Bonsaify | Ficus: From Mass Market to Masterpiece

Eric's back with his mass market Golden Gate Ficus that he first shared last year in two videos (Trimming and Wiring • Bonsaify | Basics of B... and Unwiring Bonsai • Bonsaify | Basics of B... ). Today he's putting on his grower's hat and sharing how he plans to create a much more interesting bonsai out of this mass market tree.
There's nothing fundamentally "wrong" with a mass market Ficus like this. Typically they are produced in China and imported into the U.S. with a predictable "S" curve. They're just repetitive and not what Eric likes to work with, typically.
00:01:29 This species is actually great for bonsai, and some of the most incredible and beautiful bonsai in the world are created from this species in Indonesia and Taiwan.
00:02:14 If all Eric was going to do was improve the aesthetics of the tree, he would just cut off the long shoots. Does the tree look better to you after he completes the cutback?
00:4:35 When working on a broadleaf evergreen or deciduous tree like this, you want to create movement, branch taper, and more refinement.
00:05:03 ERIC PUTS ON HIS GROWERS HAT in anticipation of doing something more DRASTIC to the tree!
00:05:36 Eric explains how he plans to make a big cut way down low on the tree to enable budding and to create the type of composition he wants to make.
00:06:23 This is Step 1 of making this tree a nice, more classically proportioned shohin bonsai.
00:06:55 Here comes the saw! Eric shares where he's going to cut, and why.
00:08:15 The CUT! Ficus sap can be irritating to the skin, so Eric usually wears gloves.
00:09:00 The next step will be to put the tree into a larger pot and add a ton of fertilizer, for really strong growth. Eric shares his sketches of his planned design and the steps to get there.
Update: Part 2 is now live! • Bonsaify | From Mass M...
Thank you for watching! Do you have a good "Grower" hat? Let us know in the comments below, so we can order one for Eric! 😉 Please like and share this video, and subscribe to Bonsaify on KZbin!

[@Josef_R]

The whole time you were snipping, I was thinking I would just chop it right where you did, not expecting you to. It's good to know I'm thinking in the right direction.

[@hyperionhelios190]

Great video Eric. All of us seem to end up with one of these in our collections. Be it from a gifter or it being one of the few beginner trees we didn't manage to kill in the pursuit.

[@questionablecooking7019]

This inspired me to stop messing around with some of the larger ficus I have, so I sawed off a couple apexes and cut the trunks down to shohin sized chunky material... with this simple magic trick you can double your supply of ficus to play with 🤣🤣🤣

[@basik1dotcom]

Nice work! That concept illustration is pure gold.

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

Sure the best selection. Thanks.

[@hernandotorres1234]

The evil chuckle after "Here comes the saw", quality.

[@jjz3192]

Nice video! thanks for the drawings, it really helps me visualize what you're trying to achieve as compared to bland explanations.

[@PaulMittermiller]

Another great video. Thank you for posting!! If you are looking for ideas, I would love to see how you’d recommend growing aerial roots from a ficus in a low humidity climate. Cover with a plastic bag? Wrap with moss? I assume you have a greenhouse, so that’s probably the easiest way to get that humidity.

[@Bonsaify]

Interestingly, they don't really do it in my greenhouse. But, it may not be hot and wet enough. I will have to experiment to see what I can do first. I had a student bring one in that had created aerial roots just in his living room ..🤷‍♂️

[@PaulMittermiller]

@@Bonsaify Thank you! Would love to know if you find a technique that works!

[@kwieting]

I think this is really interesting. I like these sort of periodic step-by-step type videos that you do - like you also did with the Kishu junipers when you showed us the training after year two and year three. (I hope there is going to be a year 4.) Your viewers can follow along with their own trees. I look forward to seeing part two of the ficus in the future.

[@acheronexile]

The cthulhu fan in me loves your pencil drawings!

[@Bonsaify]

Does that mean that we've driven you to insanity?

[@acheronexile]

More than insanity, but a type of inspiration. Design within design, patterns previously unnoticed!

[@Nepali_Bonsai_Bamrukh]

Hi I would like to try it now........ I take lots of gut for me to do so hahahahaha I am a bonsai beginner this video is helpful for me..thanks for sharing

[@mikecipriani7792]

My ficus is growing straight up in broom fashion, I was thinking about cutting the outside branches back to create a rounded top. Was not sure if now is the time. What do you say Eric?

[@Bonsaify]

Depends on aftercare - we're passed the equinox so growth will be slower. But ficus can grow almost any time with the right conditions....

[@mikecipriani7792]

@@Bonsaify Thanks for the reply Eric, maybe I will just wait till spring to be safe.

[@pedantic_bonsai]

nice one! finally someone on youtube who is sharing my thoughts and opinions on those ficus bonsais.... would chop it exactly the same. most bonsai people are too much into, i'd call it "modern just let it grow hehe" style, for my taste.. too little own thoughts and influence into the final shape.. i'm styling all my ficus varieties in a similar shohin style.. excited for the development of yours.

[@Bonsaify]

Yep, people say you can't do anything with these, but you just have to put on your growers hat!

