Ficus Bonsai Care - Pruning In Autumn 🌱

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Good cuts on the Ficus Adam!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Nigel!! You are an expert on the Ficus, this means a lot 😊

[@NobodyRides]

The best beginners and advanced channel! Thank you Adam.

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks so much! 😊🌿🪴I like to share information that I think is useful!

[@retorox1481]

Hi Adam. Thanks for the Upload.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks for watching! 😊

[@norWindChannel]

The idea of using mesh tape for drainage screen is BRILLIANT! I will use that from now on.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks! I am glad that you found my video helpful!

[@norWindChannel]

@notionbonsai Is it the kind of tape you would use for reinforcement of plastered corners etc.?

[@kraytwinsmanor]

Great tutorial as always. Appreciate your passion, Adam!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks so much! 😊🪴🌿

[@danielsickelmore]

Adam, your journey is just getting better and better! 🙌🏻 I can see you writing a book one day and becoming a real inspiration and influential person in the bonsai community.

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you very much for the kind words Daniel! 😊

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Your videos never disappoint Adam!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Raymond!

[@n8tyler]

Excellent tool cleaning tip Adam...Great video, always enjoy your work, narration and tips...Thanks for Sharing...Sequim, Wa...

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Nathan! It is surprising how long one of them little crean mates last! I have the same one 2 years and it is barely worn down!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Good to see you showing how easy it is to prune and develop Ficus. I'm just about to hit mine as well so nice remider for me. Cheers :)

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Xavier! I love how fast they grow all year! I will look forward to your video on yours too!

[@meenaxisanga]

Thank you for giving complete information about ficus plant. Every leaf of this plant looks very beautiful and this plant is very beautiful to look at.

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you so much for watching! 😊 Do you have some ficus trees?

[@AlexPurds]

Amazing as always Adam, great vid! The shop is class too :)

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much Alex! I want to keep improving the shop so if there are any products you want to see let me know!

[@AlexPurds]

@@notionbonsai it might not be something youd be able to add sham, but whats your reccomendations for the best tool sharpener?

[@harrietb2141]

Hi Adam.Nice to see you again.Thank you😍🌳

[@notionbonsai]

Hi Harriet!! 😊🪴🌿

[@ConnieP-gs2sb]

Thanks!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thank you so much for your support! 😊🪴❤️

[@JeeJubee]

Very sweet videos. Love your energy.

[@notionbonsai]

Aw thanks so much 😊🪴

[@rubenfernandoseco9638]

Tus trabajos son espectaculares!! Un saludo desde Argentina!!

[@notionbonsai]

Muchísimas gracias!! Me alegra mucho que te gusten los trabajos. Un saludo enorme hasta Argentina y gracias por el apoyo.

[@Lonewolfcpb]

Many thanks for the info. Keep up the great work and the lessons👍🏼😁

[@Rojin_Bonsai_Studio]

Fantastic video as allways. That rooting gel looks like some good stuff 👌

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much Callan! 😊🪴

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video Adam

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Andy! 🪴

[@robstanley559]

Great video Adam thanks! Do you use supplementary lighting when keeping your Ficus indoors? I don’t have a south facing window, so I have always been put off keeping a tree indoors. I’m hoping with additional lighting I can still enjoy something growing while I wait spring to come.

[@haynes10101]

Great video as always! You don't happen to know who made the bonsai pot @11:06?

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! This was just a cheap pot from a "grow your own bonsai from seed" kit 🪴It is cheap but I thought it was pretty!

[@Al15YEO]

This is very nice

[@notionbonsai]

😊

[@lesleyholmes6724]

Love watching your videos. They are clear and informative. You asked for questions. I have one for you. I was given a ginseng bonsai with another ficus grafted to it. The ginseng portion is basically two bulbous roots around 6cm long and the trunk of the grafted tree is around 1cm before it branches into twin trunks. I have worked on the canapy and it has a dome shape with some nice ramification however the roots look awful. How can I minimise or even get rid of the ginseng portion of the tree?

