Root Over Rock Bonsai - Hybridponic Ficus Religiosa / Peepal Tree

Tree Species : Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree)
Cutting Taken In : May 2016

This is a 1 year progression of my Root Over Rock Mini Bonsai, started from water rooted cuttings. It also covers the making of the rock formation, my hybrid-ponic setup (roots in sand & water), trunk thickening, pruning, moss revival & self watering benefits. My hybrid-ponic setup is an adaptation of Kratky Hydroponics technique.

Watch on YouTube

 (Read video description also)

Banyan Tree Cuttings - Water Rooted To Cocopeat

Tree species : Banyan Tree (Ficus Benghalensis)

Collected on : July 8 (2 big ones) & Aug 18 (3 small ones), 2016

These water rooted cuttings were moved to cocopeat almost 3 months ago and are now ready to be repotted. A soil mix and a bigger pots are needed soon. 

Water Bonsai From Cuttings Of Cluster Fig Tree / Ficus Racemosa

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Cuttings taken on : June 9, 2016

This post is part 3 of this story.

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 Read Part 1 & Part 2 here.

How To : Rooting a leaf cutting of Ficus Racemosa

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Leaf taken on : Sept 1, 2016

I took this leaf from a big tree, to compare & show the leaf size reduction I achieved in my bonsai plants of the same species. Then, instead of throwing it away, I thought - why not root it in water and see ! Just plain water, changed twice a week, no rooting hormones.

Sept 18

Sept 21

Rooting In Water For Mini Bonsai - Ficus Religiosa

Tree Species : Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree)
Cutting Taken On : Aug 4, 2016

The tiniest rooted cutting of a 
ficus religiosa you will ever see ! 

Rooted in just 10 days, in plain tap water. In this case, I didn't have to change the water, unlike my other cuttings in water. Here, the water would dry up to a thin layer and I simply refilled it everyday.

Aug 14, 2016

Mini Cuttings Of Ficus Racemosa / Cluster Fig Tree Growing In Water

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Cuttings taken on : July 12, 2016

To be grown as mini bonsai

Watch Part 1 On YouTube

Rooting cuttings in water - Ficus Religiosa / Peepal tree - Part 3

Tree Species : Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree)
Collected On : April 23, 2016

Part 3 

Watch On YouTube

Root on rock - After getting a bunch of dense & shallow water roots, I planted the ficus cutting no. 6 on a rock cavity, covered it with moss & put it back in water, allowing the roots to grow down from the rock in to the water. 

Part 1 & 2

Cuttings Of Cluster Fig Tree / Ficus Racemosa Growing Roots In Water - Part 2

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Cuttings taken on : June 9, 2016

Part 1 of this article

UPDATE - July 17
 

Cuttings Of Cluster Fig Tree / Ficus Racemosa Growing Roots In Water - Part 1

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Cuttings taken on : June 9, 2016

I recently spotted a cluster fig tree sapling, growing on the roadside pavement and decided to prune it first and collect it a month or 2 later. I reduced its height from almost 3 feet to half a feet and got some cuttings in the process.

Ficus Religiosa Growing In A Bottle Of Water

Tree Species : Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree)
Collected On : May 17, 2016

Rooting cuttings in water - Ficus Religiosa / Peepal tree - Part 1 & 2

Tree Species : Ficus Religiosa (Peepal tree)
Collected On : April 2, 2016

Softwood cuttings of Ficus Religiosa roots easily in water, specially green branch tips with leaf buds. You will never need their seed again !

If sand, cocopeat or soil was my rooting medium, then I would have had to cut away most of the leaves, which is a setback that you can avoid totally, by rooting in water. Besides, I would expect only 2-3 specimens to survive. I did not remove any leaves, after collecting this rootless sapling.