First steps for making a Ficus microcarpa ginseng Bonsai: repotting and pruning

[@MeghanJakubs-ns5je]

Thank you for the in depth explanation! I just bought my first Ficus microcarpa and am attempting to begin learning the art of Bonsai. I didn't realize how deep the subject was when I started researching, but this video has helped me to find a place to start until I get a better understanding of Bonsai. :)

[@jasonoconnor9500]

As someone who is just now waiting for my first seeds to germinate, I appreciate the detail in each of your videos. I will need that as I learn and the trees grow.

[@manjulal3570]

Thankyou for the educative, inspiring& comprehensive video❤

[@sebastianjarosz4978]

Amazing video! I would love to see a future video of this tree's growing progress, as it would massively help understand (visually) the growth after cutting.

[@OddBonsai]

I intend to make a video at the end of the summer. The leader has grown pretty tall (I think it's arround 40cm or more already) and I'm letting it grow wild to build a main trunk.

[@OddBonsai]

Hey, I posted an update video which covers several pruning sessions and the effects they had on the Ficus: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM

[@121bradm]

@@OddBonsai Looking good! Can't wait to see how it grows this year.

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks @@121bradm! Me too! 😋

[@Empressza123]

This video is the best one so far. Mainly because I am just starting out. I did the same thing; leaving the big root and burying it under the soil. I am still trying to figure out what style I'd like it to grow in. This video helped to give me new perspective. Thank you!

[@OddBonsai]

Glad it was helpful! In most cases the tree tends to dictate the style it wants to grow in. but of course you could train it into almost any style with enough care and trimming.

[@Empressza123]

@@OddBonsai Ahhhh ok! The tree dictates the style!! That is something the other videos I've seen did not make very clear. I can look at it with fresh eyes now!

[@OddBonsai]

@@Empressza123 It's my own opinion, not a rule written in stone. I personally think that it is best and easier to go with what the tree wants than to fight it. If you really want you can probably force any shape into a tree.

[@b4_autumn46]

Thank you! This video was very informative! Will be doing this with my ficus!

[@OddBonsai]

I'm glad you found this video useful and I hope your Ficus ginseng will benefit from the work you'll be doing on it.

[@barbarachandler4430]

I loved that plant, a weird plant will always catch my eye. For me I’d leave the potato-looking part exposed. You’ve inspired me, 😊

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! I still haven't made a final decision on the potato root. For now it's still in the same pot. We'll see when I repot it. 😋

[@HetZer406]

Thank you, i purchased my first one and this will be my first "bonsai" attempt! I aspire to one day have several healthy beautiful bonsai, I am however very timid. I believe this is the best place for me to start!

[@kacrisbonsaiandhobbies4754]

Nice quality trunk of your bonsai ginseng ficus microcarpa my dear friend, Good tips too. Good job my friend.

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! It's still small but I'm hoping it will grow a nice tall trunk soon.

[@kacrisbonsaiandhobbies4754]

@@OddBonsai no doubt it will grow the way you are expecting, because it is in good hand of a master like you my good friend. Update us while this plant progress. Thanks.

[@OddBonsai]

@@kacrisbonsaiandhobbies4754 Sure, there will be future updates. Thanks!

[@mvlameiras]

Great job; be sure to post updates...More success for the channel!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! I recently posted an update video of this ginseng ficus. You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM Cheers!

[@mvlameiras]

@@OddBonsai , I had searched your videos list and found it! A hug and greetings from Brazil!

[@Wiratama13]

Beautiful bonsai

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much!

[@arasfrat5893]

Very helpful an update on the tree would be awesome too!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! I am preparing an update and the video is coming in December. So stay tuned!

[@OddBonsai]

I posted the promised update video on my Ficus microcarpa 2 days ago. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM

[@grangrampa832]

Thank you I would like to try this I would have loved to see your plant in the future 😊

[@OddBonsai]

There is an update video from last winter. Hopefully I can put out a new video this year.

[@samueldcostawardenfromthed6855]

Wow so small ficus. Good information

[@OddBonsai]

It's small now but I'm hoping it will get bigger soon. :) I'm glad you found the video useful.

[@wadmadhushan4434]

Very beautiful bonsai. Small super

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! It has a looong way to go before becoming a real Ficus microcarpa bonsai.

[@minibonsailovers983]

beatiful tree master..

[@OddBonsai]

You are too kind! I'm more like a small apprentice. 🙏

[@mangalajayasekera4249]

Awesome video

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vivacious2349]

Thank you for your lovely videos !!I need your kind support....My bonsai ficus had only growth on one branch for 3 yrs now, but now even that is gone bad :( I think I overwatered & there seems to be root rot (one of the root is soft to touch) I changed the soil already & now I have not watered it for over a week, all the leaves turned yellow-brown (burnt like) and fell off, even the baby leaves shed? what should I do? 😢even after not watering for a week the soil is not completely dry inside but not wet, hope these details can help see the situation, if you could please help me help my bonsai :'(

[@ozembonsai]

Amazing. Ficus ginseng microcarpa.. Nice my friend

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you my friend! You are too kind. This is just the beginning so it has a long way to go before becoming a Ficus ginseng bonsai.

