Also known as the ‘sacred fig’, or ‘Aśvattha’ this species is believed to be the one under which Gautama Buddha was meditating when he attained enlightenment. I have been developing this tree since obtaining it as a small sapling in 2016.
The tree today.
The tree when purchased from Walter Anderson nursery in San Diego.
Close-up of the trunk and base when purchased.
The tree from another angle a month later.
Bare-rooted.
Root-pruned.
Trying out its new pot.
Repotted. Lots of room to grow.
The tree a year later with branches wired. I struggled with trying to reduce the length of these branches. In the future I may rely more on pruning to the first secondary branch on each primary branch to reduce branch lengths instead of trying to do it with wiring.
The tree on the bonsai benches in fall.
Wire removed in early winter.
Rewired in spring.
A visitor.
The tree leafing out in spring.
The tree after another summer of growth.
The tree a year and a half later in spring. The stubs from earlier branch prunings are visible. I probably should have cut each branch back again by at least half at this point.
Another summer of growth.
Removed from the pot for repotting.
Radial root spread beginning to form.
Good fit in new pot.
Leaves drooping five days after repot. I was keeping it in the shade.
One month later.
The tree before rewiring on February 6.
The tree after wiring two months later. Needs weeding.
The tree today from the back side.
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