Ficus benjamina

[Kevin_T82]

Since these plants sprout aerial roots so easily could you potentially cut out/separate the smaller stems with no ill effect? Or, just cut them back to soil level?

Picture borrowed from http://ficusbonsai.freeforums.org

 

[nathanbs]

What is your goal with this project?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

You probably could separate them, but they are actually in a good position to start generating taper by fattening up the base more. If you separated them all, you 'd be stuck w 10 tiny trees. Different strokes for different folks but I would recommend letting it grow as freely as possible for now

Just for fun I'll show you my mother plant that just about got me laughed off of the IBC. It started a 10 page thread/rant about how hobbiests shouldn't waste their time with inferior material. In a few years I may air layer the top section as I had good results with thick Benjamin's air layers in the past. Maybe some day with some full sun the leaves will reduce, but in the meantime, I have a nice houseplant to untrained eyes.

 

[KennedyMarx]

It really depends on what your goal is. Why did you bring up aerial roots? You could just cut them down. Benjamina tend to die back when cut back without leaving any foliage. You could leave them and have a nice clump style. Another option would be to bind them to the thicker trunks and let them fuse.