Certainly one of my personal favorite trees for indoor bonsai may be the Chinese Banyan, scientific name is Ficus microcarpa. Within the tropical foliage trade exactly the same tree is known as Ficus nitida or microcarpa. In the following paragraphs I'll think of it as Ficus microcarpa or even the Chinese banyan. China banyan is extremely prevalent and located in landscapes so that as a container tree in lots of countries around the globe. It's employed for boulevard trees in lots of metropolitan areas including individuals of los angeles.
The tree is fantastic for indoor growing, tolerating an array of indoor conditions and surviving. It's good tree character with reasonable sized leaves, strong rootage and good twigginess, all creating a believable bonsai. Furthermore the leaves reduce under typical bonsai culture, and also the plant forms aerial roots with relative ease.
Common names and types of this fig are Indian Laurel, Eco-friendly Island, Eco-friendly Jewel, Eco-friendly Spire, Eco-friendly Emerald, Eco-friendly Mound, Tigerbark, Hawaii, and Nitida,Chinese Banyan, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus 'Ginseng', Ficus hillii, Malayan Banyan, Ficus crassifolia, Ficus Lengthy Island, Tigerbark Fig, Kin Men Fig and lots of other names.
These types of types of Ficus microcarpa and show some variation within the bark or leaves in the typical tree.
China Banyan arises from Southeast Asia, and exists from India to Borneo. Anyway it attains a height of fifty to 60 ft. Creatures consume the figs and deposit their waste, planting figs everywhere imaginable.
At Fairchild Gardens, Florida USA, it forms a sizable tree with lots of aerial roots, and grows in typical Ficus style having a single major trunk which rapidly divides into multiple branch-trunks that arch up and lead to some broad canopy. In moist areas the primary trunk is encircled by smaller sized accessory trunks that grow from aerial roots.
Leaf size shape and texture is very variable from plant to plant having a typical leaf being elliptical and mildly pointed contributing to 4 inches lengthy. Match it up to some Ficus benjamina leaf with a longer tip and whose leaf is thinner in texture. The ‘Eco-friendly Island’ variety includes a much thicker, and rounder leaf compared to normal variety.
The 4 leaves around the left come from varieties of Ficus microcarpa. The leaf around the right comes from Ficus benjamina.
Just like any indoor bonsai china Banyan is going to do very best in vibrant light, but it'll also survive under fairly low room illumination.
To find the best results grow the tree within the brightest location in your house and when possible augment the area illumination with artificial light. Even fluorescent lights placed near to the foliage is a great assist in maintaining your tree healthy and energetic.
All figs appreciate even moisture in the roots. Permit the soil surface to dry a little before watering again. Roots stored constantly wet will rot.
Water quality when it comes to pH and hardness aren't important to the fig. Plain tap water that's sufficient to develop other houseplants works well for that Chinese banyan.
Use any well draining bonsai soil, but avoid soils that stay wet for several days at any given time. The trees could be grown in almost any mix from 100% inorganic, to 100% bark chips.
Use any make of houseplant fertilizer, and employ it at half strength each week as the tree is within active growth. When the fig rests within the fall let it go without fertilizer. Never fertilize an ill or dry fig.
Couple of bugs appear to bother energetic fig trees. But from time to time insects may invade.The most typical insect is scale. They appear like dark black or brown waxy bumps around the leaves and stems and could be removed together with your finger nail but to attain a “cure” use dormant oil at 1 tablespoon per gallon put on all tree surfaces at 5-7 day times for 4 sprayings.
Thrips really are a pest that appears to bother figs in tropical climates. They're based in the distorted and folded up leaves in the branch tips. Thrips rarely appear to become a condition in figs grown inside.
Mealy bugs can also be an periodic enemy that may be given appropriate pesticide sprays.
Trees will have to re-potted every 2 to 3 years or maybe the tree show roots circling the pot. Generally repot once the tree is within very active growth. Remove all of the old soil and replace fresh bonsai soil. Water carefully before the tree re-establishes. Less water is going to be necessary for the very first two days following a potting. Don't place the recently potted trees into sunlight but allow two days in partial shade for adaptation.
Many fig proprietors will take their trees outdoors for that summer time. This enables the trees to profit from elevated light, and great air flow. This outdoors vacation period might be very critical to get the tree to health insurance and subsequently to outlive the approaching winter inside.
Insect invasion is really a strong possibility when trees are outdoors. Other dangers include sunburn, wind, along with other damage. Remember to place trees so that they get only partial shade for that first couple of days outdoors and also to keep your tree from large overhanging branches and neighbor’s creatures that can harm the tree. Examine and treat the tree before getting it back inside to avoid insects from traveling into the home.
Make sure to move your trees inside when temperatures drop below 55 F or perhaps your trees are affected lengthy-term damage,
China Banyan is a the best trees for indoor bonsai, and tolerates an array of indoor conditions. It's good bonsai character, lovely grey bark, and superb basal root flare. It tolerates the newbie’s efforts but still constitutes a superb accessory for the advanced bonsai grower’s collection. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.