[@kalandrakasartbonsai5400]

That is a great material for bonsai sir...

[@OddBonsai]

You are too kind! At the moment this is just a small Ficus microcarpa stump but I'm hoping I can turn it into a nice bonsai someday.

[@dortheariser7545]

I got my 1st. One and I enjoyed this video that you shared with everyone , thank you

[@OddBonsai]

You are very welcome! I hope your Ficus ginseng grows into a nice bonsai.

[@shashankrana5435]

Yess please do updates about it! Quite informative and visually appealing! 🌸

[@OddBonsai]

I will do an update in a few months and I'll show how much it grew over the summer and how I pruned it again.

[@OddBonsai]

The promised update video is online: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM Cheers!

[@shashankrana5435]

@@OddBonsai Thank youuu 🌸

[@nancybengtson4380]

Great job 👏🏻

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@uunz4435]

I actually liked the original state of the bonsai. It looked like a baby groot trying to stand upright. :)

[@OddBonsai]

He, he, now that you mentioned it, I can see the slight resemblance. :) Some people like to grow ficus microcarpa more bushy, other like it taller. So I guess it's a matter of preference.

[@rizkyrijzalbonsai6990]

Mantap kawan👍👍👍

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@manjulal3570]

Where can l order this corse soil for my ficus bonsai?

[@kanvascreation638]

Nice work

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you!

[@godongbonsai702]

Amazing videos bonsai

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much!

[@salmanbinsalam4821]

Semoga sehat dan sukses selalu , hadir mengikuti 🙏🙏

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you very much! All the best for you too!

[@salmanbinsalam4821]

@@OddBonsai thank you also success always greetings one hobby🙏

[@Saiyato]

A fast way to make any plant grow faster is by putting them in the ground but in this case The ginseng ficus cannot get direct sunlight i wish you best of luck on this journey the results look amazung cang wait to see the informal upright style it will eventually end with!! Great work

[@RosarioCostanzo]

Great work! Ficus ginseng is always neglected as bonsai material but I think it's perfect doe experimenting and have fun. I have one of this and I am trying to create roots and branches with grafting. What will you do with the part below the soil?

[@OddBonsai]

I did not try grafting yet but when I do I will probably start with my full size fruit trees in my garden. I always wanted to have a fruit tree that produces several kinds of fruits (e.g., plums, peaches, apricots). I'm planning to keep the bulbous root. I want to grow this Ficus ginseng big enough so that the bulbous root will not seem so big in comparison to the trunk. At least this is the idea...we'll see how it develops.

[@yoseandawg]

great video

[@riooo7039]

Keren trimaksih sudah berbagi

[@OddBonsai]

My pleasure! Cheers!

[@xuzhang5417]

Very knowledgeable! The root of my tree has multiple cuts, which makes it uggly, is there a way to fix it? Thank you!

[@OddBonsai]

It's hard to imagine how the root of your tree looks like. If they are just surface cuts, the scars might disappear in a few years. If they are much deeper it may take many years for them to heal over (or they might never do). One option would be to grow aerial roots over them to cover the areas. You could wrap some sphagnum moss around the roots. cover it with a plastic cup or foil and keep moist to promote root growth.

[@xuzhang5417]

@@OddBonsai Thank you! I will try to grow some aerial roots, I think it is a good idea.

[@Angela.Victoria.85]

I recently bought a ficus from a grocery store without any knowledge on how to care for it. The leaves are all turning brown and falling off. I think it was overwatered when I bought it as I lifted it out of its pot with no drainage holes and the soil was soaking wet in standing water. What steps should I take to revive this plant? How often should I water? We live in an area with low humidity in the summer months. I appreciate your input and this video was helpful!

[@OddBonsai]

Hello Angela, Sorry to hear about your ficus but unfortunately most of the plants sold in grocery stores and supermarkets don't have proper soil or pots. I hope your plant is not too far gone. I would definitely repot the Ficus in a pot with proper drainage holes and using a well draining potting mix. Make sure you remove all the old soil from the roots and check for root rot. Remove any roots that have rot (you should easily recognize them as they are back/brown and mushy) and leave only healthy roots as otherwise the rot may spread. After repotting keep it out of direct sun for a few weeks until you see signs of recovery. I cannot provide you with a watering schedule as it depends on many factors. Water when the plant needs is, i.e., when you see the surface of the soil starting to dry out. I wouldn't worry too much about ambient humidity. I also live in a place with dry summers and my Ficus microcarpa is growing nice and healthy as long as the soil doesn't get too dry. If you have the possibility to regularly mist it or keep it in a greenhouse the plant will love it but it can also grow just fine without these. I hope your Ficus gets better soon!

[@Angela.Victoria.85]

@@OddBonsai thank you so much for the advice! I have already ordered bonsai soil and ceramic pot with 2 drainage holes. I hope I can save it!

[@OddBonsai]

@@Angela.Victoria.85 You're very welcome!

[@Angela.Victoria.85]

@@OddBonsai just wanted to update - my bonsai is showing signs of recovery after repotting in proper soil and fertilizing. I have been misting it everyday and it seems pretty happy. The browning leaves seems to have subsided and new leaves are growing in! I’m so happy it survived! Thanks again for you help.

