Banyan Tree update 9/17/2011

As you can see the banyan trees are getting bigger. I repotted the biggest ones in some miracle grow potting soil. I did not water them last week and it did not rain. Some of the trees started to wilt because of this. Hopefully they will survive this transplant. I will post more pics when they get noticeably larger.

Banyan Tree top view

Banyan Tree side view

Banyan Tree Growth Update

It's been a few weeks since I last posted a pic of the banyan trees. I transplanted the largest one into a different pot and its growth has slowed significantly. It seems like the banyans grow faster when they are competing with one another. Also I noticed that some of the leaves were starting to wilt. I believe this is because I am overwatering them. So I have now cut back on watering them. Another note is that I have started mixing in miracle grow with the trees water. I add it in about once a week.

Banyan Trees

About the Banyan Tree

Banyan Trees are a unique tree that is indigenous to India. The tree’s name is derived from “Banians” which are indians who conduct business under the trees. The trees can span several hectares. They achieve this by using its special aerial root system. These aerial roots shoot down off the tree’s branches. These roots can develop into truck like structures. After time these roots can become indistinguishable from the original truck.

Banyan Tree

The tree is sometimes referred to as strangler. This is because the trees can grow on an existing tree of another species. The roots will essentially climb down its host tree and eventually cut off nutrient supplies. 

These figs require a hot, damp environment to flourish. If you are growing one you should make sure to keep the soil very moist. 

Banyan Seedlings

Now, after about a month and a half of watering my sprouts my Banyans are starting to take shape. As you can see I have a number of them growing. I am going to wait a little while before I start separating them into different pots.

Banyan Seedlings

I was not too sure if these were actually banyans at first. This is because I used some random soil that one of my roommates had laying around. I also wasn't too sure if there were some other kind of seeds in it.

I will be posting more pics and describing the growth of these banyan trees as they grow larger.

Banyan Seed Collection

I went on a family vacation to Key West, FL in late June 2011. During the trip I discovered a bunch of large banyan trees. These trees were impressive. I had never seen anything like them before.  So I collected a bunch of seeds and put them in a zip-lock bag. I believe I got about 5 berries in total. Each berry was loaded with seeds.

Banyan Berries

I marked the bag "Banyan Seeds" and went back to my home in Gainesville, Fl. After returning home I placed the seeds in a pot of soil and added some water. After a couple of weeks I got my first sprouts.

Check out this post on how to grow a banyan tree. http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/trees-shrubs/growing-a-banyan-tree.htm