Bonsaify | Basics of Bonsai: Trimming and Wiring a Ficus Tree

If you recently received a bonsai tree as a gift; if you're just beginning to learn about bonsai and to collect your first few trees; and if you want to learn how to take care of a bonsai tree, then this video is perfect for you! Watch and listen as Eric explains how to trim and wire a ficus bonsai to improve its look.
Learn about when to use different sizes of wire, and how to decide if you should use anodized or non-anodized aluminum wire. Eric shows you how to apply wire properly and use wire to control the shape of the ficus branches.
Watch until the end to see how Eric wires and trims the entire tree, creating a new design for this ficus bonsai!
UPDATE: do you want to see how this tree has progressed over six weeks? Watch the next video in this series, "Basics of Bonsai: Unwiring a Ficus Bonsai" • Bonsaify | Basics of B... !
Send us a comment; like this video and share it with your bonsai club and friends; and subscribe to our channel for more great bonsai videos - basic bonsai as well as more intermediate bonsai and advanced bonsai topics!
Music by Bensound.com

[@Bonsaify]

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[@TheModoodle]

Can you continue to do more basic technique videos? They’re very helpful for someone like me who’s pretty new to the art. Thanks!

[@Bonsaify]

Hi! Yes, we plan to do more basics videos. We're going to make a different list of videos since these appeal to different folks than the more detailed growing/propagation/styling videos. Thanks for asking!

[@TheModoodle]

@@Bonsaify Awesome, thank you so much!

[@axelris]

I agree ！

[@mishosashiki6557]

Hi! Nice transformation! My first bonsai was a ficus which I got indeed as a gift from my ma. That is over 20 years ago. I do propagate it a lot from cuttings. It is a ficus benjamina, which is suited especially for mame. Thanks for sharing! I am looking forward for your new videos.

[@aaronleslie1581]

Good video! I wish I saw this before I wired my tiger bark ficus! But I think I did ok for a rookie and the tree is going to come back from what I did!

[@cherylandrews3195]

ok so I want to know how you knew I just got one of those as a gift.... :) perfect timing!

[@Bonsaify]

Lol. Good luck with your tree!

[@TrondOleJensen]

Just got a small ficus, looking forward to seeing it grow into a bonsai. Thanks for sharing the knowledge 😊

[@Sayef_Li]

What's the point of giving the branches shape? The leaves never get smaller than this so all of the branching would be hidden by the leaves

[@Bonsaify]

Um, well if you don't pay attention to the structure, then you may as well have just a hedge. At exhibition quality evergreen ficus are often shown after being defoliated so that the structure is visible. Check out shows in Taiwan and Indonesia.

[@Applexxx1234]

Hi, can you tell me how long do you leave the wiring in normally for this type of tree? I'm guessing you have to remove them until you have reached the desired shape. I have the same type of bonsai and I'm a beginner of all beginners. Hope you can let me know. Many thanks 😊

[@Bonsaify]

Hi, if you didn't already find it, please check the follow-up video - I think I answered that question in that video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6epaIlmi9qehNU

[@Applexxx1234]

@@Bonsaify Thank you for pointing me in the right direction😊 Your video is very intuitive. I'll prob will go through all your video to know all the different aspect of looking after my little bonsai . Thanks 👍

[@mysticamethyst1398]

Ive never heard anyone pronounce it "bone-sye" Awesome info. Learning how to do mine

[@kobaltocr6927]

❤🤝🇨🇷🪴Pura vida🙏🏼🇵🇸🙏🏼

[@garretttrang7998]

Nice transformation! I've been looking for a golden gate ficus for a while but the only ones I could really find are the classic S shaped ones. Might just have to pull the trigger on it.

[@bgbunty6543]

Grab the S shaped one and later air layer the S shape into anything you like 👍

[@iBEEMproject]

Helps me a lot starting out with my 2 ficus thanks much

[@Bonsaify]

Check out the entire series on this tree if you want more (see the ficus playlist.)

[@iBEEMproject]

@@Bonsaify thanks much

[@NoQuarter01]

How do you know when you can remove the wires?

[@Bonsaify]

Just before they start to bite in. With ficus it may only be a couple weeks...but it depends on how fast it's growing. Watch the wire and when you can't see the underside clearly then test removing a bit to see if there is a mark on the bark. Ideally a mark is fine, just not an indentation.

[@calvinchau5479]

Bravo

[@christinelefler-awad2886]

What gage wire are you using here ?

[@Bonsaify]

The wire gauge depends on the size of the branch. 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm are the most commonly used by beginners.

