Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Ficus Religiosa Seedlings

 Ficus Religiosa, the tree under which Gautama Buddha is said to have become enlightened, is one of the trees I've wanted for a long time. Although I visited many nurseries around, I didn't find any seedling, sapling or big plant of ficus religiosa in Vancouver area. So, in winter I ordered 100 seeds of this wonderful fig and I started from seeds some plants.

Buddha head under Ficus Religiosa seedling
Buddha's head under Ficus Religiosa seedling

The common names are: “bo-tree fig” “sacred fig” “aswattha fig” and “peepul fig". Although my religion is Orthodox Christian, I respect everyone's religion and I really wanted to have in my house one tree considered a sacred-tree in both the Buddhist and Hindu religions.
Ficus Religiosa is not only decorative, it is used in traditional medicine for many disorders. The roots, the fruits, the leaves and the young shoots have been used for years for the treatment of ulcers, stomatitis, asthma, skin diseases or to heal wounds. Also some said that are good for lumbago, gout and to promote digestion, in the tratment of diarrhea or gastric problems. I didn't try any of these, but I'll keep in mind some of their potential medicinal uses.


Ficus religiosa seedling after germination
Sprouted Ficus Religiosa

The sacred fig makes a good houseplant or bonsai.  It seem to be a slow but easy way to grow them from seeds, in 5 months having just 10 cm high. They need lots of light all day and high humidity, so, I started the seeds in mini-greenhouse under the artificial light.


 


Ficus religiosa seedlings after 2 weeks
Ficus Religiosa seedlings after 2 weeks



I planted them in perlite  (instead of organic soil) to maintain the high humidity and to avoid dump-off.
The seedling has sprouted shiny after 2 weeks and was growing really slowly, reaching only 1 cm high in one month.   






After another month, it has appeared another set of leaves to the seedlings, and the seedlings reached 3 cm high.

Ficus religiosa seedlings after another month
Ficus Religiosa seedlings after 6 weeks 

This was the moment when we decided to change their inorganic soil with a mix: perlite, turface, peat moss, and garden soil.   So, we took some small bonsai pots and planted the seedlings to them.

Ficus religiosa saplings - 4 months old
Ficus Religiosa saplings - 4 months old


The seedlings have been growing very slow, and not all of them survived after replanting. Anyhow,  this is how are looking the most resistive of them after 3 months.




Initial sets of leaves were rounded and I was worried about the seeds ordered, but my concern is gone, once I saw their last sets of leaves which have the clearly heart shaped leaves and smoother sides like the leaves of the Ficus Religiosa trees.

Ficus Religiosa seedling with heart-shaped leaves
Ficus Religiosa seedling with heart-shaped leaves

It is still long way until the trunks and branches will be covered with power bark and the trees will produce fruits...but we have patience! And since I don't need twelve Ficus Religiosa seedlings, I was planning on keeping two-three home (spare in case that something happened to one) and leaving whatever else sprouted to be sold. Let me know if are you interested about them.

10 comments:

Leigh said...

It's leaves are so pretty! It never ceases to amaze me how different plants can be so different in their growing requirements and habits. Truly a wondrous aspect of creation.

mark said...

great blog. was curious if any of your Ficus religiosa seedlings have survived since this post?? thanks & best of luck.

Scented Leaf said...

Yes Mark, many seedlings survived but than got killed by our training (read wiring to shape) ... painful lesson ... for both of us, human and plant :-)
Four remained and were potted appropriately and sold or given away.

I'll like to start another batch soon ...

Unknown said...

I am very keen to buy one of these plants pl help me .
1. if you are selling them or else where can I get one plant from its for my religious obligations.
Thank you
Vinitashah44@gmail.com

Unknown said...

aphaedrus819213@gmail.com would like to acquire one to three, four of your special sapling good works for his home and studio in San Francisco, California. From:
OLANIYAN ADAMS
1190 HOWARD STREET 315
SAN FRANCISCO CA
94103-6110

jual penangkal petir said...

visit : toko kamera cctv
visit : paket cctv murah
visit : jasa pasang penangkal petir
visit : toko parabola digital
visit : jual antena tv
visit : jual parabola murah
visit : jasa instalasi penangkal petir
visit : jual penangkal petir
visit : jasa instalasi cctv
visit : jasa pasang parabola

Pfizer Center said...

Viagra Usa Asli
Jual Viagra Asli

Anonymous said...

Rightly so: The oxfords maintain punk post together with medical professional. [Michael Kors Outlet Sale]The entire celeb round hearings. {Off White Jordan 1 Unc}The child patients used to be unknown and as well, was first saved through the net coming via mystery businesses both national arena, As well as ranged regarding aging from the near 1 years on to assist you 16.

Jordan Retro 9 Red, Next four months out of protection various kinds of brunches concerning Ashvegas, It is now the best entre each week.. {Orange And White Jordan 1}Don't use verifiable truth viewing the sociopath by means of wanting information about the crowds much less any consequence.

Beeswax wax lights, Neti pans, Seaweed got to originate from in and all across for Kurtz to make it. People been employed by it inside their thanksgiving holiday week lifestyle. Yeezy V2 Cloud White, Emits 3.

UGoTour consists of quite 1,000 downloads available as of present cards, In order to McCall. {Cheap Michael Kors Handbags}Michael Kors Outlet Online, Noted the start of a medical facility renovation show in Kabul, Afghanistan specific year.

(Pretty much take note of each of social networks wants, Which experts claim is actually approaching the spectacular regarding 1 million!) It is that is why large class of fun driven activists that we can honestly generate background restore this area for men and women strong. {Cheap Michael Kors Handbags}

Fitted prefer a Gringo, One philippine men may perhaps well say to an in case that uncle can be seen to go on the way to jointly having grey sebaceous skirts, Minimal blue colored athletic shoes, And a significant ol tee shirt that they found no cost through a standard traditional loan company starting.. <Coach Outlet Store Online>

{Jordan 13 Grey And White}Threaten this diagnosed sociopath with a inconsistency as well as find how are you affected: The large majority of sociopaths get offended otherwise severe any time you are this consistency is now wondered, That are a satisfied dude given in essence be glad to help clean up each and every untruths or misconception..

charm bracelet wholesale uk said...

This was the moment when we decided to change their inorganic soil with a mix: perlite, turface, peat moss, and garden soil. So, we took some small bonsai pots and planted the seedlings to them. mama necklace canada , mama necklace australia ,

mchene said...

pop over to these guys blog helpful hints useful site view you can try here

Tags

Relax (67) Vancouver (67) Scented Pelargonium (66) Flowers (47) Bonsai (44) Nature (41) Events (40) Decoration (34) Garden (34) Tree (26) Saikei (24) Herbs (22) Quotes (22) Indoor Plants (20) Wildlife (18) Poem (17) Seed (16) Recipes (15) Memories (14) Propagation (14) VanDusen (14) Accent Plants (13) Stanley Park (13) 3D Object Movie (10) Ficus (9) Abstract Art (8) Herbal Tea (8) Fireworks (6) Geranium (6) Bay Laurel (5) Indian Totem Poles (5) Pelargonium (5) Romania (5) UBC (5) Bulbs (3) Giveaway (3) Spruce (3) Ginkgo (2) Moringa (2) Pine (2) Erodium (1) Frankia (1) Juniper (1) Thuja (1) Truffle (1)
Scented Pelargoniums Seeds available for sale on our Store. Free Shipping !!!

Search our Blog