Is it actually a ficus retusa?

[GreatLakesBrad]

My first tree. Costco from my parents 5 years ago. Wasn’t interested in bonsai yet... after losing part of the trunk due to rot, this began my initial interest. NO drainage for the pot from Costco, poor soil... I started to learn. Repotted w/ drainage and bonsai soil quickly 3 years ago and my journey down the rabbit hole began.

Since then this tree is now healthy. Repot this year for more root space -> growth overall, plus angled planting for some interest. Chopped half the top part of the trunk (cutting took!) and now inside for the winter and doing well.

An interesting development through: the chop, while not extreme, looks to have revealed that this tree is.. grafted? I’ve heard this common but wanted folks to validate. I’m noticing a shoot on the most aged part of the trunk and it looks completely different than the younger top portion... thought this was a ficus retusa, but now considering going with the original species should this shoot take off long term and layering the grafted portion off in the summer.

any feedback/thoughts? Am I crazy?

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Also... I’m well aware of the phalic resemblance per the repot and find it quite amusing.

 

[vp999]

I think what you have is a Ginseng Ficus.

 

[Carol 83]

My brother gifted me a ginseng ficus castoff of a co-worker. I sawed the tubes off and stuck it in a pot. It lived and has a few interesting aerial roots. But if you like the tubes, that's your call. Glad the cutting took, ficus cuttings are the only thing I have had success with.

 

[canoeguide]

As I understand it:

Ficus retusa is a different species altogether and is *not* the species typically sold as bonsai. Jerry Meislik (who literally wrote the book on ficus bonsai) says that anything being called 'retusa' in bonsai culture, isn't.

Ginseng ficus isn't a species and isn't a good identifier. What is commonly called "ginseng ficus" is a Ficus microcarpa that has been grown in such a way to produce large tuber-like roots which are elevated out of the ground to look like a trunk. The top is usually composed of 1-3 branches of a smaller-leafed variety of F. microcarpa grafted on top.

What you have is a Ficus microcarpa, and that is the clearest and least confusing way to refer to it.

 

[GSCarlson]

I prefer the name Franken-ficus, aka ginseng ficus.

 

[sorce]

Walmart ficus.

Sorce

 

[Michael P]

Canoeguide is correct, you have a Ficus microcarpa. I don't see anything obvious that would indicate that it is grafted, but that is a common practice with these "ginseng ficus". The new shoot you see may look different than the older foliage just because it is new, and is growing in the very different conditions indoors. The older foliage probably grew while the tree was outdoors for the summer. When the new shoot matures you will be able to tell if it is really different from the rest of the foliage.

 

[canoeguide]

Walmart ficus.

Sorce

Hey, I got the one I have at Sam's Club! I'm using it as a cutting factory presently!

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Ok then, microcarpa. I’m still convinced they are different species based on how different the growth appears (purple in the shoot and leaves are different, as well as size and shape of the shoots) but it is indeed new/infant growth so time will tell! Either way, fascinating and fun to watch. I’ll post an update in a few months perhaps. Appreciate the knowledge as always.