Old Ficus benjamina

Hi IBC
There are plenty of ficus benjamina in VN.Especially in the North, ficus benjamina is very popular species
I 'd like to show a Ficus benjamina in the picture here. This is one of the most beautifull ficus benjamina in VN I've ever seen.
It is really very old tree.

Very nice. One of the great compositions Ive seen. Thanks for sharing.

I normally think that F. benjamina is one of the poorest figs for bonsai. This one certainly makes me rethink that. Perhaps it is only a bad choice when not in the tropics . . . . ?

Those aerial roots make me think of swinging on the vines into the water! Beautiful.

Libby

That is beautiful (both the tree itself and the overall scene). All I can think is, how long would it take to grow a trunk like that in upstate NY?

Chris

Show us yours (the big one)

Xuan

JimLewis wrote:I normally think that F. benjamina is one of the poorest figs for bonsai. This one certainly makes me rethink that. Perhaps it is only a bad choice when not in the tropics . . . . ?

One of the reason that make Ficus benjamina being popular in northern of Vietnam is that the climate too harsh! In winter, it's about 10-20oC with the humidity around 60% or less if the wind is north-west. In summer, it's about 30-40oC with the humidity around 90% if the wind is south-east, 60% if the wind is south-west. In the spring, it's about 15-25oC and the humidity usually around 100% with the north-east wind. While we have to work hard, we have not much time to take care, the best choice is ficus.

This famous tree is over 100yrs, get it from his father and grand - grand father, Mr Nguyen Gia Hien reform it being like this around 10yrs before being show at Tao Dan Spring show, may be 1996? Now, it is in his house in Trieu Khuc village, Hanoi.

Hi Qui,

It is very beautiful. How tall is the tree?

Budi

This is a wonderful tree.
Benjamina function very well in humid, tropical climates and not so well in other locales.
Jerry

Storm wrote:Very nice. One of the great compositions Ive seen. Thanks for sharing.

I agree 100%. WOW!

Budi Sulistyo wrote:Hi Qui,

It is very beautiful. How tall is the tree?

Budi

Hi Budi, Not exactly but It's not more than 100cm tall.
This tree won the Gold prize in 2006 festival show ( AQUAVINA- 2006, included bonsai) in HCM city. It was brought form North to South for the event( the National ceremony day) . I like this tree because of it's simple look and old appearance.

JimLewis wrote:I normally think that F. benjamina is one of the poorest figs for bonsai. This one certainly makes me rethink that. Perhaps it is only a bad choice when not in the tropics . . . . ?

In Southern Viet Nam where a lot of benjaminas ( big leaf type ) bonsaists do not prefer it as a good materials for bonsai but in the North benjaminas ( smaller leaf type) are beloved by most growers.

Hi friends
Could anyone tell me are these plants have a drainage 
Hole in the center below the plant and do these ficus needs repoting
Thanks

Stunningly beautiful composition. We don't see many GOOD Ficus in our climate.

Great composition, beautiful tree!!

Note the temperature range - 10 deg.C to 40 deg.C wow
Thanks for showing
Later
Khaimraj

* I wonder if my non-glossy leaf type is a southern Ficus b.?

JimLewis wrote:I normally think that F. benjamina is one of the poorest figs for bonsai.

Benjamina do tend to be treated like the red-headed step child of the bonsai world but mine is one of my favorites. Seen here https://servimg.com/view/17999596/7

Nice work, protonwira.

JimLewis wrote:I normally think that F. benjamina is one of the poorest figs for bonsai.  This one certainly makes me rethink that.  Perhaps it is only a bad choice when not in the tropics . . . . ?

I tend to agree with you, Jim. Leaf size and general growing technique can be tricky. Benjamina as bonsai need to be of larger size trees. This is Ernie's old Benjamina. Considering what he started with- think pencil in soil - it's a great tree:

I really enjoyed seeing these beautiful benjamina's....I agree they can be finicky, but I really enjoy working with them and wish they would be utilized to a greater extent for bonsai.  I would share this one...measures 21 inches in width and is 12 inches in height.    Tom

This is my new favorite benjamina "too little". I have had it for a few years now, but it didn't become my favorite until I put it in this pot. I even sprung for a few grains of akadama when I potted it up.

Very nice composition. Look very natural. Thanks for sharing