Bonsaify | Mass Market to Masterpiece Ficus, Part 4

[@Bonsaify]

Part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4OnkmR4oZ2Hmbc Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGbcXn-cfs6pps0 Part 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKqXgqSKaq2ch80 Also filmed using the same tree: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGauYmOiqslnp9E

[@JFeliciano71]

Can’t wait to see the next step in this series!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Great work Eric, this is going to be a great tree, see you this weekend if you are heading to the Nationals!

[@Bonsaify]

Thanks Nigel! I will not be there - although I did contemplate going...I got my fill of flying back and forth to New York during my college years lol.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'm sure we'll meet some day!!!@@Bonsaify

[@karma_aspirant]

can't wait for part 5!

[@lil.plants775]

WE NEED A NEW VIDEO ON THISSSSSS

[@Bonsaify]

The tree has been growing well, but I think the next video will be in the coming summer. (June 2024 or after.)

[@stephenfuqua1310]

I'm really enjoying this series! I have a ficus that I just did a similar trunk chop on so it's nice to see the process I will be going through explained so thoroughly.

[@dreamingofbonsai]

Wow I’m so excited to watch this grow in the future. Thanks for the book recommendation, I’m going to try and track that down!

[@mvlameiras]

Congratulations on driving; your plant is looking very beautiful...more success and greetings from Brazil! 23/9/23

[@mattbrennan647]

Very interesting project. I’m looking forward to watching this develop into the future. Thanks, keep growing

[@lancecheung1188]

Love your work, insights and experience. Really happy I've found your channel!

[@leifsage4840]

Looking forward to part five

[@atumrox1]

Waiting for march/ april 🤩🤩

[@bonsai_life_style]

GJ I do same with my ficus tree's. I just did same thing on 70 trees .

[@Fecho33]

I hope we wan see a part 5

[@markwoodard659]

Seems like a good technique for about any deciduous species maybe

[@Bonsaify]

Yes, similar work to many deciduous trees.

[@KennetDeBondt]

Exellent!

[@Cory_J]

Do you grow this in your greenhouse? Ive always considered getting a Ficus, but I don't want to deal with grow lights. I'm not sure if ambient light in my house would support one. I'm sure I could move it outside during the summer months, but wondering if it would survive indoors the rest of the year.

[@Bonsaify]

Yes, for the most part it lives in the greenhouse. Although I did have it outdoors at my growing grounds after this video for a while. It's not super hot here so they grow more modestly outdoors in summer. They're actually quite well adapted to low light - but you'll get better growth if you have hot-humid and bright full sun. I keep a Willow-Leaf in my yard year round (zone 10b so no freezing) and it does fine. I have not tried growing them indoors in my house for long periods.

[@moro8274]

4:37 if you were to stick that whole branch in soil do you think it would successfully root?

[@Bonsaify]

Most likely yes. But I'd prefer more smaller cuttings for my purposes.

[@brianbarnes1362]

What kind of fertilizer do you use, I have a couple of ficus that dont seem to be doing much at all

[@nessi5413]

Usually this is more a matter of lack of light. Do you keep it inside? Literally any fertiliser will do the trick for ficuses in my humble experience. But as I said it is usually an issue with the light.

[@brianbarnes1362]

@nessi5413 hank you for your responce, I have been growing them outside on my bench in full morning light.

[@nessi5413]

@@brianbarnes1362 mmmh, given that soil and other conditions are also fine, maybe a fertilizer can help then... For my ficuses in development I use a combination of slow releasing organic fertilizer and liquid fertilizer (for plants that don't need overwintering and don't flower I think a nitrogen-rich fertilizer would be good. but I really take what is available (sometimes liquid organic, sometimes liquid mineral and I think ficuses are very unpretentious in that regard). But maybe Eric has a better suggestion!?

[@sharicochems6299]

Did any or all the cuttings from the original cuttings grow? I’m just wondering if I should bother

[@Bonsaify]

I neglected to stick them fast enough - I think they sat in my garage for 4 days first so I tossed them. These were stuck the next day so I anticipate no issue with rooting them.

[@zimmy1958]

Thanks

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌

[@AnaKimRC]

Do u have any update on this Tree right now?

[@Bonsaify]

I did just do a bit of work to it, but new video will be coming out in another couple months. I want to wait until the new branching gets a bit larger.

[@9daywonda]

Something of a little one there then ERIC?

[@kevinmitchell4960]

Any advice for changing a ficus ginseng

[@Bonsaify]

I've never worked with one myself....I know the roots are crazy big. More like willow - leaf in terms of root growth?

[@kevinmitchell4960]

@@Bonsaify correct the root is very bulbous I see only one option and that's to air layer and create a completely new base

[@Bristolnick100]

How's the ficus Eric?

[@Bonsaify]

Well - here's part 5 in case you missed it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ6cY3aDftF6otk And I also compiled all the parts into a free eCourse here: www.bonsaify.com/collections/ecourses/products/ficus-bonsai-from-mass-market-to-masterpiece Since part 5 ended I've had the tree growing - some aerial roots starting to form. I have it in a greenhouse under misters to help simulate a tropical environment. The shoots are growing nicely...so it's just down to waiting for the roots to get big enough to manipulate.

[@Bristolnick100]

@@Bonsaify Thanks Eric, I did indeed miss it! Mine is coming on well, but doesn't seem to be growing as quickly - Still on part 2! Really enjoyed this series so thanks again.

[@FlyingWombats]

Well youll have 1000 baby ficus now...

[@backbudbonsai]

Great video! What time of the year did u actually makes these heavy prunes? I have a “tiger bark” ficus that is kinda getting overgrown and I am thinking of cutting back hard to reset the structure. Thanks

[@Bonsaify]

I cut it and did the video two days ago - September 7th, 2023. And as I mentioned I think it'll be fine but I have a greenhouse I use also. If you're in a colder area you might wait for spring. If you're in a hotter or tropical area go for it now!

[@backbudbonsai]

Great, thank you for the prompt response!