Ficus Tips & Tricks

[@debfaulbonsaigurl]

Thank you Peter, Happy Sunday. I look forward to your videos and always settle down with a cuppa tea while watching. Heaven

[@lose2live]

So relaxing, now off to bed for me. Goodnight all.

[@BakuraLOLZ54]

Inherited a ficus bonsai from my grandma thank you for this video and all your others!

[@timdady4660]

Sunday Morning Coffee , Koi pond filter cleaned out , now for video , so much information , I did not know about the size of pot for Air layering . I hope Herons survived the high winds , so many loverly trees . Thanks Peter .

[@peterchan3100]

Thanks for asking after us - the storm uprooted one Judas tree in my garden but not much else came down. Some of my shade tunnels suffered.

[@SDFU21]

Hello, this video is very nice. So soft sweet talking, and a lot of information you like to share. It's your passion I see. For me at this point I have about 20 indoor Bonsai Ficus, Zelkova, Ligustrum for now. I love it.

[@paullill5604]

Sunday breakfast. Morning all. Talking about weather how very apt following the last few days. Hope Herons and all your personal collections have come through these winds unscaved.

[@cloudcrystall]

I have learned so much. Your technique is incredible.

[@MrThomascor]

Yes, finally we get an update on the ficus!

[@digitaIgorilla]

Well Herons, your fan club are sitting back, coffee in hand to receive Peter's tips and wisdom. Happy Sunday! "The young man is quick with an opinion, an urgency to his voice being heard and throwing out his solution above all else. The older man has learned to first listen and by doing so finds that the solution is already there."

[@nickjohnson710]

What about tea??? Not everybody drinks coffee

[@digitaIgorilla]

@@nickjohnson710 Each to their own, enjoy your tea, we're here for Peter, the hot (or cold) beverage you have in front of you matters less.

[@nickjohnson710]

@@digitaIgorilla matters less?? Every time herons put a video up, you have to say " coffee in hand or Sunday morning coffee club........never heard anything so lame in my life......just enjoy the bonsai, and shut up!!!!!

[@nordicson2835]

Nice bonus ... l was considering a ficus... now even more so , thank you.

[@sandraseldon6734]

I admire your talent. I have a fig-I think it is green isle?It is 37 years old and it is still a very great plant. It has been trimmed three years ago by a bonsai expert. This video was so informative and I thought I was trimming but you showed how necessary it is to really be savage to it!

[@amateurambience]

always looking forward to Peter's new videos!

[@3apa3a4eva]

Good Sunday morning Peter and all his fans! Right, status rapport. After the last ficus video, I went to a local gardening center and bough one of those short and stubby commercial F. retusa bonsais. - First, I let it be for a week to get used to the home environment. - Then, I've bitten the bullet and pruned it quite hard to a more reasonable shape, selected branches and did some wiring. Following Peter's advise, I pruned it quite hard. That was 3 weeks ago. I was TERRIFIED that I have killed the tree. Yesterday though, I have noticed tiny green signs of backbudding pretty much all over the tree! I've started with bonsai during the pandemics (partly thanks to Peter's channel) and this is one of my first indoor trees. - I have grow lights, a cool room (+15-17 °C) and a tiny humidifier in my house, since I overwinter quite some of gentle-natured plants which cannot withstand Swedish winters, so having this setup does make a difference. But it is amazing how vigorous Ficus retusa is!!! I did not repot the tree when I got home (thank you Peter!), despite it being in some sort of coco-peat. My plan is to let it recover and do a re-potting in a propper bonsai soil when it is safe to move the tree outdoors (around May). To sum up: all Peter's tricks and advises work even for a complete bonsai newbie. THANK YOU!!!

[@rsa420]

They bounce back so fast and well. I was also a bit reluctant to chop as much as I do now, they seem to love that hard treatment and do well from it.

[@peterchan3100]

At least someone follows what I teach.

[@jokesterk5302]

I truly like this example,thanks to your skill and knowhow and vision. Thanks,for sharing.

[@MidniteSan]

Thx for sharing Peter..👍

[@Nizzon.]

Love these ficus-videos!

[@adblevins2]

Great info on ficus tree bonsai in this video thanks so much

[@rjdorey3896]

Fantastic video as alway Peter 👌

[@angie3504]

Thanks for that reminder Peter. I have a couple of ficuses which need attention. 👍🏻🌳

[@scox7748]

I came to this vid because there's a ficus growing in my guttering and I want to know what I could do with it. I hear "A rich source of collected material just by scouring these old buildings you can find ficuses." Spot on! I hope it becomes my first bonsai.

[@MjC7192]

Hello, I really like your videos and wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge and using/talking both metric and Imperial it is helpful (for me at least) to hear both and have a better understanding......now just start talking miles and kilometres and I'll have a full class..,lol

[@waynewayne7395]

The ficus I was given I pruned it last year and grow 5 plants. When I saw this I prune it some more to start 6 or 7 plants they are so easy to grow. I enjoy your blog.

