20 Interesting Facts About the Ficus Bonsai Tree
The Ficus Bonsai is among the few trees that guarantee to light up your home’s aura. It has over 800 species with low-maintenance costs and can withstand harsh conditions. There is a lot about the Ficus Bonsai Tree you may not know that will surprise you. Some facts are interesting enough to inspire you and expand your horizons about this tree’s wisdom, beauty, and secrets. Here are 20 interesting facts about the Ficus Bonsai Tree.
What Is a Ficus Bonsai Tree?
Ficus is among the many species of Bonsai ornamental plants. All its species are famous for their unique beauty and extreme training requirements like wiring and pruning. For anyone without prior experience handling any Bosai, the Ficus Bonsai tree makes a good option.
Here are 20 interesting facts about the Ficus Bonsai Tree.
1. Your Palm Can Fit the Smallest Bonsai Tree in the World
Did you know you could fit the smallest Ficus Bonsai Tree in the world in your palm? The ultra-small bonsai tree is proof of the stunning extremes it can achieve. You can nurture your tiny masterpiece by carefully growing it in a small pot under the right conditions. Acer Momiji is the most miniature bonsai known, although a Guinness record is still pending. It is also known as the Palmate Maple and is native to Japan, China, Eastern Mongolia, Korea, and Southeast Russia.
2. The Most Expensive Bonsai Went for $1.3 Million
Bonsai masterpieces are often passed down from generation to generation, making their value impossible to measure in money. However, the most expensive Bonsai was around $1.3 million during the International Bonsai Convention in Takamatsu. This centuries-old tree currently holds the title “the most expensive bonsai tree,” and its value is still appreciating.
3. The Cultivation of Bonsai Dates Back to 2000 Years Ago
It is hard to believe that Bonsai cultivation started over 2000 years ago. Cultivating tiny trees in tiny pots began in China, since the earliest evidence of these trees is in the ancient Chinese Dynasties records. However, the Chinese only grew tiny trees. It is the Japanese who formed the tradition and aesthetics of the modern art of Bonsai.
4. The Foundation of Bonsai Includes Zen Buddhism
Another interesting fact about the Bonsai Tree contributes to its eligibility is the presence of Zen Buddhism at its foundation. Zen Buddhism involves virtues like calmness of mind, patience, authenticity, acceptance, and attaining balance and finding harmony in life. Zen Buddhism’s philosophy shaped the aesthetics of perceiving and taking care of Bonsai trees. You need to understand the harmony and correspondence with living nature to provide excellent care for a Bonsai tree.
5. The Largest Bonsai Tree Collection Displayed has 2649 Trees
The most extensive bonsai tree collection featured 2649 trees. Surprisingly, this display collection was not in Japan but in India. The function would not have been possible without the support and dedication of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. It occurred in Avadhoota Data Peetham at the International Bonsai Convention and Exposition.
6. There Exist a Viral Hobbit-Style Bonsai Masterpiece
Chris Guise created the Bonsai masterpiece that went viral because it resembles the legendary landscapes in Lord of the Rings. This design awed all Lord of the Rings fans and inspired other creative Bonsai architecture.
7. Most Bonsai Trees Don’t Start as Attractive
Another interesting fact is that many Bonsai trees do not start off looking attractive. You will witness all the different phases of growing a Bonsai tree if you decide to grow one from seed or cutting. These phases occur during the first years of growing up and training until it matures. Many Bonsai enthusiasts without growing knowledge prefer purchasing one past its early stages from a nursery. It is usual for the baby Bonsai not to be as majestic as a fully grown prospect. Give it some years to mature.
8. There Is a Difference Between Bonsai and Dwarf Trees
Many people tend to confuse Bonsai trees with dwarfed trees. Although natural dwarfing exists, genetically-dwarfed bonsais do not exist. It would help to understand that there are techniques involving cutting branches, stems, and roots that help achieve the art of Bonsai. You can turn 400+ plant species Bonsai, provided you apply the correct stress techniques.
9. There is a 50-Year-Old Bonsai Somewhere in Space
Makoto Azuma shot a 50-year-old bonsai tree 30,000 meters into the stratosphere as part of his art performance project. He attached the old white pine to a carbon fiber frame and connected it to a helium balloon. Only 19 miles of the tree’s stratosphere were documented, showing the different states of the tree.
10. The Oldest Ficus Bonsai Is Over 1,000 Years Old
You can find the oldest Ficus Bonsai in the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy. It is known as the Ficus retina Linn and is the oldest Bonsai tree at 1000 years old. Luigi Crespi gained ownership and delivered the tree to the Crespi Bonsai in 1986 after spending ten years trying to secure it. Another Bonsai tree believed to be over 1000 years old in the Mansei-en Bonsai nursery is the Juniper Bonsai tree. It came from the wilds of Japan and spread to other parts of the globe.
11. They Are Adaptable
One outstanding feature is its superb natural adaptability that allows the tree to grow in varying regions, be it sun or shade.
12. Bonsai’s Goal is to Create Miniaturized but Realistic Trees
The ultimate objective of the art of Bonsai is to create miniaturized but realistic representations of trees. You’ll have to learn how to keep cutting the branches and roots and the shaping techniques to maintain the Bonsai in a pot. These trees never grow bigger since Bonsai require routine pruning and trimming. If left untouched, the tree will likely grow wild and spread outside of the container.
