Colorado’s Ficus Wiandi

[Colorado]

I’ve been working on this shohin ficus for a few years now. I originally purchased it as a cutting from The Bonsai Nursery in Denver, which was in business for 50+ years before recently closing.

Anyway, here is the ficus when I got it in 2019.



Here’s the tree in July 2023, after a recent pruning. Pot by me. Has a ton of moss growing on the nebari and trunk that I need to tidy up. Fun tree!

 

[pandacular]

Love it, especially the pot. The more I see ficuses, the more I ask "hmmm could I find some spots for a grow light?"

 

[luvinthemountains]

Wow - excellent development from raw stock in just a few years! I do love how ficus do that, but this seems like it has just as much to do with your skill. What do you attribute it to, specifically?

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I’ve been working on this shohin ficus for a few years now. I originally purchased it as a cutting from The Bonsai Nursery in Denver, which was in business for 50+ years before recently closing.

Anyway, here is the ficus when I got it in 2019.



Here’s the tree in July 2023, after a recent pruning. Pot by me. Has a ton of moss growing on the nebari and trunk that I need to tidy up. Fun tree!

What species of ficus is that? First pic looks like a benjamina 'Ficus too little.' second pic looks fantastic.

 

[pandacular]

What species of ficus is that? First pic looks like a benjamina 'Ficus too little.' second pic looks fantastic.

I believe that Wiandi is a cultivar of F. benjamina.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I believe that Wiandi is a cultivar of F. benjamina.

Yep I'm an idiot staring at the pics and not reading. I'm only human.

 

[Colorado]

Love it, especially the pot. The more I see ficuses, the more I ask "hmmm could I find some spots for a grow light?"

I just grow them outside in summer and in a sunny windowsill in the winter

 

[Colorado]

Wow - excellent development from raw stock in just a few years! I do love how ficus do that, but this seems like it has just as much to do with your skill. What do you attribute it to, specifically?

Thank you for the kind words! I let my ficus grow out really bushy before I prune them back. Here’s a pic of this one a couple weeks ago, before the recent pruning I did on it.



I got some good advice from @Hartinez to consider removing that big bottom right branch

 

[pandacular]

I just grow them outside in summer and in a sunny windowsill in the winter

Yep, if I lived about where you lived or south, I'd do the same. I give my house plant ficuses the same treatment and the growth is glacial. Trying to make a ficus bonsai here would not be playing to the strengths of my climate, so I don't think I'll bother... unless I get a greenhouse.

 

[Carol 83]

Very nice! I don't love ficus but have always admired @Hartinez Wiandi. He so kindly sent me a nice cutting and I have made several more cuttings from it. Love the curvy branch growth. Great job with yours.

 

[pandacular]

Yep, if I lived about where you lived or south, I'd do the same. I give my house plant ficuses the same treatment and the growth is glacial. Trying to make a ficus bonsai here would not be playing to the strengths of my climate, so I don't think I'll bother... unless I get a greenhouse.

HA! Well, i’m still gonna give it a shot, even if it means chopping the winter growth every spring