yamadori in Costa Rica

[eferguson1974]

This is a strangler fig taken off of another tree three or four months ago. I got lucky with its roots, it fit right into this pot. It had three long ugly branches with a few big leaves that fell off. When it started sending out buds, I chased them down to the trunk. Here it is with buds/limbs coming out of the trunk. I have no idea which species this one is. I have several types of strangler figs from coffee farms and roadside trees where there considered a big weed. Plenty of free material for a new tree torturer.
View attachment 87996

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Taxonomy of neotroical Ficus species is not as well defined as it is for Old World Ficus species. The best on line resource complete with identification keys is Fig Web. http://www.figweb.org/

Check author names for some of the articles about central and south American ficus, you might want to contact them directly through their University emails. Keying out Ficus is beyond my skill set. Are there Flora of Costa Rica available to you? If you can not get help on line, bring printed photos, or living specimens to the University of Costa Rica, Lancaster Gardens; Jardín Botánico Lankester http://www.jbl.ucr.ac.cr/ in Cartago, Costa Rica phone +506 2511 7949

I know of the Gardens through my orchid hobby, and I know the Lancaster Gardens has a good collection of the tree flora of Costa Rica and a number of experts there.

Show us the mature leaves and maybe the growth habits of each type of ficus you have on the plantation. Virtually all ficus make good bonsai. Leaf size and growth habit determine what size bonsai they work best for, but virtually all can be used for bonsai. Jerry Meislick is a good resource too.

 

[Anthony]

Eferguson,

as Sorce says - Welcome to Crazy!

You might enjoy looking for this Ficus ---- Ficus priminoides [ seem in Venezuela as well ]
It is a tree , a wall climber, a roof top dweller and it weeps.
Also needs little organic matter in the soil, and can handle the Dry Season. Self defoliates.
Very easy to grow.

We collect them as seedlings.

Here is an image and it does not need a deeper than 1" pot. 9 years old,
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

See if you have this as well, on our side it is a natural broom /besom.
Also in the family of the Mulberry Family, which has the Ficus as well, I believe.
Good to work with.
Cholorophora t.
Good Day
Anthony

9 years old this year. 12" tall.

 

[eferguson1974]

Taxonomy of neotroical Ficus species is not as well defined as it is for Old World Ficus species. The best on line resource complete with identification keys is Fig Web. http://www.figweb.org/

Check author names for some of the articles about central and south American ficus, you might want to contact them directly through their University emails. Keying out Ficus is beyond my skill set. Are there Flora of Costa Rica available to you? If you can not get help on line, bring printed photos, or living specimens to the University of Costa Rica, Lancaster Gardens; Jardín Botánico Lankester http://www.jbl.ucr.ac.cr/ in Cartago, Costa Rica phone +506 2511 7949

I know of the Gardens through my orchid hobby, and I know the Lancaster Gardens has a good collection of the tree flora of Costa Rica and a number of experts there.

Show us the mature leaves and maybe the growth habits of each type of ficus you have on the plantation. Virtually all ficus make good bonsai. Leaf size and growth habit determine what size bonsai they work best for, but virtually all can be used for bonsai. Jerry Meislick is a good resource too.

Thanks, as I said Ive got quite a few types but I read that there are 47 or more types of ficus here. I have at least 4 from local trees. Some have great trunks and features from growing up in the host trees. They are unwanted by the farm owners, who think Im one crazy gringo collecting mata palo, tree killer in spanish. So Im using them to learn bonsai. Being from Florida, I like ficus trees and grew up around them. Thanks again for the info!

 

[eferguson1974]

Eferguson,

as Sorce says - Welcome to Crazy!

You might enjoy looking for this Ficus ---- Ficus priminoides [ seem in Venezuela as well ]
It is a tree , a wall climber, a roof top dweller and it weeps.
Also needs little organic matter in the soil, and can handle the Dry Season. Self defoliates.
Very easy to grow.

We collect them as seedlings.

Here is an image and it does not need a deeper than 1" pot. 9 years old,
Good Day
Anthony

View attachment 88025

Thanks for your reply. I havnt seen one with narrow leaves like that. I know f. aurea is a CR native. I was wondering about its potencial as bonsai. All seem to be quite touph little trees. I have more if anyone wants to see.

Eferguson,

as Sorce says - Welcome to Crazy!

You might enjoy looking for this Ficus ---- Ficus priminoides [ seem in Venezuela as well ]
It is a tree , a wall climber, a roof top dweller and it weeps.
Also needs little organic matter in the soil, and can handle the Dry Season. Self defoliates.
Very easy to grow.

We collect them as seedlings.

Here is an image and it does not need a deeper than 1" pot. 9 years old,
Good Day
Anthony

View attachment 88025

 

[eferguson1974]

This is the trunk of another species, also a collected strangler. This ones leaves are shorter and rounder, with a golden tint in the green. This species has cooler trunks but backbuds less. There a little less common than the other that I posted.

 

[DougB]

Nice to have someone from CR here on the Nut. I have great friends who are from CR. It will help us if you would modify you profile to include your location. Welcome and good luck.

 

[eferguson1974]

Thanks for having me aboard. I'll see about the name change. If anyones interested I have a lot more collected stranglers. I found one about 3 years ago and kept it alive, and just started train it and myself a few months ago. I always liked bonsai and the roots of this tree told me to take it home and start learning. I chopped it down because it only had three branches, all from the top. Now its backbudding all over the trunk and Im trying to see how short to cut it.