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! Yes this is totally possible and I have done this in a previous video 😊 To reduce the ginseng roots you can attempt an air-layering technique on the upper trunk of the ficus, just above where the bulbous roots are most prominent. Once the new roots form above the ginseng portion, you can eventually remove the original bulbous roots, allowing you to retain the structure you've cultivated in the canopy while minimizing the prominence of the lower section. Air-layering might take a few months, especially with ficus, so be patient and ensure consistent moisture around the air-layered section. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5bZkqyGbraKmNk

[@lesleyholmes6724]

Thanks. I will look for your video. Keep going!

[@joshuamcgrath3978]

Hi Adam mate, could I ask a question about another tree species, apologies it's not all that relevant to this video. Where did you source your cedar of Lebanon from? I watched a video the other day of you and Atilla working on one and I'm super inspired!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey no worries Joshua! I love all Bonsai question 😊 This cedar was bought by Attila at at a garden centre in Dublin!

[@joshuamcgrath3978]

Thank you for the reply. Good to know they're readily available at garden centres, feel a little silly requesting! Enjoy your videos, you have a real talent for explaining and demonstrating techniques.

[@SultonBonsai]

Nice...

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks!

[@Lonewolfcpb]

I sent you a message on your website regarding winter tree wash and not heard from you so not sure if you are receiving the messages or not. My question was, what winter tree wash would you recommend please. I am a complete beginner and need some guidance please?

[@notionbonsai]

Hi! Personally, I use a diluted solution of lime sulphur (20:1) on my trees!

[@notionbonsai]

This is a useful video where I cover everything you need to know for overwintering bonsai 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYiphpd_orScl5I

[@TheBugB]

Nice

[@davidruiuz4186]

Wonderful video, easy to understand and great for beginners like me as well as for the more advanced. Thank you

[@dahlmasen3084]

Nice one! I got a few ficus🪴 But… autumn? It’s winter in Sweden now😂 Currently -1°C⛄️

[@notionbonsai]

Oh nice! Some of my trees here are still green and pushing new growth! It has been a very mild autumn for us here! Do you have snow? ❄️

[@dahlmasen3084]

@ Yeah been a mild autumn for us aswell! It’s been snowing a little bit in a few nights now but it’s melting during the days again😁

[@maryweber4176]

I'm assuming I can do the same to a ginseng ficus now?

[@maryweber4176]

Including defoliating it?

[@notionbonsai]

It is important that the tree is strong and healthy before doing any defoliation 😊

[@JuanjoBalones1]

A little tip for when you fully defoliate a ficus: make sure to also cut the growing tips of the branches, cause the tree may just decide to not ramify and keep growing from the tip left. And that will ruin the aesthetic of it for some time.

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you for this amazing tip! 🪴🌿I will have to do this on some of the branches when I work on longer shoots! I suppose this could be used to our advantage if you defoliate, then leave the growing tip in order to get more branch elongation for a thicker trunk!

[@grahammorris1997]

I've found that removing all the leaves from a ficus Benjamin results in the branch dying. Just saying, that's my experience. I've been growing one from a cutting for 30 years. It always happens if I remove all the foliage.

[@JuanjoBalones1]

@@grahammorris1997 this maybe because you only defoliated a branch, not the entire tree; also you've got to make sure that the tree is in very good health, otherwise it will dry some branches or wither entirely. Finally if you defoliate, do it in the growing season when the tree (in this case a tropical speecies) is active.

[@grahammorris1997]

@@JuanjoBalones1 Wouldn't disagree with your reasoning. I've been growing mine for over 30 years and never felt the need to fully defoliate it, only branch prune. It's in good health. Don't think I can post a pic here to show you.

[@Al15YEO]

Hello there

[@notionbonsai]

Hey!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@notionbonsai]

🪴😊✨

[@RABonsai]

There is absolutely no reason to do that now - if you live in the northen hemisphere, and especialy on such juvenile pre bonsai trees. You can go wild in the spring. Don't prune your ficus in the fall. You will just rob it from it's sollar pannels that struggle to get as little light they can in the winter. Also you need to work a little bit more on your substrate and repotting. That first tree did not need a repot and those roots are not yet proper bonsai roots.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thank you for the tips! I will probably prune these trees again come spring. The tree I defoliated has already began to push out lots of healthy new leaves🌿 I repotted the first tree as it only had two big winding roots and I wanted to place it into a larger pot for better Nebari development. By pruning it, this allows for more root sub-divisions and a better Nebari in time. I have found that Ficus can be pruned at any time of the year as they do not go dormant. Even indoors for me because of the artificial lighting in my kitchen, they grow strong even at this time 😊This substrate of pumice, akadama and lava rock gives me lots of healthy root growth for my growing conditions🪴

[@jimbosmith123]

Completely agree, once it hits Autumn/winter I leave them alone to grow as much as they can and do all my repots and defoliation summer. Good to see a update in spring to see if they put on much growth

[@Benw3790]

I agree with all of the above.

[@RABonsai]

​@@notionbonsai Yes it can be pruned anytime but should you? Bonsai is made in stages and defoliation is not a good ideea in the early stages. You can do what ever you want, but they will grow slower. When they are young, the bigger the leaves, the better the growth and the faster they thicken up.

[@notionbonsai]

@@RABonsai You are totally right! If your goal is to thicken the trunk or grow the tree faster, letting it grow freely with more foliage will do this faster. On the other hand, if you want to shape the tree or keep it small, pruning regularly might be necessary. In my case with these trees, I would like them to have drastic taper and movement with a more coarse look to them. The key is knowing what you want to achieve and using pruning at the right time to support that goal. Sometimes it’s better to let the tree grow, and other times, pruning is essential for the design you have in mind 🪴😊

[@grahammorris1997]

To remove sap from bonsai tools I use a10% solution of potassium hydroxide applied with an atomiser spray. The sap turns brown and softens almost immediately. After 30-60 seconds wipe it off with paper tissue followed by a wipe with a damp cloth, then wipe dry. This eliminates the need to use abrasives which can blunt the blade. A word of caution ; the solution is caustic so avoid getting it on yourself. It works fine with steel or ferrous metals, but will dissolve non ferrous metals such as copper, tin, aluminium, zinc.

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks for the tip! I am not sure I want to work with such a strong chemical 😅

[@grahammorris1997]

@@notionbonsai Fair enough, but if you take precautions it's well worth it. It's a very fast process compared to using abrasives. Each to their own though.

[@notionbonsai]

@@grahammorris1997 I may give it a go sometime! (with gloves lol)

[@cukuberes]

I notice that if i cut my trees after october ,they just start to drop leaves. I gues its because of strees

[@notionbonsai]

Indeed this can happen from stress. Is this with Ficus?

[@cukuberes]

@notionbonsai yes. I have 3 tigerbark ,but only one doing this leave drop after pruning.

[@notionbonsai]

@cukuberes This may be a weak tree. I would not prune for a while now until it recovers fully. Check the roots to make sure they are healthy also!

[@cukuberes]

@@notionbonsai interesting that this tree is the one with realy good growing. Its realy vigorous grower.

[@rishayraj4125]

bro the pot was filled with rocks and still the plant was healthy

[@notionbonsai]

Yes! The potting mix I use is a mix of pumice, akadama and lava rock. These allow for some moisture retention and aeration so the roots can actually grow faster, better and more healthy than placing them into something like compost!

[@HellcrushPlays]

Bump

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks!!

[@Kristinytree]

Thanks!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey Kristinytree 😄 Thank you so much for your support 🙂🌳❤️