The Aerial Circus

For those that don't like aerial roots - close your eyes now.

This is a Willow Leaf Ficus Ficus salicaria that I call the aerial circus. It used to be a root over rock, but it's making so many aerial roots that it is mostly aerial roots. The pot is by former Florida potter Gus Miller.



This was it in November 2004

Very nice. Looks like a jelly fish So if you leave those roots they will turn into branch that goes into soil over time? Get thicker and thicker? Or will it just keep making more fine roots?

I do envy you being able to grow this species. Even here in the riviera of the u.k. i am not sure these would survive.

Howzit Rob,

Very nice. Good job!!

A Hui Hou,
-Tim

Peter E. wrote:I do envy you being able to grow this species. Even here in the riviera of the u.k. i am not sure these would survive.

Certainly not outdoors in the winter but are supposedly very tolerant of indoor growth.

I love the tree, love the pot. I like the idea of the "Jellyfish". Where do you plan to go with this tree?
Todd

Todd Ellis wrote:I love the tree, love the pot. I like the idea of the "Jellyfish". Where do you plan to go with this tree?
Todd

Good question Todd, It was more of an experiment to see how long it would take the roots to totally engulf the rock.
Normally I wouldn't leave the canopy like a "jellyfish" blob on top, but I sort of like the name so maybe the status quo for the next few years.

sublime716 wrote:Very nice. Looks like a jelly fish So if you leave those roots they will turn into branch that goes into soil over time? Get thicker and thicker? Or will it just keep making more fine roots?

Thanks for the moniker Sublime716. I like "JellyFish" - the rock could even be a jellyfish's prey. But how about Portuguese Man of War?
As for the roots, once they get hold of the soil they will thicken just like any root provided enough availability of food and water. Eventually they get large enough to self graft to other roots or to the trunk. Then the trunk will become one with the roots meanwhile the periphery of the tree will continue to make new aerial roots and so the tree could "walk" across the landscape.

Rob Kempinski wrote:

sublime716 wrote:Very nice. Looks like a jelly fish So if you leave those roots they will turn into branch that goes into soil over time? Get thicker and thicker? Or will it just keep making more fine roots?

Thanks for the moniker Sublime716. I like "JellyFish" - the rock could even be a jellyfish's prey. But how about Portuguese Man of War?
As for the roots, once they get hold of the soil they will thicken just like any root provided enough availability of food and water. Eventually they get large enough to self graft to other roots or to the trunk. Then the trunk will become one with the roots meanwhile the periphery of the tree will continue to make new aerial roots and so the tree could "walk" across the landscape.

Thank you so much for the info. It is a very nice tree..

Rob,Are you able to leave it out all winter where you are?

Libby

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bumblebee wrote:

Rob,Are you able to leave it out all winter where you are?

Libby

Usually except last year due to global warming we had a very cold spell (don't ask me how global warming causes cold winters, maybe Al Gore can explain) and for that I had to move my trees indoors. This year I plan to make a temporary greenhouse.

Sankofabonsai wrote:Rob I love all your ficus.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Sankofbonsai - I probably have over 50 ficus bonsai in pots of various size and species.

Here is one that started as a tubular piece of a cutting about an inch long by 3/4 inch diameter in 1999.
11 years later its in a pot I made by carving a chunk of clay.

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Here is an update on the Aerial Circus Ficus aka "The Portuguese Man of War Jelly Fish". It's a Willow Leaf Ficus. I decided to try to make it more bonsai looking by giving it a basic branch structure down low and thinning many of the aerial roots that came from the very top of the tree. Notice how the rock is about 80% covered. (it's almost totally covered in the back of the tree)
It's now in a rather nice oval pot by Dale Cochoy, USA. The Gus Miller round pot will be moving to join a cool Japanese Black Pine over rock.

Before testing the pot on for size.


After defoliation and repotting with a bit of wire.