Hi all,

Last February i brought a small shoot from a Banyan tree from Calcutta
(Ficus benghalensis) home to Belgium.
Since it's such a nice tree to see (out in the open) i nurished it a few
months and many big leaves have come, and a bark is being formed (bottom
feels like a proper trunk).
Anyways, i was playing with the thought of making it into a bonsai. Don't
know really if this is advisable with this type of ficus but i assume so
'cos i think it's better of inside the house (climate is quite different,
chillier over here).
Some facts:
- I keep it in the kitchen where you get a sort of greenhouse effect (glass
all around, so lots of sun) thinking it woudl need a lot of sun.
- Current height: about 15cm. it's not already growing at a speed of 3
cm/month, each time a new leave opens a new shoot (leave) appears.
- I'm keeping it in a 20cm diameter shallow pot (looks more like a plate)
about 2 cm deep

I've found some bonsai info on the web, but not really answers to some of my
questions:
- when can you prune? can you start off as early as this?
- the leaves are becoming bigger and bigger. any hints as to keep them
small?
- how do you make it grow thicker instead of taller? put it out of the sun?
- food? what to give, what not to give? I've seen special bonsai food in
green centres (shops) when to start with that, if at all?
- any do-s and don't-s
- where to find good information
- aerial roots: can you induce those? how?
- am i doing things i shouldn't (spot, pot, food..)

Thanks a ton for any help,

Ben

confusing typo:
- Current height: about 15cm. it's NOW already growing

"Ben" schreef in bericht
...
Hi all,

Last February i brought a small shoot from a Banyan tree from Calcutta
(Ficus benghalensis) home to Belgium.
Since it's such a nice tree to see (out in the open) i nurished it a few
months and many big leaves have come, and a bark is being formed (bottom
feels like a proper trunk).
Anyways, i was playing with the thought of making it into a bonsai. Don't
know really if this is advisable with this type of ficus but i assume so
'cos i think it's better of inside the house (climate is quite different,
chillier over here).
Some facts:
- I keep it in the kitchen where you get a sort of greenhouse effect
(glass
all around, so lots of sun) thinking it woudl need a lot of sun.
- Current height: about 15cm. it's not already growing at a speed of 3
cm/month, each time a new leave opens a new shoot (leave) appears.
- I'm keeping it in a 20cm diameter shallow pot (looks more like a plate)
about 2 cm deep

I've found some bonsai info on the web, but not really answers to some of
my
questions:
- when can you prune? can you start off as early as this?
- the leaves are becoming bigger and bigger. any hints as to keep them
small?
- how do you make it grow thicker instead of taller? put it out of the
sun?
- food? what to give, what not to give? I've seen special bonsai food in
green centres (shops) when to start with that, if at all?
- any do-s and don't-s
- where to find good information
- aerial roots: can you induce those? how?
- am i doing things i shouldn't (spot, pot, food..)

Thanks a ton for any help,

Ben

Thanks guys, this certainly helped.

Some more things (while i haven't visited the library for some good
literature on the topic):
Let it grow free for now.
* Do i need to let it grow for another year or so, what signs would
indicate it's time to? i believe pruning can be done twice a year (before
and after winter, right?).
* branches.. still to early, but i was wondering when branches normally
appear.. for all i know it can become a tall tree before any branches appear
(let alone growing aerial roots) any way to help forming branches?

i'll be transferring it into a bigger pot later on.
regards,
Ben
"Ben" schreef in bericht
...
Hi all,

Last February i brought a small shoot from a Banyan tree from Calcutta
(Ficus benghalensis) home to Belgium.
Since it's such a nice tree to see (out in the open) i nurished it a few
months and many big leaves have come, and a bark is being formed (bottom
feels like a proper trunk).
Anyways, i was playing with the thought of making it into a bonsai. Don't
know really if this is advisable with this type of ficus but i assume so
'cos i think it's better of inside the house (climate is quite different,
chillier over here).
Some facts:
- I keep it in the kitchen where you get a sort of greenhouse effect
(glass
all around, so lots of sun) thinking it woudl need a lot of sun.
- Current height: about 15cm. it's not already growing at a speed of 3
cm/month, each time a new leave opens a new shoot (leave) appears.
- I'm keeping it in a 20cm diameter shallow pot (looks more like a plate)
about 2 cm deep

I've found some bonsai info on the web, but not really answers to some of
my
questions:
- when can you prune? can you start off as early as this?
- the leaves are becoming bigger and bigger. any hints as to keep them
small?
- how do you make it grow thicker instead of taller? put it out of the
sun?
- food? what to give, what not to give? I've seen special bonsai food in
green centres (shops) when to start with that, if at all?
- any do-s and don't-s
- where to find good information
- aerial roots: can you induce those? how?
- am i doing things i shouldn't (spot, pot, food..)

Thanks a ton for any help,

Ben

check
"Ben" wrote in message
...
Thanks guys, this certainly helped.

Some more things (while i haven't visited the library for some good
literature on the topic):
Let it grow free for now.
* Do i need to let it grow for another year or so, what signs would
indicate it's time to? i believe pruning can be done twice a year (before
and after winter, right?).
* branches.. still to early, but i was wondering when branches normally
appear.. for all i know it can become a tall tree before any branches
appear
(let alone growing aerial roots) any way to help forming branches?

i'll be transferring it into a bigger pot later on.
regards,
Ben
"Ben" schreef in bericht
...
Hi all,

Last February i brought a small shoot from a Banyan tree from Calcutta
(Ficus benghalensis) home to Belgium.
Since it's such a nice tree to see (out in the open) i nurished it a few
months and many big leaves have come, and a bark is being formed (bottom
feels like a proper trunk).
Anyways, i was playing with the thought of making it into a bonsai.
Don't
know really if this is advisable with this type of ficus but i assume so
'cos i think it's better of inside the house (climate is quite
different,
chillier over here).
Some facts:
- I keep it in the kitchen where you get a sort of greenhouse effect
(glass
all around, so lots of sun) thinking it woudl need a lot of sun.
- Current height: about 15cm. it's not already growing at a speed of 3
cm/month, each time a new leave opens a new shoot (leave) appears.
- I'm keeping it in a 20cm diameter shallow pot (looks more like a
plate)
about 2 cm deep

I've found some bonsai info on the web, but not really answers to some
of
my
questions:
- when can you prune? can you start off as early as this?
- the leaves are becoming bigger and bigger. any hints as to keep them
small?
- how do you make it grow thicker instead of taller? put it out of the
sun?
- food? what to give, what not to give? I've seen special bonsai food in
green centres (shops) when to start with that, if at all?
- any do-s and don't-s
- where to find good information
- aerial roots: can you induce those? how?
- am i doing things i shouldn't (spot, pot, food..)

Thanks a ton for any help,

Ben