Ficus Benjamina - Fusion Experiment

[@BuckWezr]

A couple things ... 1. At the outset of the fusion, scrape the bark where trunks are touching. They'll fuse*much* faster. 2. Pick up some grafting tape instead of electrical.

[@johnnyfever9708]

I did this very thing almost 30 years ago making two separate braided ficus bonsais, and they both fused so well most people today would never know they were braided. The only thing I did different was to scrape the bark between the pieces that were touching, and instead of tape used some wire at the top. It's kind of a cheating way to get a thick trunk, but I love my two trees and don't care if it's not traditional.

[@xristianasophiaselfsynthesis]

You can use a rubber seal tape, which doesn't have any glue to harm the plant. A friend (electrician) told me after he saw me trying your second method; putting the tape inside out. He uses it on his sail boat too. :)

[@kalamondindesign5841]

Nice vid Mike, gj with the fuse, ill wait another year to see the result :) stay with good health buddy

[@BonsaiBoise]

Hey thank you!

[@carynludwig6667]

Don’t know if this works on a ficus, but I’ve seen fusion videos on adeneums using a technique of removing the cambium layer and using a dab of superglue. As they heal, they naturally fuse together. Since you struck the cambium layer a little on the ficus when you removed the tape to look, I bet they will fuse better now. Just a thought. I love experiments! That’s how we learn. As for wintering in some plants, I am keeping in some privets that I bought and repotted really late. Figured it was too much to ask of them to survive a Montana winter as well. They are green and growing well, but I am slowly cutting back on watering so they maybe rest for a few months. We’ll see how they do. One is in a bonsai pot, the other is in a deeper nursery pot that they came in. (2 small privets in one pot....I just separated them and put one back in to get some growth). Keep us posted on the Siberian Elm. 👍

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you! Interesting idea with the super glue too. I may try that on a separate one first just to see how it reacts. I have more cuttings than sense so it won't be a big loss of it doesn't work.:)

[@cedrussempervirens9369]

I might try to fuse some trees when I have more trees than pots.

[@highwaytoquail754]

Maybe some of that self stick bandage material or horse leg wrap material(both basically same materal) would be better as neither side has any adhesive. Also stretchy allowing for extra growth.

[@TOEKIEWORLDMarc]

Use flower-tape. You can find it at stores that sell materials for flower arrangements.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Perfect idea!

[@nikxohs3925]

method is ok, but you have to plant ficus in normal soil and feed well so trunks to get thicker fast. then they fused more

[@casvanmarcel]

A lot of insects will now get stuck onto the tree trunk tape haha.

[@rizkyrijzalbonsai6990]

Mantap bosku sip

[@rjrickyjabagatchannel500]

that is a very good material for bonsai. new supporter here. pls connect us, thank you

[@benuwuowo]

I love ficus Benjamina xD, if you do something similar again, I've tried putting kitchen paper before the electrical tape so it doesn't rip off the bark of the tree, tho it's not ready yet so I don't know if there are any downsides to it

[@BonsaiBoise]

That's a great suggestion! So far I've posted this on here, IG and FB and had a bunch of ideas that I never thought of. Basically anything other than sticky side down. Lol

[@treesinpots3291]

You could try planting it in a larger pot to encourage growth. The faster it grows the faster it will fuse.

[@BonsaiBoise]

That's a great point and it is something I failed to mention on the video. I had to keep it in the same pot and trim it down just so it would fit on my rack over the winter time period in the summertime I do plan to put it in a bigger pot.

[@jerryhoffman9833]

Maybe try pipe thread tape instead of electrical tape.

[@tim0391]

Any update on this as to how the fusion is going?? I have 3 weeping willow cuttings which are growing like absolute monsters and I was thinking of doing the same thing with them. Any thoughts?

[@BonsaiBoise]

I've got a little bit of progress footage but not enough to make a full video about quite yet. I can say it's still chugging along though. Slowed down for the winter but should be exploding now that spring is here.

[@BuckWezr]

Willow fuses fast & easily!!!

[@janethowell9048]

I think you may have more success if the trunks weren’t intertwined. Notice the one spot where fusion has begun is where two trunks are touching tightly. Just an idea

[@thanhma5451]

The bonsai three you make very nice and beautiful I want to ask you when can I repot my three ficus

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you. I repot my ficus all year round but have had the best results when doing it in spring and summer.

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Update video soon?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Yes! Very soon

[@shizzrich]

May you want to try a different tape? Stay healthy

[@clifflrice]

Wrap it with raffia and then electrical tape

[@BonsaiBoise]

Great idea!

[@tabi5901]

Maybe use plumbers tape.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Yep, I did an update on this one recently and that's exactly what I did 😀

[@tabi5901]

@@BonsaiBoise great minds… 😄 Found your post wanting to braid a ficus as well, and followed your other advice, but guess it’ll be a year or two? before seeing the results. Thx for the post, was easy to follow.

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@tabi5901 Anytime! I think I went about mine the long way. Check out "Back Garden Bonsai". He has a great playlist on fusing ficus together. His seemed to go much faster than mine too.

[@tabi5901]

@@BonsaiBoise cool, will check it out.