[@Tom63617]

Great work. Looks great

[@Martin-xr1mo]

Thank you for the informational video.

[@andersnrregren9087]

Here in denmark we had a hot week so now the shops are starting to sell soil and plants but this week we are back to frost and winter again, i think it is kinda sad when ppl start planting in winter just becus sun is out

[@josepohl8662]

Excellent video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge Mr. Chan. I really appreciate these videos about the ficus species. Fan from Canada.

[@saro8639]

It is very much useful video as I am also doing few ficus bonsai in Sri Lanka. I love your wonderful explanation 🥰

[@Explorebonsai]

Verry beautiful all bonsai's Succes allways

[@rittikaparruck1822]

Oh I am so excited to know you grew up in India. I would love to get tips from you on which trees we commonly find in India are good for bonsai. .

[@almac2598]

Thanks Peter. I had two 1 year old Ficus cuttings fruit last year, whilst the parent plant, which I've had for 15 years, never has.

[@Boru06]

Thats very interesting. I wonder if it's anything to do with fertilizing 🤔

[@almac2598]

@@Boru06 Once the cuttings had rooted, I transferred them into a pumice, pine, perlite, molar clay mix and used organic fertiliser, a slow release and a liquid seaweed and fish one. It maybe because they were in a greenhouse over the summer when it went a bit cool, whereas the parent plant lives outdoors during the summer. Thanks for the reply.

[@ThatBonsaiGuy]

Watching this definitely made me more confident in trying to air-layer my ficus in the future!

[@thomasroeder1]

I'm hopefully going to buy my first bonsai soon. Moving to Italy, near Milan and I'm only looking for apartments with a terrace just for the tree! I suppose I'm lucky that there's a major bonsai centre relatively nearby that looks after the oldest bonsai specimen in the world! (1000+ years) Update: I recommend going to Crespi bonsai if you're ever in the Milan area. There's a huge selection of amazing trees, bonsai books, and even a museum!

[@nobuomurakoshi6298]

Salvatore Liporace, is one of the master italian bonsai in Milan.

[@greglongenecker1772]

I just cut branches off dip them in rooting powder, and plant them in soil ,and they root in about three to four weeks. I have many different kinds of ficus, and it works on all of them. My only problem is that I have way to many ficus trees now :)

[@peterchan3100]

If you live in a warm climate, Ficus are very good plants to work with.

[@mikapulli1012]

I bought few different ficus last autumn from a garden store because they were on -70% sale. When I trimmed the plants I just put the cuttings in water and so far the success rate is 75%.

[@manassutar2059]

Qq

[@manassutar2059]

@@peterchan3100 1w1aàq1aaaœopp

[@dd7aa]

I didn't know you could do this. I got my first tree at Christmas so on down the line I will attempt to do this also.

[@earthknight60]

Be nice to see something on how to work with a Podocarpus macrophyllus. My girlfriend just got me a relatively large one that had been wired for far too long (left major scars in the branches), and I'm rehabilitating it.

[@garyjohnson2989]

Wire scars won't go away

[@nickybeingnicky]

I need information on how to handle massive bulbous roots on a neglected weeping fig so I can start it on its way toward being pre-bonsai.

[@sbragaglia]

Thank you very much: very very interesting and helpful video! I wish my ficus and my other plants were large enough already for air layering, but for now I play the cutting game! I just have to report a 100% success on my air laying from a buxus in the balcony: 2 out of 2! 😂

[@cagywarlock7]

Oh man this channel is a blessing. I have always wanted to grow a nice bonsai but the "bonsai 101" booklets just weren't helping.

[@akashgangurde1651]

Sir what you used for airlayering

[@peterchan3100]

Sphagnum moss. But you can use compost or even mud like they do out in India and South East Asian countries

[@loyaluwang4228]

How did you make the Aerial roots grow?

[@acheronexile]

I've wanted a ficus for quite some time, but the only ones in town I've ever seen have a big three fingered carrot for a root. I've considered buying one anyways and tourniquetting off [half] the root and praying for nicer branching ones.

[@Boru06]

Sounds like a ginseng ficus. Some people gouge the lenght of the roots to split them into 2 or 3 thinner roots.

[@jazzrat2000]

The mess is part of it. Truer words were never spoken!

[@AndrewFlorkowski-hu3vp]

Brilliant. Very helpful. Appreciate.. Thank you for sharing. ❤️🙏☀️x

[@JenningsPutnamArt1991]

A thousand thanks!!!

[@luckyluke8052]

Beautiful air roots. I been trying grow them on my ficus since years and I can't I tried many tips and tricks without results

[@rg86er]

Place on the ground semi/shady during the rainy season. Maybe build a mini greenhouse to keep it in. It has to stay very humid and warm.

