Ficus Nerifolia

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2014 I “inherited” this ficus from my mother-in-law’s cousin Jack. Jack was a dentist who lived in New Orleans and this was his first bonsai tree. His wife remembered him having it for over 45 years. My understanding is that her father effectively created and marketed the “houseplant” phenomenon. I don’t know where Jack got the ficus, but it has some history. She cared for it after Jack’s death and shortly after, passed it along to me.

This is how I received it, probably close to 28” tall, and full of scale.


I decided if I was going to take it over, I was going to make the best possible bonsai I can from this material. Starting with shortening it back down to a low wide base.


When I got it home, I sawed the bottom flatter and potted it into a proper bonsai pot with proper bonsai soil.


And in a few months, it had responded well.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2015, it had filled out well, and so I began to identify and wire some primary branches.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2016, the training continued. I wanted to work toward a wide banyan feel.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

2017, new pot. Probably not the best fit, but I really liked the pot and sometimes you just need to use it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2018, I decided to remove the heavy aerial root on the right side and improve the trunk taper. Also, swapped to a larger Koyo pot.


2019, development continued, and I found a cool Eli Akins pot.


In 2022, it had lived in that pot for 3 years, and became difficult to water. Time to upsize again. This time to a 17.5” wide Yamafusa pot. My first ever Tokoname pot, and the one I showed my Japanese maple in at the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in 2012(?)

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2024, it was time to upsize again…just a little to this 18.5” Suishoen pot. I wasn’t sure about the glaze, but think it actually worked out. I also wired out everything and continued to widen and flatten the canopy.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

In 2025, and throughout the winter, I was able to keep it in a sunny room and even outside for days at a time. The result was earlier shaping growth and more leaf retention. Wires removed, and some pruning in preparation for good spring growth. If it fills in well, in a couple weeks I may put it in our club’s show for the first time.

 

[MHBonsai]

Killer progression. Thanks for posting. Is this a tree you fully defoliate?

 

[just.wing.it]

Beautiful work, well executed.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Killer progression. Thanks for posting. Is this a tree you fully defoliate?

No. It could handle it, but I don’t see a reason to do so. Over the years, I have moved away from full defoliation as a training technique.

 

[Carol 83]

Awesome transformation, thanks for showing how a humble plant can become a great tree, in the right hands.

 

[Michael P]

Excellent rescue and resurrection!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

A little show prep…deliberating between a couple different stands.

 

[MrCarterthePotter]

A little show prep…deliberating between a couple different stands.
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Loving the way the legs of the second (bottom picture) stand’s legs mirror the nabari on this tree.