I haven't seen it, but there is a highly touted new book out by Jerry Meislik that deals entirely with Ficus.

Link below where you can find it.

Clay

Here is a link that might be useful: Devonshire Gardens

I don't know what the problem is. I can go to this site, but Gardenweb seems to think this is not a valid URL.

www.bonsaihunk.us/

Clay

They can make decent but large sized bonsai. Leaves reduce quite well but it will be a continual struggle to keep the leaves small.
Jerry
PS let me know if my www.bonsaihunk.us link does not work
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us

Clay, thanks for the info on FicusJerry's book.

FicusJerry, thanks for the info (and e-mail) on the figs.

I'm going to try F. benghalensis but would still like to know if anyone knows about/has experience with the surface roots of F. macrophylla before I consider it as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Example of surface roots in the wild

Almost forgot, the link works if you copy and paste it into the Address Bar of the browser.

The great surface rootage of Ficus can be formed in a pot. The figs will form these roots naturally when grown in reasonably shallow containers.
Jerry
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us

Thanks once again for the info.

I'll be attempting to start these guys from seed. Would you recommend growing them in a much larger but still relatively shallow pot for a few years in order to help develop surface roots and taper before repotting into a more proportional sized pot for training?

I'm completely new to this and have bought some general how-to books to help guide me. I found the ficus forum off of your website as well as the ficus section under the cultural info page to be very helpful.