Root knot nematodes or crown gall.

Al

Unless you're just describing the normal roots of the plant, which can grow very bulbous and look a little like sweet potatoes.

Al

They do look like potatoes, and I suspect it is normal now that I searched a few terms on google that relate to it. Question is, what in the world do I do with it? Just lop off a "potato" or 2 each year? Or will they keep coming back?

Joe

They look great if you expose the roots and grow them in bonsai pots. They seem to like that.

My intention is to do just that, expose the roots. However, these bulbous potato roots look goofy, and to me will ruin the look of the tree. If I knew that the roots would eventually fill in and level out with the bulbs, I'd be ok with it. Is it possible to carve them down to be even with the roots, or do I need to remove them?

Joe

Joe, I'll try to take a picture of mine and post it later. I really like the bulbous roots. I've seen them on other ficus plants too, not just Ficus benjamina.

Joe, here is the link to the Ficus benjamina on Flickr. I really like the look of the exposed roots, but in the end it's a personal choice. The roots were visible when I bought the plant.

If anyone has any idea of the variety name I would be delighted.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ficus with roots

Mine are not that thin all the way through. My goal is to expose the roots, or develope the nebari. The roots on mine start out nice, but about 3/4" from the trunk, below the soil, they have disproportionally large bulbs that look like potatoes. After doing some google searches, I found a few pics of some that look decent, so I guess I'll start exposing them, and see if they grow in. I wonder if they can't be trimmed down a bit with a razor knife?

Joe

Joe, they appeared much lumpier initially, but since the plant has grown some have thinned out. You probably can't see the thicker ones because of the photo, it was hard to get the light right. They remind me of dahlia tubers more than anything. The plant is at least five years old now, and the 'tubers' are getting a stilt-like appearance. I wouldn't carve them because it might be hard on the tree, but then I'm not growing my ficus as a bonsai, but a houseplant.