by: Norberto Betita
As the living art of bonsai becomes globally popular, commercial bonsai trees and specimens are available even right at our doors. Plant peddlers are oftentimes seen in offices, sidewalks and even knocking on doors of residential houses to sell bonsai specimens. Determining the best specimen and choosing which tree is best especially for a beginner is crucial. Many are prone to choose the trees which had the seemingly beautiful new shoots and branches only to find later that the leaves are falling because the tender roots could not sufficiently provide the needed nutrients to sustain the growth of shoots and leaves. In many instances these trees would eventually shrivel and die. This had been my experience when I started my bonsai art hobby 21 years ago.
As a starting bonsai hobbyist I never bought a collector’s kind of trees. Instead I buy very small specimens and try to experiment on them. As a neophyte I lost many of my specimens because of ignorance in buying and the dishonesty of the plant dealer. Anyway it did not cost me much because they are just small and newly planted trees and therefore cost less. It took me some years until I learned to choose the best specimen and even to grow my own from a cutting and from a seed plant.
I bought this Ficus Benjamina “too little” from the plant dealer about 15 years ago. Its original size was half my little finger. This is a miniature cultivar of the popular Ficus Benjamina with very small leaves and compact growth habit. This can be good for indoors in low, moderate or high lighting conditions. After I noticed its roots coming out of the pot drain, I bound the main root on a coral rock and transferred it into a bigger and deeper pot to let it grow and to produce more roots. As it started to grow bigger more aerial roots were also grown which functions as additional supplier of nutrients on the tree. I utilized the aerial roots to bind the small trunk and the rock. As the roots began to hold on the trunk and the rock I then transferred the tree on a shallow pot about two inches deep to expose the rock and the rest of the roots. The amount of soil that is on the pot is very minimal considering the presence of the rock. Whether this is a good buy, one should look at the dense roots as it is pulled from the pot.
This Ficus Virens var.sublanceolata in the family of Moraceae is a large fig of three varieties which is a banyan from Northern Australia. It is likewise found in the rainforest of the Philippines. This specimen is actually a cutting from a very large epiphyte tree that grew on a mango tree. This is a root-over-rock style bonsai, but the rock was totally covered by the growing roots. I found this to be a very strong tree for bonsai. Although its leaves do not necessarily reduce; yet it looks beautiful as it changes its leaves altogether during summer or sunny days. Ordinarily its new shoots usually grow like that of a mango tree. The aerial roots grow very fast and so its trunk and branches. Cuts are also easily healed. Once, I found the main root rotten. I planned to cut it, but it would totally destroy the beauty so I just tried to leave it under the sun. After several months I noticed that the same root began to tighten and cure by itself. I found that new roots developed inside the rotten portion until it had grown enough to cover the decayed part. As it may be noted, this can be a good buy considering the condensed roots as shown.
A cutting from my older specimen of Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree (arboricola schefflera) this tree had grown so fast and produces more and stronger aerial roots almost to cover the coral rock where its main trunk sits. I purposely planted this as a gift for my grandson. This is only about four years old, yet with the fast growth of its aerial roots it looks much older. This is the tree variety that is recommended for inexperienced bonsai hobbyist and those who are not good at plants. This is one of the easiest plants to care for yet beautiful and generally trouble free evergreen. This can be one of a choice gift for a friend. This does well in lower or higher lighting condition. This is good for home and office. Although this specimen is young, yet it can be a good buy considering its strong compacted root buildup.
I acquired this Money Bonsai Trees---“Little Money” (pachira aquatica) while they were very small. These were originally three braided little trees which I eventually unbraid after I noticed that the other one is dying. I realized later that this variety is a very fast growing tree. It does not require much care although you need to check on it regularly because its new shoots easily grow taller. This is considered as a hardy tree and very tolerant of low light and dryness. This is also most popular among “Feng Shui” believers because as they say it creates positive energy---“Chi” or “Qi” and is believed to bring prosperity and wealth to the surroundings and a source of good luck aside from the fact that it decorates our homes. Although I am not a believer in “Feng Shui” yet I enjoyed so much caring for these twin trees. This twin specimen is surely a good buy.
This Willow Leaf Ficus Bonsai Tree---Ficus Nerifolia/Salisafolia is one of my few specimens of this Ficus variety. I allowed its roots to grow in a deeper pot until the roots are long and large enough to hold the trunk as it sits on a pink marble stone. This tree is also known as Mexicana Ficus. Its leaves also resemble the popular weeping willow tree. This is good for indoors even in low, moderate of high lighting conditions. It is very resilient and strong and also fast growing. This is one specimen that can be a choice buy considering that its roots are already strong and old. Its survival is already tested.
