Ficus in shallow pots
- Thread starter Jorgens86
- Start date
I think it is true especially for the trees in grow out stage. It is probably not that important if a ficus is a finished bonsai.
Dabbler
Chumono
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In the right conditions ficus can grow on rocks, in the air on a tree, in the ground, shallow pot, and a deep pot - They can grow pretty much anywhere, even in a house with a mouse!
Well, this is true, but Latvia and Canada (and NJ) are not tropical and don't have optimal conditions for ficus growing all the time.
I have 2 cuttings from the same plant one in a small pot and one in a large pot. The one in a large pot is triple the size of the other one.
I have 2 cuttings from the same plant one in a small pot and one in a large pot. The one in a large pot is triple the size of the other one.
Ply
Mame
I'm not sure about shallow pots, but ficus do tend to do better in smaller pots over larger pots in my experience. Once ficus get a little root bound they really get very vigourous.
Gabler
Masterpiece
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I know many who keep them well, in shallow pots. Myself included. 
Mellow Mullet
Masterpiece
They do very well in shallow pots, in my experience.
Michael P
Omono
My willow leaf ficus forest and clump are both in very shallow pots. I usually trim them 3 or 4 times during the growing season.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I think we've come back around to the, "what's a bonsai pot for," discussion.
Is it practical or is it aesthetic?
Yes.
Is a bonsai pot required?
Yes. If your tree is not in a container it is either dead or not a bonsai.
What makes a bonsai pot different from a regular pot? Is it the wholes?
Sure, let's go with that. After all, it'd be pretty tough to boil pasta in a bonsai pot, so it's probably something about the holes.
Is it practical or is it aesthetic?
Yes.
Is a bonsai pot required?
Yes. If your tree is not in a container it is either dead or not a bonsai.
What makes a bonsai pot different from a regular pot? Is it the wholes?
Sure, let's go with that. After all, it'd be pretty tough to boil pasta in a bonsai pot, so it's probably something about the holes.
How deep is this pot?
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I think that it all depends on a lot of factors like climate, fertilization, watering, state of development. In a climate where ficus thrive, you may have to repot the tree yearly in a too shallow pot. In a zone 7 you may do fine every 2-3 years. Here in TX if I place my ficus in a shallow pot it would probably raise itself out in a growing season. A tere in refinement where you are slowing it down as much as possible you should be ok with a shallow pot. This works for other species as well, I think it was either Ryan or Bjorn that said that they had trees moved into very shallow pots just for the shows, then moved back into slightly deeper pots right after it.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
2.25” deep, 18.5” wide, OD. The trunk’s base is about 12” wide at the soil level, so I would consider the pot shallow relative to the base and this tree grows quite well.
Many ficus trees are basically epiphytes, meaning soil is almost more for our convenience than the tree’s, so I’m not sure what the original assertion is based on.
namnhi
Masterpiece
Wow I didn't see how huge that tree is....
Michael P
Omono
Here are some Jim Smith willow leaf ficus on marble trays with NO soil.
This is crazy
Gabler
Masterpiece
Bonsai pots are holy. We must not question the rules.
Fidur
Chumono
Mine is in a tiny pot as well. I feel it has room for at least 5 years...
