Pot size and when to prune for ficus seedlings

[mrmd101]

Hello everyone,

I'm very new to bonsai and I am growing 2 ficus benghalensis and 1 ficus religiosa trees from seed that I would like to eventually bonsai. I have been trying my best to read articles and watch videos on this, but still confused about pot sizes. I planted these on Nov 10, 2022 (about 4 months ago).

Image 1 shows a ficus benghalensis where there were multiple seeds planted in a 10" x 8" x 4" pot.

Image 2 is a single ficus benghalensis in a 6" x 4" x 2.5" pot.

Image 3 is a single ficus religiosa also in a 6" x 4" x 2.5" pot.

I am growing these indoors as I live in an apartment. I provide them about 12hrs of light under an LED grow light. I also don't have the option to grow them in the ground or a balcony.

My goal is to grow them with a thickened trunk for several years before I bonsai them. These trees are growing faster than I anticipated and the ones in the first 2 images I do see roots at the bottom of the pots. I've read that most don't need to repot the trees for at least 1-2 years. The ficus with multiple seeds could be just competing with each other, but I'd like them to eventually fuse in the future.

Questions:
1) How large/deep of a pot should these be in? If you can share links to specific pots that would be greatly appreciated.

2) At what age do I start pruning the leaves/roots?

3) Is it normal to let them get very tall before starting the bonsai process?

4) Can you recommend any books or resources specifically for the ficus benghalensis and ficus religiosa trees for growing from seed and care in the first 1-2 years?

Thank you!

 

[Daniel_UK]

I can answer questions 4. The world of ficus bonsai by Jerry Meislik is the best book I have found on the topic. I don't think you will find a book on those two species only but the book does have some information on different species including the ones mentioned.

I grow ficus benghalensis and religiosa. The first has large leaves and the second one doesn't do that well indoors. However, you can still be successful with both.

 

[mrmd101]

I can answer questions 4. The world of ficus bonsai by Jerry Meislik is the best book I have found on the topic. I don't think you will find a book on those two species only but the book does have some information on different species including the ones mentioned.

I grow ficus benghalensis and religiosa. The first has large leaves and the second one doesn't do that well indoors. However, you can still be successful with both.

Thank you! Will definitely get this book.

 

[mrmd101]

Bump

Would really love input for the other questions.

 

[Zelrod]

Questions:
1) How large/deep of a pot should these be in? If you can share links to specific pots that would be greatly appreciated.

2) At what age do I start pruning the leaves/roots?

3) Is it normal to let them get very tall before starting the bonsai process?

4) Can you recommend any books or resources specifically for the ficus benghalensis and ficus religiosa trees for growing from seed and care in the first 1-2 years?

Thank you!

So you are aware, leaves will generally be smaller outdoors in full sunlight. There are a few people that keep ficus indoors in northern climates and may be able to advise you in more detail than myself. Wet conditions in the soil and low light generally make for big leaves. Generally the larger the leaves the larger the "finished" tree tends to be. I'm just giving you some very basic information to guide you in your choices.

1. How deep/large of a pot is generally not of much concern to seedlings. Once the roots have somewhat filled the current container you should step up in container size until the tree is close to the size you'd like it to be then you don't typically upgrade container sizes very often. In my opinion, a nice ceramic pot isn't needed at this point but it does make the tree look nicer indoors. Most ficus can handle damp roots better than most trees but like most trees, they will grow faster with damp but not soggy roots. Generally this means well draining soil. Back to your question, lift the trees out of the pot they are in a little and see what the root ball looks like. If the soil is fairly loose, I'd leave it in its current pot. IF the roots have mostly filled the pot, move up to a larger pot. You CAN overpot which slows down growth a little. It's better to find a pot that's bigger than what you have but not like twice as large.
   
   
2. As a seedling, any pruning you do will slow the growth of the trunk down. I would recommend when you decide to move to a larger pot, comb the roots out to get as close to a radial pattern as you can and cut the large tap root down considerably or completely off if you have enough feeder roots elsewhere. Root work should be done early. Branch pruning can be done later due to most ficus back budding really easy.
   
   
3. Most people try to grow the trunk a few years then cut off the top a few inches above the soil. With healthy ficus they should back bud very easily. Another method of developing a thicker trunk is by using sacrificial branches which just means using a branch to build girth of the trunk with the plan to remove it in the future.
   
   
4. I don't have any tropical or ficus related books that I can recommend. Generally they like high humidity, damp soil, and bright / full sunlight. Although there are exceptions, most tropical ficus like the same conditions.