[@OddBonsai]

@@Angela.Victoria.85 Great news and good job! I really appreciate you got back with an update and it's even better to hear your ficus is doing good. If it keeps up with this trend, by winter or early spring you will probably have to start trimming to keep it in shape.👍

[@PapiCthulu2]

So one only gets ficus ginseng from seeds, not cuttings?

[@OddBonsai]

That is correct. The type of roots that develop from cuttings are not able to produce those tuberous roots. You can only get the ginseng type roots from seed.

[@PapiCthulu2]

@@OddBonsai thanx

[@andrijagrgic2357]

One question, can i remove the grafts and use for trees? I dislike the bulb and the offshoots seem to produce larger leaves.

[@Cthulumannen]

A followup would be awesome.

[@OddBonsai]

A follow-up video is in the making. I'm filming all the pruning done on this Ficus ginseng and all the progress it has made since the first video and I will be posting a new one by the end of this year.

[@OddBonsai]

The promised follow up video is online: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM

[@mtness-dj]

how do u propagate it to make another similar plant?

[@mikec3820]

i cut mine on the thick part lol. 3 or 4 years old now. coming along. mine is a originally grafted benjimina.. great video and a nice starter bonsai. wonder what they use to produce them. a root hormone or something maybe. like bloom booster only for the roots

[@OddBonsai]

So was yours a microcarpa grafted on a benjamina root or a benjamina grafted onto a microcarpa root? Mine was not grafted so it must have been grown from seed and they must have used some kind of hormone to promote massive root growth. Otherwise the root would continue to grow much faster than the rest of the tree even after you buy it. But it doesn't.

[@mikec3820]

mine was a grafted benjamina on top. not sure what type of root stock it had. microcarpa was my guess. i think id like to try it again on a new plant. now that i have had a few years of practice.. its hard to find just a regular ficus planted as a house plant in my area. its all large leaf types and "ginseng" types in our local stores.

[@OddBonsai]

Interesting, I've never seen ginseng with anything other than microcarpa on top. If all you want is a large microcarpa (non ginseng) to start from, just put a cutting in a large nursery pot and let it grow for 1-2 years. They can get finger thick in a year given the right conditions.

[@mikec3820]

i actually just started cuttings in my grow tent for the winter. the cuttings are less then a month old and already 6inches tall.(cuttings were just a few nodes and 2 top leafs at the start)cant wait to see how much size they will put on with 6months under my LED light. everything seems to grow faster under my led in the tent for sure.

[@OddBonsai]

Yep, a grow tent makes a lot of difference. I large pot helps a lot too by providing plenty of room for roots to develop and feed all that new growth.

[@jasminestanway3025]

What soil mix should i use to repot my ficus ginseng?

[@bellasings1700]

great job -thanks

[@ashekleyland]

Can you put a bonsai in a semi hydroponic setup?

[@OddBonsai]

In theory you could grow a tree in a hydroponic or semi-hydroponic setup but this could only be done in the early stages of the tree development. Since one of the ideas behind bonsai is to grow and display the tree in a pot you will eventually have to make the transition.

[@sunnymango2101]

What kind of tree is the braided tree with the big canopy behind you?

[@OddBonsai]

I'm not sure what is the tree you are referring to. I don't remember showing such a tree in this video but maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe you could point me to the time stamp where the tree is shown I can figure it out.

[@esca_505]

Hi! How is this Bonsai doing? I also planted my Bonsai this deepth and hoping it will get more roots.

[@OddBonsai]

It's growing very well. It's been in a grow tent for the past year and in need of a haircut :)

[@kittenlang333]

Excellent video. Please consider an update!❤

[@emilynelson5880]

What type of soil should we use?

[@nabua82]

Where can I buy a bonsai dirt to replant a ginseng bonsai and what kind?

[@jeffncompany]

so what are the results? what does it look like now? it's very difficult to find comparison images or images at all of what this ficus looks like after burying the exposed roots

[@OddBonsai]

At the moment I can only tell you what are the expected results of burying the roots and what I noticed so far since I did not take it out of the pot yet. The tree should grow a lot of feeder roots on that buried area and judging by the number fine roots that I can already see growing on the soil surface I would say there was a lot of root growth in this past year. This new root growth can be used to build a root system which is closer to the current soil surface and create that sought after nebari. If you want to see how it grew and how the tree looks like now you can watch the recent update video which covers its growth and pruning through the year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM. I will do another video showing details of the roots when the time comes for repotting.

[@jeffncompany]

@@OddBonsai have you seen any leader growth? that video, while cool, was about a jade plant - not the ficus update lol. thanks for the reply

[@OddBonsai]

I apologize for that. I copied the wrong link. Here is the correct one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM. I also updated it in my previous comment. I let the leader grew over the summer until it got to 50-60 cm long and then I pruned it back to build trunk taper.

