Progression of aerial roots in AZ.

[Lee in AZ]

Ficus benghalensis in 2004

Ficus benghalensis in 2006

You can see a lot of the roots are getting noticeable thicker. Like in the arm pit region on the right, and the one growing down across the front. In another 3 years (or less) they should reach the ground, it'll be interesting to see how they look then.

A few years ago most plant folks thought Ficus with aearial roots in super dry AZ was an impossibility (as well as growing benghalensis in AZ).

Lee

[spockvr6]

Great shots Lee.

What I would give to have a Banyan in my yard!

[Randy]

Lee,

Interesting Banyan, really makes you appreciate how long it took for some of those huge one's in Hawaii to tretch out the way they have!

Looking at the photo's, it appears to be a little higher in elevation than Phoenix & Tucson?

[Lee in AZ]

Larry, there some great ones down in St. Pete in Straub Park. You could dig out all of those great Royals you have and replace them with one Ficus. Ah nevermind, perhaps you should keep the Royals.

Those were there long before I was born in Pinellas County and they'll be there long after I'm gone from this planet.

Randy, that Ficus benghalensis is at the Phoenix Zoo in thr "tropics trail". The PHX Zoo has a lot of Ficus benghalensis now, they added at least 10 two years ago. I've enjoyed tracking their progress over the past 8 years. They even came through December of 2003 with no damage.

Lee

[spockvr6]

Lee-

That Ficus would not only completely cover my lot, but also several of my neighbors

And, in my area, even if I had a huge lot these Ficus would never get to be this size.  Theyd either be burned back and kept "bonzai", or downright killed.  There are only a few select areas of Pinellas that can support these trees and the Straub Park area is certainly one of them.  As one drives down 4th Street towards downtown, its amazing how quickly things get drastically more tropical as one gets close to this area.  A couple of miles north on 4th Street and the local foliage looks like just about anywhere else in Pinellas.

[DoomsDave]

Here's a pic of one in Hawai'i.

They do get huge after a while.

This is one big tree, planted in the 1800s.

dave

[bubba]

I believe that tree (Hawai) is in front of the library or post office in Maui, just down the street from Kimo's Wharf(longboard championship).A great place to attempt meditation. Unfortunately, these trees literally propagate in highway overpasses and have even been found taking root in passive hobos beards here in South Florida.

[Walt]

Lee: It seems I once read a post where someone was growing a Ficus benghalensis on the west coast and they used somekind of water mister to provide more humidity around their tree, which in turn promoted better aerial root growth.

This sounds logical to me, as I would think most decending aerial roots would just dry out (in the brutal Arizona summer sun) before they reached the ground. Maybe the roots shown in your photos made much of their development during the cooler months of the year, then hold their own during the hotter summer months.

[chris78]

Walt

I have some Ficus benghalensis and the aerial roots are produced in the summer... In July to mid Sept moist air from Mexico (which in AZ they call the Monsoon season)

the summer skies are full of thunder clouds and it rains and the humidity rises. And when this happens my bayan tree produces it aerial roots. They can grow a few feet or more during the summer. When it drys out and cool off after Sept, the roots stop growing but DO NOT DIE..... they just sit and wait till the conditions are right again and grow some more. And over a few years reach the ground.

They don't grow as fast as if there were in a more humid climate, which is a good thing  

Ficus benghalensis are from monsoon climates and are use to hot, dry heat part of the year before the rains. So their aerial roots are use the this.

[Walt]

Chris: Okay, I'm not familar with your climate, in terms of when you get your most moisture (I only know how hot it get's there from Lee's updates to me on occasion).

As you know my area is very humid, almost year 'round, but far more so during the spring and summer. It's in the warm humid months that the Spanish moss grows much more profuse.

Most banyan trees I've found here are close to lakes, so I guess the lakes help provide moisture that is probably conducive to aerial root growth. I know the Spanish moss grows much more profusely on trees around the lakes, for the moss thrives on humidity.

This is one of four banayan trees growing down the road from me, close to a lake. I talked to the owner and she told me that is an old, old defunct tractor beneath the banyan tree and it's locked in from subsidiary roots. The little red head girl was the owner's grandaughter.

by waltcat100

[Lee in AZ]

Walt,

As Chris said, during our monsoon season is when the aerial root growth occurs. On mine, I see aerial root growth occurring when the dew point hit 60F and above. So you are right Walt about aerial root growth not being conducive to our driest, hottest weather (unless the dew points are high).

Chirs: "They can grow a few feet or more during the summer". I presume you're exaggerating in relation to our climate? If they can actually grow a few feet in AZ summer do you have any documentation. I would love to hear that's the case, so please prove me wrong on this one.

Thanks,

Lee