13. Bonsai Artists Date the Trees by the Years Spent in Training
The Bonsai artist responsible for the Ficus tree determines its age depending on the years it spends in training. Mainly, it entails how many years the tree spent in the Bonsai pot. Because of the culture’s late introduction, you are less likely to find Bonsai trees with over 50 years of training in the US. The oldest options available in the US are slightly over 100 years old and are few.
14. Bonsais Are Different from Other Trees
The main difference between Bonsais and other trees is their size. However, Bonsai is not a tree species but a growing method aiming to create a miniature representation of a mature tree. It means you can develop bonsais from different species of trees, including oaks.
15. The Art of Bonsai is Ever-Changing
Another aspect of Bonsai that most individuals do not understand is that it is an ever-changing art. The requirements and techniques for tending your tree always change based on the growth phase or environment. It is never a finished artwork, since its foundation involves the Japanese art of accepting the natural cycle and finding beauty in profundity and imperfection in nature.
16. Old Bonsai Trees Are Expensive
Bonsai trees increase in value as they grow older. Some of the oldest bonsais sell very often because of living through centuries. They could also be expensive if they are part of a vast collection, are among other old bonsai trees, or are housed in an expensive pot. You will have to pay around $54,000 for the few Bonsais over 400 years on sale.
17. Your Family Needs at Least One Bonsai Over 300 Years old to be Considered of “Noble Descent”
Until recently, your family had to have at least one Bonsai over 300 years old to be considered of noble descent. The Japanese culture viewed the Bonsai Tree as a symbol of balance, harmony, patience, and luck. It also acted as an object of meditation or contemplation, making the tree a metric for society.
18. The Tree is not Native to North America
The Ficus Bonsai is not native to North America. You can also find them in Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
19. Bonsai Trees Function as Relaxing Decorative Elements
Nobody trains a Bonsai tree with the aim of harvesting fruits. The primary essence of Bonsai trees is to deliver calmness, creating room for routine and self-induced mental relaxation. They make the perfect decorative accessories to brighten up your home or office.
20. There Are Many Varieties of Ficus Bonsai Types
There exist hundreds of species of Ficus Bonsai. This section will focus on some of the most common Ficus Bonsai types and their characteristics.
Ficus Benjamina Bonsai
The Ficus Benjamina is a popular bonsai type that grows slower than other ficus plants. It has glossy green leaves diversified with different cultivars and lovely umbrella-like canopies. Its leaves are around 4 inches, and the plant prefers high humidity and mild temperatures for optimal growth.
Ficus Religiosa Bonsai
The Ficus Religiosa is a sacred fig in several countries and various Mulberry families. It is native to Southwest China and the Indian subcontinent. You only need to provide enough soil and water for a healthy cycle. It would also help to note that its heart-shaped flowers fall off around March but reappear months later.
Ficus Benghalensis Bonsai
The best Ficus Bonsai species for indoors is the Benghalensis. It is native to India and creates a compelling look with its aerial roots and woody trunk. The best setting to grow a Ficus Benghalensis is an area with bright indirect light, like a soft shade.
Ficus Panda Bonsai
Another popular Ficus species is the Panda Bonsai. Its botanical name is Ficus retusa, and its blunted-pointed leaf plates are easy to identify. If you are new to Bonsai cultivation, the ideal setting requires a sunny window sill, balcony, terrace, or patio.
Ficus Macrophylla Bonsai
The Ficus Macrophylla Bonsai is an appealing species for all those growing aerial roots. The tree has lovely red-orange flowers blooming in spring and is the least prone to shedding leaves. Its ability to strangle and control weak trees surrounding it in the wild is one of its outstanding qualities.
Taking Care of Your Ficus Bonsai Tree
Light
Adequate lighting is necessary to ensure your Ficus Bonsai grows. You should place the plant on a windowsill to ensure it gets bright and indirect light for optimal growth. Try finding window spots that receive morning light, since afternoon sunlight is harsh on the plants.
Watering
Ficus Bonsai trees also require water to grow. Ensure you thoroughly water the plant every time the soil gets dry. Avoid overwatering your plants since the dripping might cause fungal issues in your masterpiece.
It would help to keep the soil in the tin moist during the summer and water less in winter, since green plants tend to go dormant in the cooler months. You can add some pebbles to the tray to prevent the tree roots from sitting in water while regulating humidity.
Temperature
The ideal temperature to grow your Ficus Bonsai tree significantly depends on the species. However, most Bonsai trees do well under normal household temperatures. It would help avoid placing the tree anywhere with quick temperature changes as it is unsuitable for the plant. It would help to keep the Ficus Bonsai tree humid enough by misting it often. You can place the tree outside under the sun during the summer if the temperature rises above 15 Celsius.
Maintenance
The most important aspect of growing Bonsai trees is the maintenance techniques involved. Careful pruning is crucial to achieving the complete look of a bonsai. You should avoid pruning for a year or two if you want to thicken your tree’s trunk.
It would be best to use the correct tools when pruning your Bonsai. Ensure the tools are sharp and clean to avoid infecting your tree with diseases. The ideal technique for pruning is cutting two leaves for every six to eight grown.
Which Bonsai is Ideal for Tree Beginners?
All bonsai beginners should consider the Ficus Bonsai for indoor and outdoor applications. If you do not have enough time for regular watering and pruning, these trees are the best option because of their adaptability features. It is also more resilient to underwatering, significantly lowering maintenance costs.
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