[@jeffncompany]

@@OddBonsai all good, i searched your channel and found this one. you must want a super straight/vertical tree. i actually liked the longer leader you had before you chopped it off to go with another leader. it was interesting, though. i've decided to go your style and bury the larger roots. although, i'm half tempted to leave them exposed and follow a similar strategy that you did elsewise aside from going for a super straight leader. i wouldn't mind some curviness. idk. we'll see. i need to buy a new pot and get a good potting mix before i do anything with it

[@OddBonsai]

I don't necessarily want it to be perfectly straight but I do want it more vertical. The reason for cutting back that long leader was that I want do develop a realistic looking trunk which means I need to put some taper in it. And I'm doing this gradually by keeping only a short part of the growth each year. The trunk of Ficus microcarpa is often modeled into an S shape so it can be definitely done. Good luck with your bonsai!

[@zanthegoedhals3720]

This is a great video for people like me only starting out with a bonsai. I got mine Ficus Ginseng this week for my birthday. I am scared I might over water the plant. How much water should I give my plant? Is there a certain amount in ml that is needed? I am from South Africa and we have winter now. It is placed in a well lit room, but not in direct sunlight, is this correct? Thank you in advance!🙂

[@shadyaryassin4765]

Can someone tell do i nead sunshine for this type of bonsai??

[@ilikepho.]

Why do you cut most of them off?

[@OddBonsai]

That's a good question! I want to grow this Ficus ginseng in a tree like shape. Since it was looking more like a bush due to the many branches I removed all the unwanted ones and only kept one that will become the main trunk of the bonsai tree and two more as lower side-branches. It doesn't look too good right after you prune it hard like this but it will slowly get to look like a tree. I will be making update videos so that you can see how it develops.

[@ilikepho.]

@@OddBonsai please do. Thank you.

[@ghostofthesun89]

Your video and the conversation with Gregory Chew has really really helped me understand as I am a total beginner. I am in a very similar spot as Gregory (minus the weed lol) got the tree last week and it's pretty healthy but seems to need care to ensure a good future. I live in Greece so temperatures and humidity tend to be very high. Is repotting ok in summer time considering this climate? And another thing: Is it mandatory to bury part of the huge root (or all of it) for the trunk to develop into a proper bonsai? Or can I just leave it as is, just repot into better soil?

[@OddBonsai]

Hi, Ficus ginseng is a great bonsai for beginners so good choice! It is ok to repot in summer, and the high humidity is particularly good for Ficus microcarpa. If it gets really hot after repotting (above 30-35 Celsius) it may be a good idea to keep it in a shaded area, out of the harsh direct sun, for a week or so. Some morning sun should be fine. The way you choose to handle the roots is just a matter of personal taste. Some like them exposed, some hate them and just cut them off. And then there's me who decided to keep them but hide them. :) So if you like the way it looks with the exposed roots it's fine to leave them as they are. I believe keeping the roots actually benefit the tree development and make it a bit more drought resistance but I have no proof for this other than the fact that the bulbous roots store nutrients and water. I hope this helps. Take care, Stefan

[@ghostofthesun89]

​@@OddBonsai Thank you so much Stefan (we have similar names btw) you are the best :) I am looking forward to seeing how this specific tree of yours develops and I am honestly glad I have been welcomed to the world of bonsai with your precious advice. Gratitude, Stefanos

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you Stefanos. I am not an expert on all things related to Bonsai but I'm always glad to share the little knowledge that I have. I think that any other bonsai enthusiast would probably do the same. My Ficus ginseng is doing well. The three branches that I left on the tree have grown a lot, especially the leader (I think it's 30cm long already).

[@koenvanmeerbeeck8724]

nice video again :). when would be the best time to do the big cut? And can you also cut below the stems so it has no leaves at all? I got a number of them for my birthday but they really don't look nice so I plan to do a big cut so only a stump remains on 2 of them. But would appreciate some advise on timing. I live in belgium so not a hot climate :)

[@Lilian.94]

How is this ficus doing?

[@OddBonsai]

It's doing very well. It has grown a lot this year so I had to prune it back several times. I will present its evolution for the past year in a few weeks after I pune it one last time for this year. So keep an eye out for the update video. 🙂

[@Winteralldays]

Hi I was wondering what soil mix you are using? From what I tell it has perlite, vermiculite and peat moss compost? Very nice video thank you :)

[@OddBonsai]

Hello, You got most of the ingredients right on the soil mix. 👍It's perlite, vermiculite, pumice and regular compost. I could probably skip either the perlite or vermiculite as mostly they seem to have very similar properties, with the vermiculite being slightly heavier and less likely to wash off when watering. I hope this helps.

