Ficus religiosa, the Sacred Fig Tree, is associated with Buddism as it's the tree under which Budda became enlightened. The original tree is said to still be living and any leaf that falls is quickly picked up as a good luck souvenir. Cuttings from the original tree were rooted and sent throughout the world for planting on the grounds of Buddist churches and such a tree exists two miles away from Fuku-Bonsai at the Puna Hongawanji in Keaau.
The Sacred Fig Tree is hardy in zones 10-11. In cooler regions it can be grown as a house plant, patio plant, or a bonsai!
SOME OF THE CUSTOMER REVIEWS ABOUT THIS
FLOWER/PLANT [SAMPLE]
1) Seeds actually germinated! - I purchased these seeds right around December 2012. At first when they arrived I was surprised by how small these seeds really were and if any could successfully germinate. No larger than a poppy seed and even tinier than sesame seeds. If you do some research before buying this plant you know that you will have some work cut out creating a ideal propagation medium. These figs are tropical in origin so humidity, air temperature and more importantly soil temperature is most critical to this plant. Also once these seeds have been harvested they quickly loose their germination success rate the longer they are stored. To make the best situation for promising results (even in winter indoor sprouting) follow some key steps. Firstly, select a soil for growing cacti, palm or citrus tropicals. The reason for this is it is a well draining, aerated, lighter soil that does not compact and water-log a rooting area. These specific seeds must be sprinkled ON TOP of the soil you are using, not submerged; with a slight dusting of soil just covering the seed from sight. After this gently water the seeded area leaving just damp, that's it. provide a heat dome over the seeds, and maintain a soil temperature at 70-75 degrees with a seedling heat mat. This mimics the natural environment of this fig. With some luck and care sprouting could be visible in 30 days with periodic watering.
By S.W. on January 19, 2013
2) They all DIED!! - So I received 11 seeds 14 days ago. As of yesterday, I've had one seed sprout! I consider this a success. Trees can be notoriously difficult to sprout from seed and there are so many factors that go in to whether a seed will germinate or not. There doesn't seem to be much information about ficus religiosa seeds available on the internet so it's hard to tell exactly what the best conditions are for sprouting. These seeds could have a hard coating that impedes germination or the fig wasp needed to pollinate the tree might not have been present. When you order the seeds and how long they've been in storage can also significantly affect germination rates. If none of my other seeds germinate, I will find no fault with the distributor. There are just too many variables to account for.
That said, I've tried my best to reproduce the native environment of the ficus religiosa. Luckily for these seeds, my air conditioner is broken, so my apartment stays 78 at the coldest, and 90 at the hottest. I planted the seeds in regular potting soil (Espoma organic potting mix, to be specific) in a cardboard egg carton and stuck them inside a clear plastic box (one that string lights came in) to help maintain humidity. I lightly pressed each seed into the soil and I've been watering these seeds several times a day with an eye dropper in order to avoid disturbing them. The seeds are sitting about a foot away from a west facing window so they receive a couple hours of afternoon sunlight every day.
I think maintaining the moisture level is most important for the germination of these seeds and I wouldn't recommend buying them if you don't have the time or patience to water them several times a day. It can be very easy to forget about them, and I've found they can dry out quickly if the sun is bright. I also think it's important to make sure the seeds aren't too deep in the soil. I think part of the seed should remain visible.
But anyways, I rate these seeds at 4 stars because 1 has sprouted and that's all I was really hoping for from the beginning. I'll update this review if more sprout. I've read that ficus religiosa seeds can take up to a month to sprout, so I haven't given up hope that more will germinate. These seeds are definitely a labor intensive project, but I think having a ficus religiosa tree is worth the trouble. If you're willing to baby these seeds and keep a constant watch over them, I believe you will be successful.
Update
9/5: All of my sprouts have died. I got 5 seeds to sprout and then slowly, one by one, they all started to die from damping off. I'm leaving my rating at 4 stars because I didn't have any problems with the seller, I got what I ordered, and the seeds DID sprout, in the beginning. I think this kind of ficus is just really challenging to sprout from seed, especially if you don't have ideal conditions. They're very sensitive to water, heat, and humidity...and all these conditions make them very prone to damping off. I won't be buying more seeds, but this was at least a learning experience for me. And it gave me something to do over the summer.
Oh well.
By emilleejoyce on July 23, 2013
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