The Port Jackson fig, also known as the “rusty-leaf fig” (Ficus rubiginosa) is a banyon ficus that is a commonly used species for bonsai. It readily forms aerial roots in warm and humid conditions. This tree was purchased from Walter Anderson nursery in San Diego on January 5, 2015. After two weeks it was slip-potted into a large container with a mixture of old sifted and unsifted bonsai soil, new akadama, black scoria, and worm castings.
The tree two growing seasons after it was first posted to this website. I will probably defoliate it the second time this year in a couple of weeks.
Back side of the tree.
The tree defoliated and pruned three months ago.
New starter trees from the pruned branch tips!
The tree with new leaves after defoliation last year.
The defoliated tree when it was first posted to this website.
January 3, 2015:
The tree as purchased.
January 3, 2015:
The young tree with aerial roots this species is noted for.
January 25, 2015:
Slip-potted into a larger container of mixed old and new bonsai soil and worm castings.
January 25, 2015:
The tree in its new pot.
April 26, 2015:
Putting some movement into the trunk with wire.
June 6, 2015:
Spring growth.
October 27, 2015:
The tree at the end of its first growing season.
January 23, 2016:
Aerial roots forming a base around the trunk at the start of the second growing season.
March 24, 2016:
Branch-pruned in spring.
April 13, 2016:
The tree on the bonsai benches.
May 14, 2016:
New growth.
July 30, 2016:
Root- and trunk-pruned, ready for repotting.
July 30, 2016:
Repotted back into its old pot.
March 8, 2017:
Wiring in the top of the tree, lower branches growing freely.
March 25, 2017:
Spring growth.
April 6, 2017:
Aerial roots and nebari forming at base.
June 7, 2017:
Abundant growth, large leaves.
July 8, 2017:
Defoliated to encourage smaller leaves.
July 21, 2017:
Undefoliated leaves at branch-tips growing large.
July 29, 2017:
Large leaves removed.
December 9, 2017:
Tree at end of the year.
June 23, 2018:
Before early summer defoliation.
June 23, 2018:
After early summer defoliation.
March 3, 2019:
The tree earlier this month.
March 3, 2019:
Back side of tree showing straight upper trunk.
March 30, 2019
The tree with more trunk-wiring, defoliated and back on the benches. The next steps are to rewire the smaller branches, and try to encourage better aerial root formation from the lowest branches.
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