[@李秉祐-k4m]

原本是提根式的人參榕，為何要將它埋入土中改為一般型？

[@OddBonsai]

没有必要埋根。 有些人喜欢暴露它们，有些人喜欢完全切断它们。 正如你在视频中看到的，我的标本上的根部不是很好，所以我把它们埋起来以获得更自然的外观。

[@BryanChristopherLaoMD]

Hi! Im from the Philippines. I have this ficus ginseng but the grafted one. Initially I repotted it in its original potting mix a month ago in a ceramic pot. However i noticed that its leaves are falling off and its soil was not draining well. 2 weeks ago I decided to repot it in a better draining soil (an aroid mix) and I watered it once. However, the leaves continue to turn yellow and fall off. When I checked it yesterday, it had root rot. So I chopped almost half of the main roots off which had root rot and placed cinnamon as fungicide and let it dry for a while. One of its main root was not affected by root rot and still has its roots. Its currently has no soil and in a plastic container which I let it dry a bit and let it recover. When is the best time to place it in a good proper bonsai soil mix and can I use rooting powder on the part of the roots where It used to have root rot. And also will I need to water it immediately after I repotted it in the soil mixture? Im sorry this is long but Thank you very much for answering! 😊

[@OddBonsai]

Up to the point where you are now I would have done the same thing but I would have put it in good soil directly. Good job for corecting after this. After cleaning the rot and applying cinnamon I would repot it immediately. Don't let the roots dry out completely since they might die and add more stress to the tree. If the potting mix is at least a bit wet you don't need to water immediately. Otherwise if it's dry I would water right after repoting and you shoukd water only when the soil surface starts to dry out. I hope this helps and that your Ficus survives. Let me know how things go.

[@BryanChristopherLaoMD]

@@OddBonsai thank you very much on your advice. Ill let you know what happens.

[@nassimus_31]

@@BryanChristopherLaoMD Hello Bryan! I'm so eager to get to know what heppened to your Ficus after 4 months. I wish it is all fine and is living its best days.

[@BryanChristopherLaoMD]

@@nassimus_31 hi! Im sorry for the late response. Im also sorry to inform you the it did not survive. The root rot progressed. Thank you for the tips. And take care always.

[@OddBonsai]

Sorry to hear that. It's always sad to loose a tree but you shouldn't let that disscourage you if you want to continue with growing bonsai trees. Take care!

[@dilysvela2717]

@odd bonsai thank you very much for this video. It is what I was looking for since I just got one from IKEA. I have two questions. You said that once you get we should repoted it. I read that is best to do it during the Spring but now I am entering Fall, should I wait to the Spring or repoted now? I was planning to let it grown and put the pot on a plate with Clay pebbles to keep it moist during until spring arrives and do the transplant that you are showing. The other question, are you planning to move it to a bonsai pot after a year? Finally, which is your soil mix? Thank you in advance for reading my questions

[@OddBonsai]

Glad you found it useful. Since it's a tropical and it is usually kept at growing temperatures you can basically repot it year-round. I don't know what kind of growing medium are the Ikea bonsais in but I guess it's coconut choir based so if it were mine I would repot after buying it. If you don't want to repot it yet and it looks healthy you could leave it until spring but make sure you don't overwater. The water + pebbles + plate thing doesn't help much. It provides too little humidity to be of any real benefit. I'm not going to move this one to a bonsai pot yet. I'll keep it in a bigger pot to give roots lots of space to develop since I have to grow a trunk and develop the branch structure. So it's still far from something that deserves to be called a bonsai. For this one I think I used 1/3 perlite, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 potting compost but you can adapt this to what you can find. Maybe you can buy a bonsai potting mix (make sure it's not a sand based one).

[@dilysvela2717]

Thank you for your reply. It soil looks like dirt, but some of the fat roots are out of the pot, so I will take your suggestion and repot. How do you know it is time to water? I have not use that médium before so not sure. I guess like once a week? Thank you again for taking the time to reply.

[@OddBonsai]

If it looks like dirt it means that all the organic material has been broken down which is not good. So I would repot too. Regarding watering, regardless of the potting medium, you should first know your plant. In the case of Ficus microcarpa, if the soil is well draining you should water when the soil surface is dry. It will still be humid below and Ficuses can take a bit of drought but make sure you don't let the soil dry out completely. So my advice is: don't water after a schedule, check your plants and see when they need water.

[@dilysvela2717]

@@OddBonsai Thank you for sharing how material with no organic matter looks like. I will repot it, trim as you showed and let it growth. I will keep you post it with the growth and hope it growths well. I will keep a eye in the follow up video for your plant. I am curious to know how all those fat roots will look like after a couple of years. Thank you so much.

[@OddBonsai]

@@dilysvela2717 You're very welcome!

[@TannerChung]

I need your help on my Ficus - I think it got infected with Southern Blight - cotton looking fuzz is all over the outside below the top where the shoots are coming out. The trunk tissue is very soft all over so I'm not sure if I need to cut out all the rot to save it. Any advice?

[@OddBonsai]

I don't have hands-on experience with Southern Blight but from what I read is a pretty serious fungal disease. So if it were my Ficus I would remove all affected tissue and then apply a fungicide that targets this disease. You should ask at a phytosanitary pharmacy. If the damage extends down to the roots I would take it out, clean the affected tissue and repot it. I hope you manage to save your Ficus.

[@biolifeagri]

Hi How old this plant?can I grow it from seeds? I want to grow focus genseng.

[@OddBonsai]

Hello! I did not grow this plant from seed so I can only judge the age by its size but I would say it's not older than 3 years. Yes, you can definitely grow Ficus microcarpa from seed, the ginseng part is just a nickname that comes from its bulbous roots. Look for a source of fresh seeds to increase germination rate and success. One thing you should have in mind is that the ginseng ficus plants you can buy in the store are grown in nurseries where they grow fast since they have optimum growing conditions. Also, from what I've read, the exaggerated size of the roots may be caused by some substances that they feed the plants with in the nursery. I hope this helps.

