[IBC] Newbie - banyan
Ben: It may seem to you that your kitchen is like a greenhouse with lots of
sunlight, but I wager that if you measure the light, you will find that it has considerably less light than outdoors or even a greenhouse. And that is the primary key to the large leaves you are observing. Plants need to photosynthesize, and that requires light. If light levels are low, then plants adapt by making larger leaves to be able to capture more light. That is fine for the plant, but not good for us who want leaves to be smaller to enhance that illusion we call bonsai. You also mentioned the desire to encourage the growth of aerial roots. This will require high humidity, the likes of which you will not be able to sustain indoors. You can keep humidity higher by putting wet sphagnum moss around the areas you wish for roots to appear. So, while your banyan fig will certainly grow indoors, it will not perform to bonsai standards indoors. Try to find a nice outdoor place for it, and bring it indoors only to protect against frost. Alan Walker http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org -----Original Message----- From: Ben 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 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
Ben wrote:
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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
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? "Henrik Gistvall" schreef in bericht ... Ben wrote: 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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ************************** **** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
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 "Henrik Gistvall" schreef in bericht ... Ben wrote: 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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ************************** **** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
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 "Henrik Gistvall" schreef in bericht ... Ben wrote: 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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ************************** **** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
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 "Henrik Gistvall" schreef in bericht ... Ben wrote: 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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ************************** **** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
sorry for the multiple replying here.. something went wrong with my software
and i thot the posts didn't go thru. "Ben" schreef in bericht ... 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 "Henrik Gistvall" schreef in bericht ... Ben wrote: 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? Let it grow free for now. - 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? A big pot (quite shallow and wide) and sun will help. A seedling in a bonsai pot will stay a seedling in a bonsai pot. You need to let it grow. - 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? Often just an expensive version of regular houseplant fertilizer. Start now and just follow the label. - any do-s and don't-s Use a well draining soil mix not just regular potting soil. Let the soil dry up between waterings (not bone dry) and wather thoroughly when watering. - where to find good information Look for a local bonsaiclub. Look for books at the library in a shop or on the web. And last, Iīm not familiar with this species so I canīt even say if itīs good for bonsai. Iīll leave that to someone else. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden ************************************************** ************************** **** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ************************** **** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
If you let it grow to approx 50 cm and then pinch of the leader,
branches will start to grow. Once again you let the tree grow free, especially the lower branches. Keep them as sacrifice branches that help to increase the girth and taper of the trunk. These will be removed later on when you are starting to get satisfied with the thickness of the trunk, but before the sacrifice branches are so thick they will leave an ugly scare after removal. Henrik Gistvall, Uppsala, Sweden Ben wrote: 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? ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
One problem, at least with some trees, is that if you try to grow branches
before the trunk is thick enough, the branches grow too thick. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) |
[IBC] Newbie - banyan
thanks to both of you :-)
"Iris Cohen" schreef in bericht ... One problem, at least with some trees, is that if you try to grow branches before the trunk is thick enough, the branches grow too thick. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) |
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