MY 33-YEAR-OLD MEGAPHYLL

by: Norberto Betita

Figure 1 (33-year-old Megaphyll)

Megaphylls are Pteridophytes or ferns and their allies in the plant family. Its foliage leaf has parallel vascular bundles through the lamina. The megaphylls of ferns are large pinnate leaves called fronds. It has neither flowers nor seeds. Its reproductive structure is composed of spores or microorganisms produced through a process called meiosis in sporangia or sporangial clusters. Spores are released from the parent plant to produce free-living gametophytes. These are generally carried into the air or by ants and thus produce new plants. This type of Megaphyll originates with a very tiny sprout and eventually grows into a large fern with leaves measuring more than one meter.

Figure 2 (33-year-old Megaphyll)

This specimen (figure 1 & 2) is one of my original collections. This was originally planted in 1981 as a landscaping plant in the grounds of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Surigao City, Philippines. Generally ferns do not thrive under the heat of the sun. Through the years this plant had not grown beautifully because it was planted in an area under direct sunlight. One summer I found it abandoned with all leaves and aerial roots dried, and without any sign of life. It has no penetrating roots and it was so easy to pluck its body from the ground where it originally stood. I brought it home hoping to save it. I planted it first on a pot under the shade of a tree. With continued caring the plant begun to show a few fronds and eventually survived. Its black dried aerial roots accumulated through the years measuring about 2 feet remained to look ugly although the fern had already produced large leaves. So I decided to reduce the length of the body only to find out that within was kind of a very hard trunk which needed to be cut by a saw.  After cutting I noticed that the plant seemed to shrivel. I thought that the trunk must have been part of its source of life. Yet I tried to care and preserve it. It was only months after that it recovered. I then transferred it in a fabricated concrete stand. After fifteen years at home or a total of more than 33 years of its known existence (It was already fully grown when planted in 1981) it has survived. Another variety of fern binds its aerial roots.

Figure 3 (15-year-old Megaphyll)

Figure 4 (15-year-old-Megaphyll)

The small Megaphylls which I collected sprouting on trunks of Cycas Revoluta palms the same year, which I understand to be products of that original specimen, are now grown for fifteen years (see figures 3, 4, 5 & 6). Since I have these plants, more and more had grown in my backyard and they usually sprout on the base of my bonsai trees (see figures 7, 8 & 9). Many times I have to throw them as grass, because I only have a very small space to accommodate them.  Some of them I left to grow on the base of my Cycas Revoluta Bonsai specimens (se figures 10, 11 & 12).

Figure 5 (15-year-old Megaphyll)

Figure 6 (15-year-old Megaphyll)

Figure 7 (Several new sprouts of Megaphyll
on the base of "Tugas-bato" bonsai)

Figure 8 (New sprouts of Megaphyll
on the base of Acacia tree bonsai)

Figure 9 (New sprout of Megaphyll
on the base of Ficus Septica Bonsai)

Figure 10 (Megaphyll growing on the base
of a Cycas Revoluta bonsai)

Figure 11 (Megaphyll growing on the base
of a Cycas Revoluta bonsai)

Figure 12 (Megaphyll growing on
the base of Cycas Revoluta bonsai)

This Megaphyll variety is very good as house plant only that it would require care because it usually is used as havens for ants. However, it can easily be controlled by insect sprays.  Its beautiful large green leaves are really very ideal and attractive inside the home or office.

WILLOW LEAF FIG (FICUS SALICIFOLIA/FICUS NERIFOLIA)

by: Norberto Betita

Root-over-marble rock. Since 1999

In my bonsai hobby, I have learned to try to care for a Willow Leaf Ficus scientifically known as Ficus Salicifolia or Ficus Nerifolia. My original specimen was acquired as a very small commercial plant which was then grown in a shallow pot to be trained for a bonsai. I discovered that such a ficus variety seemed to be more resilient growing in a tropical environment as it is in the Philippines than all others of my ficus specimens. It is also one of the fastest growing varieties. During pruning I tried to experiment on growing a cutting from my original tree by plucking a branch where an aerial root grows. I found that this small branch were easily propagated and grown.

My oldest specimen is now more than fifteen years. I have been training ficus bonsai and other trees for already twenty years. I realized that the willow leaf ficus have very strong roots, particularly as concerns long exposure to heavy rains. I noticed that its roots are not easily decayed or drowned even when exposed to long wet pot soil during rainy season, unlike other ficus varieties. Its aerial roots are not easily subjected to insects or ants attacks.

Two trunks fused as one. Trained since 1998

During the last fifteen years I have discovered that its aerial roots can grow almost as big as its original trunk providing additional strength to the branches, especially when properly fed and cared for. I also tried a root-over-rock style and its roots held tight into the rock. Since my first commercial specimen, I should have raised more, but I do not have sufficient space for them to be properly sheltered. Most of my remaining few specimens is trained between thirteen to more than fifteen years. They are trained purely from small cuttings planted in a shallow pot. Inner roots can be left to grow without root-pruning and in due time it can grow bigger and longer to measure approximately one foot or more which could then be restyled for a root-over-rock specimen.

Three trunks fused since 1999

While it is recommended to conduct regeneration pruning at least two to three years, I do it almost every year during summer to reduce the size of its leaves. However, I noticed that after pruning the new leaves became smaller, but very soon the added numbers of new leaves are again back to its original size with longer twigs thereby increasing the size of the crown. They thrive very well even in the very hot sun, and just continue to produce new leaves all year round. Perhaps this is due to the tropical climate that we have in the Philippines. Sometimes twice in a year I have to prune the tree to reduce the crown to be in balance with the base.  

Single tree since 2000

Two of my remaining four specimens were fused; one with two trunks and another with three smaller trunks. Some of my specimens were already sold.

I so loved these plants and enjoyed caring for them and seeing them in my small backyard. I would recommend this variety for beginners because of its resilience that allows it to be grown even by neophyte hobbyist.