[@johnirby8109]

Is it eltable

[@katiebee2937]

I have a grafted one. If I cut off the whole of the top including the grafted part will it die or will it grow two shoots naturally like yours? And what’s in your soil? Thanks

[@OddBonsai]

Hello, So if I got it right you cut off the top and basically just kept the base with the bulbous roots. In this case, if the plant was in a good health state you should see new shoots appearing in a week or two. Just don't overwater it until you see new growth to avoid root rot. Even if you cut away all the trunk and only kept the bulbous roots there's still a good chance that new shoots will develop but it will probably depend on the amount of energy stored in the roots. Please let me know how things work out with your Ficus ginseng.

[@katiebee2937]

@@OddBonsai thanks very much for your advice 😊

[@OddBonsai]

@@katiebee2937 You're very welcome.

[@llrainll]

Loved this ! I found one at home and it seemed a bit neglected. It dried up a lot, yet had leaves. I pruned it a bit, and got rid of some soil. ( I wanted it to be a little more exposed. ) I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing in terms of pruning. It didn’t have many branches. I want to get the correct soil, and I’m unsure of the current soil is good for this ginseng focus. I believe my mom repotted it already- but I’m not sure what soil she used. What soil would you recommend ? I’m in Europe.

[@OddBonsai]

A general rule with most plants is not to prune them too much if their health state is questionable. So if you only got rid of the dead or dried up branches then it's fine. By pruning some of the living branches you stress the plant even more. This doesn't mean that your Ficus ginseng will die but it would be better that you only prune it when it is healthy. Make sure that the soil it's in provides good drainage. In my case I'm using perlite vermiculite and normal potting soil. You could just use potting compost and perlite. If you cannot find perlite you can look for pumice, perlite or lava rock that are usually sold as components for succulent plants potting mix.

[@OddBonsai]

I got an email notification about your reply but now I cannot see the comment. I don't know if it was you who removed it or the YT antispam mechanism but here's my answer: I looked at the pictures and your Ficus ginseng is very much alive. If it had some frost damage it was probably those dead branches and leaves that you cut away. It's hard to say how well it is doing just from some pictures but the one thing that I noticed is that one of the bulbous roots looks like it's dehydrated. I would check the state of the roots to make sure there was no frost damage at that level and that there is no root rot. You can press on or squeeze the bulbous roots with your fingers to see if they are firm or if they feel mushy. Mushiness is a sign of rot and any rotted part of the roots should be removed. In any case I would change the soil to some well draining soil (the soil they come in from the nursery is usually not that great) and then let it grow freely and recover. Let me know if I can help with any other info. Cheers!

[@bonsaibuenobyalexb]

Nice material but I don't have this kind yet.. 👍👍👍

[@OddBonsai]

This is just a baby when compared to the nice trees you have. Ficus microcarpa is a great grower so if you can you should try one.

[@bonsaibuenobyalexb]

@@OddBonsai I have a couple of small ficus microcarpa, one is a fusion project.

[@OddBonsai]

Nice, maybe you can do a future video and present the fusion project. When was the fusion project started?

[@bonsaibuenobyalexb]

@@OddBonsai I started it early last year... Yeah, I'm planning to do a video about that

[@dalgomie6490]

do you have any recommendations for the bonsai soil?

[@OddBonsai]

For this Ficus I am using a mix of perlite, vermiculite and potting compost. This mix can be adapted to what you can source locally. For example you could only use perlite as I find no big difference between vermiculite and perlite. Pumice and lava rock are other good ingredients for making bonsai soil. And of course there is akadama which gets kind of expensive if you have many trees. Also the mix should be adapted to the actual species you have. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need details for a more specific case.

[@dilysvela2717]

@@OddBonsai could you share the specific ratio of your soil mix? Thank you

[@OddBonsai]

Sure. In this case I used equal quantities of each component. It's not an exact science and you can adapt it to your needs.

[@SusanL09]

Hi I’m from Minnesota, it’s going to be fall and winter soon, my ficus ginsen is creating light fuzz on the soil. I think it might be bc of too much water?? I heard humidifier would help…but I know which kind and in Minnesota there’s not much sunny days as it would be in California…. Is there a different way I can give it light… also I haven’t changed it to a new pot or soil yet….but planning to do soon, sorry this is long, I am new at this what do I do?

[@SusanL09]

I don’t know which kind of humidifier

[@OddBonsai]

I'm guessing the light fuzz is some kind of mold which develops in high humidity and low light environments. So you deffinetly don't need a humidifier since that creates even more humidity. I would repot as soon as possible in a well draining soil mix. Also don't water on a schedule. Only water the plant needs it, i.e., when the soil surface starts to get dry. Too much water will kill it.

[@carmenbitzer3583]

do you have an update video for this tree? I would love to see it. good information thanks

[@OddBonsai]

Hello! I only did the repotting and pruning of this Ficus ginseng a little over two weeks ago so I didn't plan to make an update video yes as very little has changed. The little Ficus tree is doing well. New leaves have already grown on all branches and new sprouts are also appearing on the trunk. I will do an update video after it grows a bit more. Thanks for asking!

