Ficus Bonsai Trees - Styling Techniques🌱

Hi Everyone! In this video I show you some styling techniques for Ficus Bonsai Trees, both in styling the branches through directional pruning and also some root pruning techniques for a better Nebari.
Throughout this video I use techniques like directional pruning, pruning to redirect energy in a Bonsai. I explore pruning techniques aimed at maintaining tree size and knowing when NOT to prune in order to encourage thicker growth on the trunk along with gradually up-potting the tree every year. I also discuss root work, including root pruning to achieve a well-balanced Nebari.
It's worth noting that I personally choose to only air layer the Ficus Ginseng, as it's a preference not to have bulbous roots. However, if you like them by all means train the Bonsai from there!
Remember to like this video if it helped you and subscribe to the channel for more Bonsai Videos!
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00:00 - Intro.
00:24 - The 5 Ficus Trees.
01:00 - The Bonsai Tools Used.
02:43 - Air Layering The Ficus Ginseng.
03:50 - Removing The Cambium Layer.
04:40 - Applying The Rooting Hormone Powder.
05:27 - Securing The Sphagnum Moss Bag.
07:57 - Root Work and Root Pruning For An Even Nebari.
10:09 - Repotting The Ficus Bonsai.
12:15 - Pruning for a Mame Sized Bonsai / Removing Inverse Taper.
13:14 - How To Make Ficus From Cuttings.
13:42 - Trunk Chop For Better Taper and Movement.
14:37 - Branch Pruning To Redirect Energy To The Apex.
15:21 - Ficus Benjimina Fusion Style Bonsai.
17:39 - Up Potting To Thicken The Bonsai Trunk.
18:22 - Why You Should Not Prune A Bonsai.
19:01 - Pruning A Mame Clump Style Bonsai To Reduce The Height.
19:46 - Repotting Into A Ceramic Bonsai Pot.
21:10 - Watering / Beauty Shots.
21:55 - Outro
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[@pesoverwatch9324]

Just bought a ficus at a plant store nearby, 9 euro's for the plant, and it where 3 plants put together, so 3 for the price of 1. Searched youtube for some Bonsai content, and this Notion Bonsai tutorial is by far the best! Cheers!

[@notionbonsai]

Ah nice one man! I'm sure you'll make great Bonsai from them!

[@Tybold63]

I do not know what background you have but you have a knack for making educational videos. . Ficus is my main focus as I have no garden any longer and just a large balcony and the harsh Swedish climate isn't kind to trees hanging outside during winter. This is why "indoor bonsai" is what I mostly got nowadays, but they have vacation outside during summer together with my pines, spruce and maple.. It also great to see young generation like yourself pick up this long term and time consuming hobby , cheers!

[@snylilith]

Awww, this little mames look just the cutest!

[@noemibors9379]

Your demonstrations are super good, I’m learning a lot from these explanations! Also you seem like a genuinely kind person, I love the calming atmoshpere of your videos. Greetings from Hungary ❤

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm delighted to hear that you're finding the demonstrations helpful and enjoying the calming atmosphere of the videos. It's always a pleasure to share my passion for bonsai with fellow enthusiasts like you, and I truly appreciate your support. Greetings from Ireland to you in Hungary! 🌿🌸

[@Kristinbonz4045]

Air layering! Thank you! That is what I'm going to do to my unsightly Golden Gate Ficus...I always learn something from your videos and enjoy your technique...

[@notionbonsai]

🤗🌳Glad you found it useful and thank you so much for your comment!

[@Dnn411]

Great you and other young Gardners are into bonsai.

[@evennotodd]

I just repotted my ficus ginseng last night. It's on its third life after it started as a big-box store purchase that lost nearly all of its leaves. I took two snall cuttings to make to salvage what was left and did water and soil propagations for a few months before potting it into a proper pot. Three months later, it was knocked over during a move. Here's to hoping the third time's the charm. Your ficus videos have helped me a great deal with this crazy journey wiith this plant.

[@jazzrat2000]

I have opossums and raccoons and squirrels that love to eat my plants and knock them over on the ground. But I love them. They live here too.

[@user-yo9kf9by1m]

Thank you! Love your videos!

