Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

Raising banyan on a table

For aesthetic touch: Banyan tree positioned on a coral rock.

Think banyan and you think of the sprawling great banyan tree at the Theosophical Society, Adyar. Imagine raising one of its kind as a table-top entity! But that is just exactly what Molly has done.

Incidentally, this one-foot tall banyan happens to be all of 10 years of age!

Molly Cherian has raised this Ficus variety in the crevice of a coral in the Ishitsuki (meaning rock planted) style of bonsai. “The idea is to present a natural scene”, Molly says.

Actually, it was only six months back that Molly replanted the bonsai in coral. The coral rock has been tilted sideways for positional aesthetics. Molly has used a large, round and black ceramic container to highlight the beauty of the white coral. In terms of positioning, this banyan bonsai with its aerial roots and oval, leathery leaves is in the semi-cascade style, achieved by winding aluminium wires around its branches for bending it into the curve desired.

Ficus is an ideal choice for bonsai enthusiasts in Chennai, as our weather conditions suit it well. To get thick growth, pinch the new growing tips, suggests Molly. To encourage aerial roots, prick the underside of the lower branches with a sharp needle.

Care should be taken while watering bonsai plants. Use a watering can with a shower nozzle, and water the plant either early morning or evening, and only if the top soil looks dry.

Water-spray the foliage too to keep them healthy and fresh. You may cover the soil surface with a thin layer of moss to retain moisture and prevent erosion, suggests Molly.

This tiny banyan does spread the shade of serenity. Sums up Molly, “Bonsai, unlike other art forms, is never finished because the plants continue to grow”.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail