Willow Leaf Ficus

Willow Leaf Ficus

Ficus salicifolia, Ficus neriifolia, Ficus subulata
and even Ficus mexicana ........................ now: Ficus salicaria

Willow Leaf Fig thrives on heat, humidity, and sunlight. And is ideal for the banyan style, depicting a beautiful forest. The banyan style is one in which the tree has aerial roots that become trunks in addition to the "main trunk". During the winter, even with added humidity, don't panic if the leaves slowly fall off. It is resting. Treat it like a dormant deciduous tree, reduce water and give no food. In the spring it will grow new leaves. The tree responds well to wiring but if the tree is growing vigorously can scar rather quickly. The tree can also be grown using the clip and grow technique. It thrives in shallow pots and hardly needs any roots for growth. The Willow Leaf Ficus sometimes makes a small fig. Regular defoliation can help develop ramification, cut the leaves just above the petiole.

I started training this tree as a bonsai in 1993

Trachelospermum asiaticum: Teika Kazura

A dwarf variety of Trachelospermum asiaticum
has very small leaves with more compact growth
Started 1980

Variegated Asiatic Jasmine 

Teika Kazura
Faux Jasmine - Trachelospermum asiaticum

A dwarf star jasmine with small yellow and green variegated leaves evergreen small-growing vine with glossy leaves that are much smaller than those of the standard Trachelospermum asiaticum.

Quite similar to the false jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides, T. asiaticum produces flowers with a slightly smaller yellow heart (or cream). It has faster growth in the early years and is a bit more rustic

New growth is pinkish-bronze.

Despite its common name, Asiatic Jasmine

is not related to the true jasmines

The plant has a tight, compact growth with ovate to elliptic leaves ranging from quite tiny to around 1/4 inch in length.

at 34 years from a cutting

If unpruned it will climb or crawl on the ground, but it can be pruned to make a miniature shrub. When treated this way it makes a nice bonsai. A popular bonsai subject in Japan but not seen very often in the US.

Usage: Container, Ground-cover, Hanging Basket, Rock Garden, Wall, Topiary, Bonsai , Espalier

Drought Tolerant

USDA Zone 7-10.

strongly scented cream-colored flowers

This vine, Teika kazura, was named after the poet Fujiwara no Teika. “Teika” is a Noh Play written by Konparu Zenchiku about the rumored love affair between the poets Fujiwara no Teika and Shikishi Naishinnō, daughter of Goshirakawa, Emperor of Japan. To symbolize Teika’s clinging obsession for Princess Shikishi—even after their death—the grave of the princess placed in the middle of the stage and blanketed by a Asiatic jasmine.

String of Beads: Complete Poems of Princess Shikishi

Teika: The Life and Works of a Medieval Japanese Poet

Kazura means creeping plant, climbing plant

Trachelospermum asiaticum trained to grow on a trellis

Time to Defoliate

In summer the dwarf Schefflera 
can handle radical pruning
 and come back strongly

Dwarf Umbrella Tree  

Hawaiian Schefflera

Schefflera arboricola

sheff-LEER-ruh

ar-bore-rick-KOLE-luh

A month after hard pruning

Schefflera arboricola
tolerance of neglect

A robust tree that does well both indoors and out and can adjust to a wide range of indoor conditions; it's not winter hardy outdoors in cold climates. 

Umbrella Tree

The Schefflera develops a rough wood-like trunk and branches that make it ideal for bonsai cultivation. The roots on a mature Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai give the effect of a banyan tree – and the style is called – Banyan.

2011 schefflera arboricola

1992 schefflera arboricola

Shefflera like slightly moist soil, but do not allow the soil to dry out can handle some under watering. But over-water it and rot the roots and kill the plant. Provide even, consistent watering. When one does water, water thoroughly. Rinse off any dust from the leaves. In winter water the plant sparingly as the plant requires less water because the tree is resting. Yellow, falling leaves is often the result of too much water. When kept indoors or under cool conditions, Schefflera arboricola does not like "wet feet"! Let it dry out and water less in the future. Empty that saucer! Out in the good old summertime the tree will quickly use any water in a tray, but too much direct sun may cause the leaves to yellow.

Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree

Can tolerate low light, but grows more strongly with high light but, the more light, the more compact the stronger the growth. If Shefflera gets thin, long and leggy- It is not getting enough light. Move it to a brighter spot.

Shefflera are tropical trees and prefer to be above 55F but must be kept above freezing. Shefflera appreciate being outdoors in summer. They prefer to be where it is warmer. When the AC comes on it is time for their summer vacation- fresh air, sunlight, strong healthy growth. Fertilize during this period of active growth.

schefflera arboricola 
 in suiban

Under very high humidity conditions Schefflera will produce aerial roots that, when they reach the ground, will convert to fully functional roots. Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree has interesting aerial banyan roots. The roots on a mature Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai give the effect of a banyan tree. Aerial roots on some of the tree species of Ficus and Schefflera continue to grow until they touch the ground and get entrenched. Initially, they draw moisture and nutrients from the air, but once they get embedded in the ground they derive their nutrition from the soil. Amid the numerous aerial roots that spring, only a few succeed in reaching the ground and getting through the soil. While the aerial roots embed to the ground and grow, they thicken considerably and form secondary trunks.