[@a.k.h.channel]

Menata bonsai ficus informasi yg sangat bermanfaat,thank you for sharing good luck Mr

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Another couple of weeks and my Ficus go outside and face the same process you have just brilliantly described. Well put together Adam :)

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Xavier! I have never put mine outside 😀

[@BlueJayBonsai]

I am covered in snow here! I can't even start to think about my ficus outside yet!

[@jazzrat2000]

I love that you make pots out of things that aren't pots. I have a little set of diamond drills I bought from China that cost me about $5 and they work great. I've never tried to air layer, but I think I'm going to. I have so many ficus trees in my yard! I use a sieve on my bonsai soil to make soil for mame. I had doubts that using a small grain of soil would give good drainage but I have tiny little pots that are two inches across filled with this and they drain fine. And seeing you use smaller grit just sealed the deal for me. Thanks!

[@notionbonsai]

Why not recycle when we can! Especially if it is just for training trees in! 🌳🌿 Fine grit works a lot better on Mame i found!

[@jazzrat2000]

It's raining so hard today I can't go out and work. Watching you work is a pretty good substitute and it always turns out better than when I do it. :)

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Adam you beaten me to it mate I’m doing the same to mine this weekend. Great video I look forward to the results mate 👊👊👊👊👊👊

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Andy! Your video was a great watch!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

@@notionbonsai thanks Adam 👊👊👊

[@annepahler8726]

Thank you. I was just thinking of repotting my ficus today. As I am new to bonsai, this tutorial was very heplful.

[@notionbonsai]

Ahh nice one! I hope your repot goes well! What ficus do you have? 🤗🤗

[@annepahler8726]

@@notionbonsai , it's a benjamina I received as a gift last year. Three weeks ago I my first styling and now I would like to transfer it to a larger pot.

[@VoidloniXaarii]

This was very educational, thank you! ❤

[@percymichaud8003]

You have now inspired me to go small, I love your Ficus Bonsai trees and I will move towards that.

[@notionbonsai]

Aw nice one!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thumbs up Adam!!!!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Nigel!! 🤗🌳

[@MrJeetro]

Hello, all you awesome people! I live in Norway and I really struggle with getting hold of a hormone powder that actually work. It seems like nobody ships stuff like this to Norway. Any tips are welcome! And Adam, thank you so much for all your informative and motivational videos!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey MrJeeto! I ordered mine off of Ebay though you might be able to get some directly from bonsai nursery sites! Thank you for the kind words 🤗🌳

[@davidstokes925]

Awesome video!😊

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much David!

[@jakesnelling8331]

No colourful jumpers today? I have three ginseng, and I'm still not a fan of the bulbous roots... I chopped mine right down so there is only a tiny bit poking out of the soil. All of mine are shohin or mame size. Do you know if, by airlayering, the bulbous roots come back? Great video again 👏

[@D.Fay_Coe]

I love that little mame. very aesthetic and cute. pleasant to look at. very calming.

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you! 😊

[@BonsaiForRoman]

Good explanation. During the time I discovered that if you leave upper part of air layer coverage open it will support roots to get oxygen from top, and it also makes watering esier. I will publish this stuff in April, feedback will be very appreciated.

[@notionbonsai]

Ahh nice one! Thank you for this advice!

[@TheKippBot]

Hey Adam! Love your content - you’ve inspired me to re-engage my love for bonsai! Quick Q: What cutting putty do you use?

[@notionbonsai]

I am so glad!! 😀 The brand of putty i use is called KIKUWA

[@mikec3820]

nice work adam. 2 words "nano mame" lol

[@notionbonsai]

I like that haha!

[@danielfonseca5007]

To avoid the fidgeting an trickiness, tie the bottom first with a zip tie, then you'll have a sort of cone and fill up from the top. Then zip tie at the top. So much easier than wire

[@notionbonsai]

Such great advice!!

[@HILDACRAFTY]

Enjoyed your content. Thankyou for explaining so well😊

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

Thank you i yake slot in with your lessons

[@notionbonsai]

Hi Janet!

[@BenshobbyStuff]

very nicely done young sir.. :)

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks!