[@luckyluke8052]

@RGN I did it I even build a small greenhouse with a heater and humidifier but no effect. Maybe a small root that died

[@rg86er]

@@luckyluke8052 maybe take out of the pot and plant in ground for warm season.

[@luckyluke8052]

@RGN this is not possible in uk :)

[@keithmaclure9101]

I'm currently experimenting with air layering to convert into an aerial root if it takes... (live in UK and just can't keep humidity high enough without perhaps just putting a poly bag over its head, which rather spoilsc the look!😕 we'll see if this works...! 🤔)

[@balipeter]

I was wondering, could you encourage the growth of areal roots by wrapping part of the trunk in plastic, similar how its wrapped up for airlayering?

[@rsa420]

My collection of ficus is growing. I cant help sticking the cuttings in a small pot. Very easy to make cuttings I have never made a air layering as they root so easy here from cuttings In the spring and summer you can have roots in 2/3weeks. I agree they grow so fast need to keep a eye on the wires.

[@rsa420]

In the tropical and semi tropical areas of the country you find them everywhere all over cliff faces and nears water sources as the birds spread them. Great for finding water in the bush if you need

[@monikaromanska770]

Hello, how to obtain those vertical roots that were seen on biggest ficus? how does it grow? :)

[@peterchan3100]

The aerial roots develop naturally but you can assist them by putting them in a drinking straw or wiring them into position

[@reginabivona1282]

lovely!!!!

[@Merlin-wo1kj]

Did he mention what % of humidity to keep them at for overwintering?

[@adblevins2]

Ever done a limb spiraling corkscrew design?

[@thenaturelovers.]

Very nice.. 👍

[@KevinCampbell-un5qe]

I transplanted mine from nursery wick container after a year and a half and put in a nice ceramic. Now it looks all sad . Any suggestions?

[@kevinanderson9335]

I am wondering if caring for my Fukien Tea tree would be similar to the care of Ficus? I understand the trees might have somewhat differing needs, just curious if the pruning care is similar? I haven't happened across any Fukien videos within your playlists yet, if any do exist. I appreciate the input in advance. Enjoy the rest of your day. :-)

[@cloudcrystall]

Thanks!

[@kathieeidem5670]

Can you prune and repot at the same time?

[@TheDivera]

How long we should keep wires on before taking them off?

[@zoomerellazoomerella2947]

If I prune my Ficus will it back bud?

[@tomasgerasimidis482]

When should you disconnect air layerings?

[@sjoervanderploeg4340]

How do I stop my Ficus from growing these huge leaves? It used to have little leaves, it has fully shed all leaves a few times over its life but the big leaves keep coming back!

[@ulfpettersen5732]

i always find labels distracting :) bonsai is life .

[@EveryHappiness4]

It look's like a Balete here in Philippines Lo, it grows every where because of birds ..

[@ArnoldVroomans]

When my mother sees me pruning she always says I probably killed it…it now looks less green…why did I buy it if I am gonna cut it completely anyway…and looks at my other trees…nowadays she sees there is is method to the madness. But I guess that that is what is witholding people.

[@peterchan3100]

Mothers are all the same !

[@franciscocarlosoliveirasan4]

Tradução Pará o português do Brasil GRATIDÃO 🙏

[@tuanhoang-id7um]

The art of bonsai is like the art of making moneys. One have to patiently learns and developed tricks of the trades. The great wealth , or the great piece of bonsai required the discipline of multi-generations of the keepers passionately placed theirs hearts and souls for the creation to be perfectly with stand the test of times . Should one generation failed to upkeeps the arts, the bonsai will dies so as the company will go bankrupts. There is no rights or wrongs way to grown a bonsai as we all had came from all different backgrounds which unconsciously shaped the views of individual. Whenever one called his own creation as a piece of art, thy will be art!

[@j.r.bertolet3644]

👍🏻

[@andreasweber1533]

Personally I wouldn't bother with air layering ficus branches, except maybe if I wanted to cut below a wide junction (that may be awkward to stand upright in a vessel). Normal branches I'd just cut and stand in a mug of pure water to make roots as cuttings.

[@makewithmegma]

🔥💕👌👍

[@georgelala5104]

Sir.. Please time of ur air layered

[@keithmaclure9101]

3-4 weeks he said...

[@georgelala5104]

And when the best time to air layering

[@peterchan3100]

Ficus you can air layer any time of the year.

[@studio5474]

😍😑😃😃🙏

[@brucedeacon28]

👍🍎👌

[@ralf716]

they can stand 3 to 4 degree celsius over the winter? Really?

[@Sayef_Li]

In my opinion ficuses are not that good for small to medium size bonsai. The leaves never shrink smaller than what is shown in the video thus you can't ever see the branch structure and form pads, they get fat surface roots that ruins the nebari. They look messy in general with too many branches and arial roots. They are only good for large bonsai.

[@Merlin-wo1kj]

I keep willow leaf ficus for that reason.. Tiny slender leaves..