Your friend's Ficus sounds like it is the Edible fig, Ficus carica.
This Fig is kind of winter hardy in your region. In colder areas it
is often lifted and planted horizontally in the garden and covered
with soil. In spring, after the cold weather it is planted again in
the garden. Some people often bring this tree indoors where it "sits"
for a few months, then leafs out.

Did you actually see your friend's Ficus? The Edible fig has large
wide leaves which are rough to the touch. The ornamental tropical
figs trained for bonsai are not winter hardy at all. They have
smaller foliage which is quite thick and glossy green. They do not
normally drop all their foliage at one time. However, all the foliage
is often removed as a training technique and also for displaying the
fine delicate twigs in tropical regions of the world where they
cannot enjoy the beauty of deciduous species.

I think you are talking about two different Ficus species.

Bill Valavanis

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