[@carmenbitzer3583]

@@OddBonsai wonderful! I will look forward to it.

[@gardendreameretc9534]

same here.. will be waiting for an update..

[@OddBonsai]

@@gardendreameretc9534 Hello, I will most probably do an update at the end of summer when my ginseng ficus will need a pruning. It's growing really well, the leader is probably around 30cm long already.

[@OddBonsai]

I managed to post the update in the last days of December: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM Hope you like it. Cheers!

[@mpamparimpampatzi5374]

Finally someone who knows his shit about "ginseng ficus" Very nice, could you please upload an update video of this tree?

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! This month I'm going to post a video presenting how this gingseng ficus grew since the previous vid.

[@OddBonsai]

Hey, I posted the update video on my Ficus ginseng bonsai: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTVl2yXjLOgmbM

[@mpamparimpampatzi5374]

​@@OddBonsai wow man thanks for the update, have a great new year btw! Here is a little story: I had my bday a week ago and my gf tried to bought me a bonsai (we are in greece) se she went to a nursery where the owner started ranting about how there are no bonsais left and the last one was sold like 50 years ago and shit like that and ended up selling her a fucking grafted microcarpa in a huge bowl, not even with a thick root-"trunk"!!!! My innocent gf bought it and gave it to me happily and i acted all happy and shit but i trully hate it and im about to do all kinds of exeriments with it lol

[@OddBonsai]

Happy new year and happy birth day! Even if it's not a very nice specimen you can always make something nice out of it. You can develop a nice root system and, of course, the trunk and branch system. One thing I would recommend is to separate the grafted part from the original base once you get it healthy and vigorous. The grafting point will probably always look ugly no matter what you do if a different variety was grafted on. Good luck with it!

[@mpamparimpampatzi5374]

@@OddBonsai Thank you very much! Thats exactly what im planning to do, seperate them and hope for the branches to root and the root to branch, do you think it will work?

[@mantiispsn6543]

Just came across your channel. It'd be cool if you tried a Baobab Bonsai. Where are you from?

[@OddBonsai]

Hello! Yes, growing a Baobab Bonsai would be an interesting challenge. It's something I'm interested in so I will look into it and try to source some seeds. I don't know when that will be but when I get some seeds I will definitely start a series on that. I'm from Romania. How about you?

[@mantiispsn6543]

@@OddBonsai Nice! I'm not sure what temperatures you get in summer, but in Romania it will be primarily an indoor Bonsai. I've got 4 species of Baobab I'm growing in the UK :)

[@OddBonsai]

In the summer we get maximum temperatures of up to 37* C but it will surely have to be brought inside at least for the winter. Are you growing them exclusively outside?

[@mantiispsn6543]

@@OddBonsai Wow that's hotter than I expected! We get up to 37°C maybe once a year if we're lucky. I've only ever grown them inside, although I might put them outside in the summer this year :)

[@OddBonsai]

@@mantiispsn6543 37 is the maximum we can get but usually for a day or two per year. An average summer temperature would be arround 32. Can you recommend a source of good quality (fresh) seeds, prefferably in Europe?

[@ojigmagarian6436]

My bonsai died 😞. What can I do the roots r still live and a little part of it. The upper part died it was full of water inside

[@OddBonsai]

Hello! First of all, it would be good to know the reason for the dieback. If the plant is still alive you should make sure you have no root rot. For this you should take the plant out of the pot and inspect the roots. If there are any rotten roots remove tam and then repot the Ficus ginseng in well draining soil (bonsai or succulent mix). If there is no rot on the top part of the plant I would leave it alone in case the branches are still alive. I am not sure what you mean by ""it was full of water inside". Inside the pot or the upper trunk? Hope this helps. Cheers!

[@ojigmagarian6436]

@@OddBonsai normally the branches are dry in mine case the branches were wet and when I tried to cut the wet branches I saw that was dry inside the branches more then wet. So I cut it . It is now very tiny branch with its roots 😔😔.

[@ojigmagarian6436]

@@OddBonsai where I live there is no seeds to plant a new one. Is there a way to plant a new one ? I have another one but with bigger leaves. Is it better to cut them? Sorry for that much questions 🙈.

[@OddBonsai]

Even if you can order some seeds it will take along time for the Ficus seedlings to grow to the size of the ones you can buy from the store. So if you can save the one that has dry branches it would be great. I understand the problem with the first Ficus ginseng but why do you want to cut the other one? Is it dry also? It is hard for me to give you an advice without seing the plant. Is there any way you can share a link with photos (e.g.: Facebook, Instagram, etc.) ?

[@OddBonsai]

I understand. It's fine if you removed the dried branches and only left the living ones. If the Ficus is otherwise healthy it will grow bigger branches from the existing shoots. Just make sure that it has no root rot. Why did the branches die? Did you give it too much water or too little?

[@dianar7638]

my ginseng don’t hold its leaves, the stem don’t have leaves what can I do?? how to keep leaves green like yours!!!