[@johngonzales7317]

@@Bonsaify great tip I like where your going but unfortunately I have more than one like this "earlier bonsai day's" please don't judge! Can you show us what you would do to one grown out besides the drastic chop as well please?

[@Bonsaify]

Ah, interesting. The other option would be to work on the tree to improve the trunk size and taper at the present size. You could do that in a manner similar to how I planned to grow out my large Japanese Maple. The recent video on that tree shows selection and encouragement of sacrifice branching at different points on the trunk while containing finished branches.

[@jameswalker3416]

My tree is a grower not a shower lol

[@SuperPeleke]

Hahahaha great comment.

[@atumrox1]

Great vídeo Eric! I have a fícus growing in a pot for about 2 years and its getting high… Im thinking on make a cutback like you did so i can have a small shohin. Im from Brazil, so here we have a good climate for ficus. Should i do it now or i should wait a specifc season? Now we are at first weeks of fall.

[@Bonsaify]

I would say that you can probably do it almost any time. Since it's early fall, as long as you expect 4-6 more weeks of good weather then you're safe to proceed. If you think it will remain dormant for a while right after the cut, then wait for spring or early summer.

[@Jerome30000]

Bonjour sujet super intéressant j'habite dans le Sud de la France et je cultive mes ficus sous serre exposition assez lumineuse sans exposition du soleil à qu'elle période je peux faire cette intervention sans risque pour l'arbre ? Car je n'aime pas la forme de S classique et j'aimerai en faire un shohin . Dans l'attente d'un retour de votre part je vous souhaite un bon weekend. Cordialement.

[@Bonsaify]

(Google Translate so forgive any errors...). Dans une serre, vous pourrez peut-être le faire à tout moment, mais la photopériode est également importante. Le milieu de l’été (à cette période de l’année) est généralement le meilleur moment pour effectuer des travaux sérieux sur les plantes tropicales.

[@Jerome30000]

@@Bonsaify Merci beaucoup je pense que le ferai l'année prochaine car je l'ai rempoté il y a 1 mois et il était pas très en forme je vais le laisser bien reprendre de la force et ferai les travaux l'année prochaine je préfère ne pas perdre l'arbre je vous remercie pour votre retour passez un bon weekend.

[@koenvanmeerbeeck8724]

wow very nice. What is the best period to do the big cut ? I live in Belgium so not a hot climate, but will put mine in growing tent as from mid october

[@Bonsaify]

If you can control the photoperiod then you can keep them growing all year long. Just keep the lights on for 16 hours. If not, then wait until April or May. I'm sure it would be fine if you do it now (September) assuming the tree is healthy.

[@koenvanmeerbeeck8724]

super thanks for the info. can I also cut to a stump? so no leaves? @@Bonsaify

[@Bonsaify]

They do backbud on old wood, so you should be able to....as long as the tree is healthy it should pop out within a month. But again - that assumes good health, warm temps and over 12 hours of sunlight per day.

[@nanukvas]

I have some larger ficus trees I want to get maximum growth . What fertilization regiment should I use?

[@ScottTheExperimentalist]

What was your fertilizer routine to push the rapid growth?

[@Bonsaify]

I'd say it's more the heat/humidity than fertilizer for this species. But I'm just using a time-release granular on the tree - like Osmacote. That and a large pot with 60% perlite and 20% fir bark /20% coco coir as the soil.

[@ScottTheExperimentalist]

@@Bonsaify thanks!

[@dudesjirbonsai]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@theduke7268]

“I’m gonna get a hat the says GROWER” Please don’t Lmao

[@thebb0777]

Hi, really enjoyed this video..can you please suggest a good website for buying bonsai pots

[@Bonsaify]

Ah, well that depends on what you are looking for - price, size, shape etc. Our site has a bunch bonsaify.com. Otherwise let us know what size and style or other details and we can try to help.

[@jhomarsalva4474]

Good afternoon from philippines sir. May i ask What is good soil for ficus nana bonsai?

[@Bonsaify]

Generally, use a free-draining soil. A mix of aggregate like lava/coarse sand, and a small amount of coarse organic matter like bark, coco coir etc. We use Perlite/Coco Coir for growing, and we use Akadama/Pumice/Lava for trees in bonsai pots.

[@ionutionut-nb5bj]

80% perlite+20% coco coir or peat moss

[@ionutionut-nb5bj]

​@@Bonsaifyright?

[@Bonsaify]

@@ionutionut-nb5bj Yes, that's the mix we're using.

[@ionutionut-nb5bj]

@@Bonsaify thx for reply

[@therisingofroninbonsai]

At indonesia we have more than 500 species of ficus. They have different character.

[@therisingofroninbonsai]

Yes the same decision if i cut the stem...to make it more smaller

[@Bonsaify]

which species is your favorite for bonsai?

[@therisingofroninbonsai]

Almost the tree is good Mr. All the kind of tree for bonsai is the best...but the older and the one which has the great character from the root, untill the crown which has all the balancing stem, branch, and twig...and the leaf could be amazing. That is the different between Bonsai with ornamental plant....hi hi hi....i love the way you explain it. But please at the importance word make it twice explain..i am , and we are from all around the world...not only learning about the bonsai...but learning english too...hi hi hi

[@Bonsaify]

What is the name of the kind of ficus (the leaf type and bark etc.) that you like most?