[@BenshobbyStuff]

@@notionbonsai just stumbled on your channel :) so im having a good watch. youre doing brilliant young man. keep up the good work. been growing for over 30 years now :) save up and get some japanese tools is what i did and found a huge difference even from a cheap business. been potting up ficus retusa cuttings all morning that have rooted so quite excited to see how they turn out :) oh and i subbed :)

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

Enjoyed it

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! Glad you enjoyed 🤗

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

I bought a focus. It has a root coming out of trunk and went down into soil and created two new tiny trees. What do I do with them? Cut off? Or leave alone?

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

Lovely

[@thierry.9321]

Salut. Merci pour cette vidéo. Malheureusement j'ai manqué le live, mais je regarde en Replay! 🙏

[@notionbonsai]

Salut! Pas de souci, je suis content que tu puisses quand même regarder la vidéo en Replay! Merci beaucoup pour ton soutien! 🌳😁

[@davidfleming1395]

Thanks for a great video, but how do you thicking the trunk thanks😮

[@scottschultzcsp]

Thanks for your channel! I am new to Bonsai, so this is an amazing learning experience. I recently purchased a small Ficus B from Home Depot, cleared the root ball, re-potted the two plants together. They are in an indirect lighting situation, but have started dropping leaves like crazy about three weeks in. Is this normal?

[@kjdubs5877]

My ficus ginseng (clipping) has two small/new leaves and one big one from the branch that was already there. I pruned the big leaf off and misted it. I have since dried the leaves because I don't want it to burn. Am I killing it by removing that big leaf?

[@zimmy1958]

Thanks.

[@danielfonseca5007]

Nice update

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Daniel!

[@the3milestitcher]

Hi, another great video. I've been looking at bonsai tools because I would prefer some nice ones. The brand 'Ryuga' looks pretty sturdy but I wonder if you are aware of this brand and if so, do you think the tools would be suitable. I found the tools on ebay and I think I could get all the tools by this brand. As an example I found a Ryuga Bonsai 160mm Stainless Steel Bonsai Wire Scissor for £22.

[@forrestcrabbe]

Y'all have a badass day 🤘🍻🤘

[@Carahobibonsai]

Indonesia ❤ i like bonsai is the best

[@googleboy7530]

Are the blue rocks zeolite? Nice video btw!! I love how the mame ficus turned out

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! Yes they are Zeolite 🤗 Thanks Google Boy!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

👍

[@notionbonsai]

🤗🤗

[@BonsaiForRoman]

I am also using zeolite in my substrate. And I see very good results in the roots. Did you see some improvements after adding it ?

[@notionbonsai]

I definitely noticed a difference. Zeolite is like a superhero for roots-it improves soil structure, keeps moisture locked in, and gives plants the nutrients they need to thrive. I reckon the secret sauce is due to the high cation exchange capacity of it - its ability to soak up and slowly release potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all crucial for root growth. 🌱

[@BonsaiForRoman]

I agree@@notionbonsai

[@jmarshal]

What happens to the bottom of the ficus ginseng after layering the top graft? I didn’t even know they were grafted! They’re so difficult to get here in Australia.

[@notionbonsai]

I got rid of the bottom half after air layering it off!

[@ppptriplep6114]

At what time of the year can i do the root work, repotting, branch cutting and airlayering?

[@notionbonsai]

Early Spring is a good time, just before they push out new growth. You can prune ficus right through the growing season, personally I wouldnt prune them any more than 2x per year. Once at spring and again in mid summer.

[@ppptriplep6114]

​@@notionbonsai thank you for your reply. I just bought a second ficus ginseng to try the air layering. Looks like i need to wait for next spring to try it out. 😌

[@dianasalazar2767]

I just bought a bonsai tree… I don’t have the heart to cut it he’s growing a bunch of leaves ❤😢

[@Krisz-nm1zv]

Hi Adam! You always flush with tap water?

[@notionbonsai]

@Krisz-nm1zv sometimes yes for me here it is fine! I got a water analysis from my local water company. Though if you are worried I would advise using rain water 😁

[@Krisz-nm1zv]

@@notionbonsai Thanks👍

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@notionbonsai]

😄

[@jazzrat2000]

ps How about using plastic toothpicks to hook the trees together?

[@notionbonsai]

I think just wrapping wire around them would have done the trick!

[@thome4229]

I like your Videos, but the pot ...🤢🤢🤢

[@notionbonsai]

Can always be changed 🙂For now it is just for training 🤗

[@deus5185]

[@notionbonsai]

😁🌳