[@nancystephen1630]

This was a great video. Read through all the comments too. Will be coming back to check out additional videos. Hoping some them include side by side pics/videos of before vs. after. Did you keep the wiring on this plant? Do you have pictures or videos taken of thr same plant months/years later?

[@Bonsaify]

This same plant is actually the subject of the "Mass Market to Masterpiece" series I've been doing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4OnkmR4oZ2Hmbc kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGbcXn-cfs6pps0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKqXgqSKaq2ch80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/laPJc4qPnMStZrc

[@jeps0]

Yeah my ficus dropped almost all leaves. Now it is alive and growth some leaves. But its not Growing well

[@Bonsaify]

Not uncommon for ficus that are traumatized. But, just make sure it is getting light, air, fertilizer and water....and heat.

[@rhysjones8140]

How do you encourage leaves and branch’s to form closer to the trunk to thicken up the canopy. My fiscus just just shooting from the end of branch

[@Bonsaify]

If the tree is healthy, which it sounds like yours is - just do a hard cutback to force it. This may not be what you want to do, but it will work. I actually just did it to this tree recently (months after the video was made) and it's already popping out again.

[@ericluna1110]

I was gifted a golden gate ficus for Father's Day by my wife. Been enjoying it for the last few weeks. At what point should I try my hand at trimming and wiring? Is it ok to start while the tree is a little small or wait until it grows some more?

[@Bonsaify]

Usually you'd wait to make sure you can get it to grow prior to cutting and wiring it. Let it acclimate and fertilize and water it. They back-bud well!

[@chamaramendis7505]

Why did you make it as a pine tree ?

[@Bonsaify]

Chamara - thanks for your comment. Because this video is intended as a very basic instruction on wiring and styling, mostly aimed at people in the United States who have received a ficus as a gift (which is a very common starting point) the styling does not take into account the natural habit of ficus. We are simply providing a way in which folks can improve their tree to make it a bit more interesting. We do plan to do a follow up to this video, so perhaps we can address what would be a more natural styling for a ficus. However, I would point out that at this early, raw stage of development, the steps to improve the plant do nothing more than introduce some movement into the branching at the base, and move foliage to optimize light a bit so that the plant can grow on without simply putting out a vertical spike (which is not productive for any style.). Thanks so much for watching and for your thoughtful reply!

[@nancystephen1630]

I'll be looking through your other videos as time allows. Curious to learn more about the different style types.

[@carloseduardoramosmidence3470]

I like how it ended. Are you taking the leaves on the branhes that faced downward after wire? The pads look very nice.

[@Bonsaify]

This tree already looks like a giant mess after a few months of growth. I should do another video.

[@thetruthchannel7073]

Can I get help ..how long in leaves or length cm ect do I let new leaders grow before prunning ....to create a new leader and also busher ficus...atm my ficus has 4 main leaders at the top of classic s-bend bonsai..with 2 leaders comming off one branch...3 leaders comming of another branch...and 3 leaders comming remaining 2 branch's. ...must point out too all leaders atm are new so they have not hardened up like a trunk yet so is it still ok to prune? ..thanks all

[@Bonsaify]

If you get the tree growing well, you should see a shoot about 12" long with something like 8-12 leaves in a couple months. The active growing period is when daylight hours are more than 12. Once you get that 12" (30cm) shoot, then cut back to one or two leaves at the base. Within a few weeks a healthy plant will then send out many more shoots and branches. Then repeat.

[@thetruthchannel7073]

Many thanks for your help and reply..much appreciated...great help that is....that's a buitifull looking bonsai you have thete too...all the best

[@l3afl1p]

What season should you prune and not prune? Asp Summer?

[@Bonsaify]

Any time you're getting good growth with tropicals. Typically that's spring/summer but depends on whether you're growing indoors / outdoors and where you live.

[@salc348]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Appreciate it. If you could only lose the background music… it would be nice. Thank you

[@Bonsaify]

Thanks for the feedback. Creativity and expression is always subjective - and even looking back on vid's I've done months ago I realize things like music being not great. Still, I think some audio overlay adds to the video. What do you suggest as an alternate?

[@salc348]

@@Bonsaify Thank you for your acknowledgement…respect… The music is perfect…maybe softer… so your viewers would concentrate on your content. Subscribed👍

[@lilicesar8386]

TYSVM :-)

[@APSYMIESZKA]

xd

[@kucing142]

Mantull

[@dudesjirbonsai]

💖💖💖❤❤❤

[@НатаСв-о9в]

👍