[@therisingofroninbonsai]

@@Bonsaify for ficus..yes ..i love ficus retusa - the silver one , why ? Because the leaf have special characteristic , other ficus did not have... that still secret from me to explain...my experiment working on that class of species....i will explaint it after my channel more growing up.. hi hi hi hi...

[@Dovietail]

REAL BONSAI? Totally snobbing out. Everybody gotta start somewhere. 😘

[@Dovietail]

OMG, PULL THAT YELLOW LEAF OFF BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND!!! Sorry. Clearly OCD is kicking up today.

[@robgrant2716]

Don’t wear a hat with grower on it if in the UK as it means something very different. On a serious note I am learning a lot from your videos thank you

[@eugenbranovaczky7192]

I know why you laughed 😂

[@ISAIDAN]

first

[@Skylrrider]

Please don't get a hat that says "Grower" on it without any further context lol

[@Gianni88]

Excellent choice of cutting of the last plant (the Ficus retusa) I would not have done otherwise. I would be curious to see the transformation that will take place next year. I hope to see another video about this plant next spring . Greetings. Gianni

[@nickaleshin7149]

Hey wait, I thought you said you were going to turn this into a mame before! ;) lol This is EXACTLY what I think when I see these mallsai. You have roots & you have a trunk… if you want more control over the structure & trunk line, why not hit the reset button & redevelop from there? I wish more people would do this to their ficus/fukien tea!

[@wabisabi3619]

Hi Eric, here in Australia a lot of people have a local temperate species, ficus rubiginosa, in their collection. I don’t react to the latex sap myself but it is annoyingly sticky if it dries on your skin. My tip is wait a couple of minutes for the sap to bleed out a little the douse it with water. It washes it away and really slows down further flow. You can then apply some cut paste. Many people see ficus as a beginners species as they are so forgiving. They are very hard to kill. However, they respond beautifully to bonsai techniques and pick up age beautifully. If you’re in a suitable zone ficus are a must have for any collection. And if possible, get your hands on an f.rubiginosa (Moreton bay fig) as they are temperate rather than tropical.

[@wabisabi3619]

My bad, I gave the common name as Moreton bay fig, it is actually port jackson fig…. It’s too early in the morning. Moreton bay figs are incredible trees but not so great for bonsai I’ve been told as the leaves are quite large and do not reduce in size all that much.

[@Bonsaify]

Nice tip! I'll look them up. How cold can they tolerate? The sap doesn't give me welts or anything, but it does sting when it's on my skin for too long. Still, I like working with Ficus, but these mass-market ones as well as nerifolia and a couple others.

[@wabisabi3619]

We had one or two nights with frost here in Sydney this winter and they didn’t skip a beat. However, if you get snow then I think they would probably die. They aren’t endemic to the blue mountains, west of Sydney, which does occasionally see snow but I know of people that keep them there. They can cope with being indoors for short periods so if you do get consistent frost or snow you can bring them inside over night, perhaps. If you can find them in the states definitely get your hands on one. Wonderful trees.

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Excellent! I’m in Indonesia and yes Ficus are very popular here for Bonsai. Max

[@michaelmott7402]

That’s going to be a great shohin in a couple of years. The rest is for some nice trees as well

[@mvlameiras]

I don't understand English, and, also for this reason, I would like to ask you two questions: What did you do with the top part of the plant that you cut off? And how is your (potted) plant currently? more success for the channel and greetings from Brazil. 9/20/23

[@Bonsaify]

I did not root the top and create a different plant, I ended up discarding it. I forgot to deal with it and two days later it was too late, it had dried out. There are three other videos in this series so far. Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGbcXn-cfs6pps0 Part 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKqXgqSKaq2ch80 Part 4: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laPJc4qPnMStZrc

[@mvlameiras]

@@Bonsaify , thank you very much for your time. I'll enjoy it calmly...more success for the channel!

[@borismaiorov3358]

maybe air-layer instead of cutting? Smaller stuff I have rooted with no problem, but this big?

[@Bonsaify]

Yes, you may be right, but the upper part was not interesting enough IMO. .

[@borismaiorov3358]

@@Bonsaify yes, the top looks like a nice chokan

[@wabisabi3619]

You can definitely get cuttings of that size to root. I’ve done so myself. I’ve seen 4 inch circumference ficus cuttings take root. They are very willing.

[@donnadornbusch6738]

Such a great choice to start a new creation

[@tomasferreirarubial1455]

👋👋👋

[@9daywonda]

Don't you worry about killing the tree by undertaking such an extreme cutting procedure??

[@Bonsaify]

Umm....not really. First - there are already shoots below the cut point, so the tree is almost guaranteed the ability to keep growing. If there was also some root health issue I might worry, but it's happy so it'll respond well. Just wait for part 2!

[@9daywonda]

@@Bonsaify Yeah can't wait for part 2.