Janine

This small-leafed Schefflera develops a rough wood-like trunk and branches that make it ideal for bonsai cultivation. Robust tree that does well both indoors and out and can adjust to a wide range of indoor conditions; it's not winter hardy outdoors in cold climates.

Most growers prefer to use the “clip and grow” technique. Above the attachment point of each leaf is a bud on the tree from which a new branch will grow. By pruning about an inch above a leaf where the bud is pointing is the direction in which the new branch will grow.

 

Portulacaria afra pruning

the Elephant's Food or Spekboom

Portulacaria afra in need of pruning

Prune by cutting above a pair of leaf pads., a new bud will grow from the base of each of the pads

New growth can be expected to be seen within a week during warm weather, from the base of removed leaves.

Leaves of plants grown in full sun are smaller than those of the same variety grown in partial shade.  Full sun is also known to bleach the leaves to a pale yellowish color. Here outdoors with overhead protection is full sun in more northern locations. We use a 40-60 % shade fabric! 

Wherever a bud or branch has been removed along a branch or the trunk a new bud could sprout.

P. afra pruned

The non-budding stump of a cut-off large branch will eventually dry up and fall off by itself.  Branch stubs dry out and eventually will fall off.  A bud may arise at the base of this at any time before or after separation. Larger stubs should not be directly watered until the wound has been scabbed  over and the injury was well on its way to healing.

Water thoroughly, and then let the soil dry out completely.  Chronic over-watering can kill the plant. P. afra does not do well in continually humid locations.

Portulacaria afra Soju Style (double trunk)
 Approximate Age: 10 Years in Training: 5
 Exhibited by M. Limburg
Yama Ki Bonsai Society

New branches sprout from
the base of the leaves

Remove large leaves once the
new branch is established

Lonicera Bonsai

Box honeysuckle

Boxleaf honeysuckle

Lonicera nitida

Lonicera (lon-ISS-er-a)
nitida (ni-TI-da)


Evergreen Shrub
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Hardy to USDA Zone 7
Native to SW China.
Box honeysuckle is a fast growing shrub with dense evergreen habit. Though a member of the honeysuckle family it is not a climber but an evergreen which looks very much like a miniature boxwood. It has a high tolerance of clipping which makes it ideal as a neat, formal hedge and is also a very popular choice for topiary. As a bonsai this honeysuckle can easily be "sculpted" to resemble a tree.

They have delightful trunks.

The old branches are very brittle, but one can cut off all the vegetation and it back buds profusely. Boxleaf honeysuckle is also an ideal plant for making very small or Mame bonsai. An evergreen, it is in leaf all year. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The pairs of small white flowers give way to lovely purple-blue berries. Readily roots from cuttings.

Lonicera named after Adam Lonitzer (1528-86), German naturalist and herbalist.

Lonicera Bonsai Trayscape

Energy Balancing #8: Pinching for Ramification at Bonsai Bark Bonsai Blog

Excellent Information on Juniper styling:

Energy Balancing #8: Pinching for Ramification at Bonsai Bark Bonsai Blog

Pinching a Juniper for Ramification: part 2 at Bonsai Bark Bonsai Blog


Junipers: Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai (Bonsai Today Masters')

More Pruning

Before

After

Juniperus procumbens nana:
Keep Outdoors in a sunny location.
WILL TOLERATE FREEZING, but PROTECT FROM STRONG WINDS & SEVERE COLD.
Spray water daily through the foliage.
Water when the soil moderately dries, but do not let the soil dry out.
Fertilize at one-third strength during the growing season.
Finger-pinch the new growth to maintain the size & shape
A great plant for beginners.

More Pruning

Before



After

Today's Activities

Before:

After


Green Island Fig

Today's activities

Before and After




Juniperus procumbens nana:
Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper
'Green Mound',
Keep Outdoors in a sunny location.
WILL TOLERATE FREEZING, but PROTECT FROM STRONG WINDS & SEVERE COLD.
Spray water daily through the foliage.
Water when the soil moderately dries, but do not let the soil dry out.
Fertilize at one-third strength during the growing season.
Finger-pinch the new growth to maintain the size & shape
A great plant for beginners.

Pruning

Trim excessive and distractive new growth that interferes with the harmony of the bonsai’s style. Trimming encourages new growth and speeds the ramification of the branches. Any wire used to shape the bonsai is temporary and should be removed before it damages the tree.