"

[Ash]

G'day Jerry and Pup,
It is my favourite tree.
I live where Ficus virens grows and also grow them for bonsai. There are two subspecies here, Ficus virens subsp. virens and Ficus virens subsp. sublanceolata. The latter has more prominent veins, the leaf is broader with an acuminate apex, and is more likely to grow as a solitary tree free standing tree rather than a strangler or banyan like the curtain fig (F. v. subsp. virens). F. v. subsp. virens is more wet tropical here and subsp. sublanceolata is more dry tropical (I reckon it has better red leaves too). Both are stunning trees and get BIG. I have never seen the red leaves last for months, a week or two at most. Full sun, lots of K and root bound old plant of mine will have really red new leaves. Fast growth, shade, seedling, cutting, just repotted or lots of N will have big green leaves.

F. virens leaves are large but can reduce, but when I first repot them I usually get a flush of pretty large leaves again. I really must take a photo as I have just had a crop of apple green new leaves on one of my favourites (just repotted, in shadehouse, lots of fertilizer).

I also think colour is a bit related to provenance. Jerry or Pup do you know if seed can by exported from Oz to US? If so I can supply.

cheers
Ashley

[pasquale]

It is one of my favourites also. I have a few that I grew from seed collected from a park tree (and several that have grown from cuttings of the original generation - as you said Pup, easy to propagate). I don't know what subspecies they are. The red tinge in the new leaf doesn't last long, I haven't tried varying the N:P:K to see if it makes a difference.
Large virens can be seen in parks around Sydney but they are not nearly as common as rubiginosa, macrophyla or microcarpa 'hillii'. Len Webber classified them as deciduous or partly deciduous in Sydney. I grow mine outside all year. They have dropped their leaves occasionally but my impression is that it was in response to another 'stress' apart from low temperatures. This year they have all remained in leaf through winter but one, which was in more shade and has larger leaves, appears to be getting ready to drop. I look at it as a defoliation to keep leaf size small. I have noticed trees in parks dropping leaves in late winter, but not this year.
My rubiginosa and microcarpa have been sprouting new growth for a few weeks now. The virens haven't yet but I find they grow plenty fast enough during summer.

[Jerry Meislik]

Pasquale, Pup and Ashley,
Thanks for your information.
I do not think it is the environment but the genetics that causes the Thai virens to look redder for longer. My conditions are certainly very different than the conditions in Bangkok from where the seed originated.
My infectoria does sort of defoliate and refoliate quickly thereafter. None of my other Ficus follow this pattern. They must be adapted to a dry season leaf drop and if this does not occur then they will leaf drop suddenly and then re-leaf, I guess?
Is it possible for you to post pictures of your trees. I would especially like to see a close-up of the leaves of lanceolata vs.ssp virens. This would help me to learn how they look.
Warmest regards,
Jerry "Bonsaihunk"
Seed has not been a problem to ship.

[Jerry Meislik]

Attached are two pics. One shows three leaves. Leaf on left is F.virens 'Infectoria', middle is F. virens 'Curtain Fig', right is F.virens 'Thai'.
The cup contains a F.virens 'Thai' showing some pretty red leaves. These leaves are not new but several months old!
I really like the red color. Not sure how well it will show up though.
Regards,
Jerry

[pasquale]

Jerry I am cameraless for the next week or so - can't post a pic at the moment. My leaves look most like the 'curtain fig' variety.

[Jerry Meislik]

Thanks Pasquale.

[buddaboy]

Hey Guys,
I hope you dont mind a dumb question, but does anyone have any ideas how to control the aggresive root development of Ficus Viren? I bought 9 seedlings from a grower in Brisbane, marked F Virens. The guy said they were Curtain figs. All through winter I lose some leaves whenever they feel like it, but I have some issues with their root development. Ive got several different figs(none of which can go on the bare ground) but none come close to the curtain figs for the behavior of their roots. Is this something others are dealing with or are mine just dysfunctional?

Thanks
BB

[Jerry Meislik]

BB,
What do you mean aggressive roots. Are these finished bonsai, trees in the training bed?
Jerry

[buddaboy]

At the moment they are just in 9 inch pots waiting for me to make my mind up.

By aggressive I mean they dont get root bound, the roots go through, under, and over the top of the pots. When I got them they were in 2 inch tubes in a carrying tray, some of the roots had migrated into another three tubes.

[pasquale]

Buddaboy, I know what you mean but the aggressive roots you describe could be seen as a good feature allowing development of an interesting nebari or buttress/arial roots. One thing I have been doing is growing my virens in wide but shallower pots. Otherwise you can prune them 'aggressively'. Interestingly, I seem to get a different pattern from different trees. Some do like you say and others tend to grow buttresses that head down into the soil. If you have a few then why not experiment with pots of different size and shape and also vary the growing media.

[buddaboy]

Yes pasquale, a couple of them have some cool arial roots developing, The others it seems to be the normal ground roots going crazy. I will take on board you suggestion about the different containers and see how I go.
Thanks,
BB

[sreeve]

Hi Pasquale,
Are you referring to aerial roots or buttress roots?

I know how to develop aerial roots, but have been trying to think of a way to trick the plant into developing buttress roots.

My understanding of buttress roots is that you need long root runs in order for them to develop.

Would be really interested in any comments or tips that you can offer.

Regards
Steve