How to Grow Aerial Roots in Bonsai

Ariel Roots in Bonsai

Ficus or locally known in the Philippines as balete is the most popular bonsai material that produces ariel roots. Aerial roots play an important role in their growth and help them become fast growers than any other bonsai trees. In this article, I want to share with you how to grow ariel roots in bonsai.

The Rainy Season

June starts the rainy seasons and it looks like it triggered my Red Ficus or Red balete bonsai to develop aerial roots. There is no easier trick to growing areal roots than to have it done naturally. If you are still wondering what this natural way is, let me tell you, it is the rain.

I have known Ficus to be among those species that have the ability to grow roots above the ground.  This ability makes them very easy to grow and propagate.  This one that I got has been clasping on the rock for more than a year and it has grown so well. What’s fun about this plant is that the aerial roots would naturally come out during the rainy season. The daily rain keeps the trunks exposed to water or moisture for longer periods. This natural event triggers aerial root growth.

Benefits of Aerial Roots

The development of aerial roots among the branches helps in the thickening of the branches making them look mature.  Another benefit of having roots all around is that it allows the plant to have easy access to water. It also gives the bonsai artist more options to train the nebari or roots structure of the bonsai tree. However, this is only limited to trees that naturally grow aerial roots such as ficus or balete.

Conclusion

I should say that this unique ability to have areal roots makes the Ficus plants among the most forgiving bonsai materials out there.  They can survive in extreme conditions and grows easily.  Perhaps, it is because when you have lots of roots around you it will be easy for you to get your food from the environment.