My indoor "setup."

I've always said that if the Good Lord had meant trees to be inside, He would have put them there. I still believe that.

But I do have a couple of trees -- both F. nerifolia -- that have to come inside every winter. I used to just plop them down in the sun room and forget about them -- to the point they always lost their leaves and looked pretty shriveled before I remembered they were there and watered.

I'm taking another tack this winter. It was 42 degrees F here this a.m. so I've brought them in -- and put them where I can't forget them. There's a light right over them, and bright fluorescents in the room, plus daylight through the window behind them (the shutters are usually open) so they may get enough light -- and if they don't, hey, they're figs! At least I should remember to water.

First of all, it's FICUS SALICARIA.
Why do you have the shutters closed? Even with the fluorescent lights, additional natural light would be beneficial. Let us know how you make out. Check the humidity in midwinter.
It is a dangerous situation. Once you have two indoor bonsai, more will elbow their way in. You may even wind up with a couple of orchids on the windowsill.
Iris

Hi Jim. Those 2 willowleaf figs look great and currently very healthy. One option available during the shortest days of winter I have done is; I defoliate, sometimes branch prune, and re-wire tree. It will just sit there(get new red bud tips) for sometimes a month, but you are able to cut back on watering if defoliated(as long as room temp. not too high) Even in south Florida trees go dormant for 2 months. Like the Tree potty party. Dustin Mann

bonsaisr wrote:First of all, it's FICUS SALICARIA.
Why do you have the shutters closed? Even with the fluorescent lights, additional natural light would be beneficial.

Just for the photo.

Let us know how you make out. Check the humidity in midwinter.
It is a dangerous situation. Once you have two indoor bonsai, more will elbow their way in.

Absolutely not! Guaranteed.

You may even wind up with a couple of orchids on the windowsill.
Iris [/quote]

Ha!

Great to finally meet you at Bill V's, Iris.

Dustin . . . These have always defoliated themselves under my previous setup. We'll see how they go this year.

JIM,,I like the way you have them where you can see them from your computer... the one in the brown pot is a very good looking tree!!!! if i may ask where do you find a tree like it??? i like ficus trees have 4 in my living room now because like you the temp..is going down here also.. they are nothing like yours but i work with what i have...nice trees be proud...take care,,,john

I just brought in my Bougainvillea, it's 48 at 8pm and supposed to get down to the 30s here tonight. Summer is over.

Beautiful setup you have there Jim.

John, you need to attend any of the Bonsai Society of Florida conventions. Ficus like those are thick as thieves there. The one you note is a workshop tree from a few years ago. The other was gotten from a vendor at the same show.

Aside from the workshop, I've done little to them; annual defoliation and repotting.

I guess I'm lucky when it comes to indoor accommodations. All of my Ficus just came in for the winter. My house is too small for all the trees, however, my office is an old factory and we share cubicles in a large bay with windows along the North and South walls of the building. So, when the nice weather goes South, the tropicals make the 35 mile trip to work and spend the winter in a bright window, sitting in humidity trays. I'm looking to spread them out over the total linear footage of the window sills so they can add a little atmospheric charm to the entire office.

(Photos to follow.)

Jay

I winter my tropicals in an old 30 gallon aquarium with cover that I keep near an east facing window. (I add supplemental lighting) Last year was the first time I did this and the trees wintered over better than they ever did.

Jim,,I thought the trees were from fla..I have not been down there in so long i can,t remember.. i would like to add one like that to my collection but more than likely it would be pricey..not in my budget.. i will look at yours while they are on the site.. they are a lot of tropicals here lately...thanks for posting,,take care...john

If I recall, the non-workshop tree was $20-$30 -- something like that. They're only 6-7 inches tall.

Jim,,Thatis a good price,,i would have thought a lot more than that..the trees sure look bigger than that,,they sure fooled me just looking at them..good looking trunks to be that heighth..take care john