[@OddBonsai]

If the leaves on your Ficus ginseng keep falling it's a sign that something is wrong with it. There are various reasons why this could happen: too much water which leads to root rot, to little water which leads to dehydration, not enough light. I would recommend that you repot it especially if it wasn't repotted after you bought it or if there are many years since the last repot. If you find root rot cut off all affected parts and pot the Ficus into well draining potting mix.

[@dianar7638]

@@OddBonsai hear haven’t used any fertilizer since i bought it, Will Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food work?? Which fertilizer do you recommend? what soil should I use will Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil Mix work? or the Miracle-Gro indoor/cactus soil??

[@OddBonsai]

@@dianar7638 I am not familiar with Miracle-Gro products. I don't have a favorite fertilize. I just use what I can easily find with an NPK of around 10-10-10 or higher. Just make sure you don't exceed the dosage indicated on the package. If you do not have the possibility to buy bonsai soil I would recommend a succulent/cactus mix because of the fast draining properties. When fertilizing also keep in mind that some potting mixes already have some slow release fertilizer in them.

[@outinnature265]

@Odd Bonsai what soil do you use for a ficus microcarpa ginseng bonsai?

[@OddBonsai]

For my Fius ginseng I used a combination of perlite+vermiculite, pumice and potting compost but the soil composition can be adapted to what you can find locally.

[@thetruthchannel7073]

Great idea tbh..imho I agree tree look way better now. .

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! I hope it will become a nice tree someday.

[@MKbonsai]

Listen and learn

[@gregorychew3560]

Does weed smoke bother bonsai trees. I saw a nice ficus with cool roots for 98 bucks. I wanna buy it but I need to make sure it will survive with me lol

[@OddBonsai]

Ha ha, that's a great question! Smoke in general can be both good and bad to plants, bonsai included. The carbon dioxide in the exhaled smoke will be consumed by a bonsai so that's a good thing. However, particles in the smoke can coat the leaf surface reducing or preventing the gas exchange over time. I can't say anything about the effects of particular substances in the smoke :). But overall I would say that the smoke should not kill the bonsai (unless you're a really heavy smoker) but it might slow down its development a bit. It will surely help cleansing the air in the room and if you have other plants that are doing good in the presence of smoke it's a good indicator that a bonsai should be fine as well since they are just like most plants but trained into a tree like shape.

[@gregorychew3560]

@@OddBonsai I just bought a ficus microcarpa ginseng bonsai. I dunked it in water with plant food but I think I screwed it up. I fully submerged the thing in water and the dirt rose up and I took it out after abojt 2 mins. I think I was supposed to submerge is slightly and let the water get in through the holes on the bottom. Any tips for taking care of this guy?

[@gregorychew3560]

@@OddBonsai also I smoke a little pot in a ventilated room. It’s not like hot boxing the whole thing lol.

[@gregorychew3560]

@@OddBonsai is it ok to water this guy top down from now on. I’m going to water him once a week and feed him every other week. Any tips for me would be welcomed

[@gregorychew3560]

@@OddBonsai one more question. The soil is not tightly packed and the tree itself can sort of shift a little. Should I pack it tighter or leave the soil loose

[@thehunterofhumans5370]

So the ficus ginseng is not a bonsai?

[@OddBonsai]

Even if some are labeled as Bonsai by nurseries or stores they are mostly just ornamental plants desired by people due to the looks of the exagerated bulbous roots. However, you can find many examples of people that have actually trained them into Bonsai but generally this involves cutting back the big roots. I want to train mine into a Bonsai while keeping the roots.

[@thehunterofhumans5370]

@@OddBonsai oh alright, thanks

[@OddBonsai]

@@thehunterofhumans5370 You're very welcome!

[@annavisone2107]

Vorrei avere la traduzione in italiano

[@OddBonsai]

Non sono di madrelingua italiana quindi potrei fare i sottotitoli in italiano usando Google translate ma non saranno perfetti.

[@MaybeBonsai]

I actually googled if ginseng is a ficus, all the results I got was about ginseng ficus and nothing about my question!

[@OddBonsai]

You mean ginseng as in the roots used for various traditional medicinal applications? That ginseng species is not related to Ficus. From what I know it's a low growing herb, so not even a tree. If I misunderstood and you were actually referring to the Ficus ginseng let me know if you want more details, I can give you a couple of links with some info on that.

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@OddBonsai I knew they were different but I was trying to find out how different. Anyway, it's not a big deal it's just an impulse curiosity

[@OddBonsai]

One way I found to be pretty good for getting an overall idea if two species are in any way related or how different they are is to look at their scientific classification in Wikipedia. So if you compare the Panax (ginseng) genus with the Ficus genus classification hierarchies you should get a pretty good idea on how far apart they are. Hope this helps at least a bit. I know how it is when you want to find the answer to a rarely asked plant-related question and you just can't find the answer anywhere.

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@OddBonsai Thanks Stephan

[@OddBonsai]

@@MaybeBonsai You are very welcome Zin

[@akvarist1849]

Please add Turkish subtitles to your videos.

[@gijsvoerknecht38]

I loved the plant before it was ruined by you

[@OddBonsai]

What I did to my ginseng ficus was just one step for its long term evolution. It's true it didn't look nice at the end of the video but this wasn't the end goal. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!