Styling Ficus Bonsai - Ficus Macrocarpa

In this video Terry Erasmus continues the development of a ficus macrocarpa which he bought from an enthusiast in South Africa. He defoliates the tree, prunes and then wires it.
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Featured in this video:
Trimming scissors: www.bonsaitree...
Branch cutter: www.bonsaitree...
Wire cutter: www.bonsaitree...
Aluminium wire: www.bonsaitree...
Wire caddy: www.bonsaitree...
Green-T Table: www.bonsaitree...
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[@TheBonsaiZone]

What a cool tree, lots of character on the trunk!!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Nigel! Much appreciated Sir.

[@alfredoespino9026]

Please show us MORE ficus Terry. Thanks a lot. Cheers!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Sure thing!

[@ignaziod5372]

Wow what a beautiful magnificent ficus! Terry you're an artist!❤

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

You are too kind, thank you so much for the generous compliment. I agree though that it is a beautiful tree.

[@scottbredin2882]

Thanks

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Scott, you are the first person from my own country to thank me with a donation to the best of my recollection. This action of yours means much more to me than you will ever know.

[@retorox1481]

Beautiful trunk.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks, I agree. It’s the best feature!

[@amess2248]

It would be nice to see a garden tour video of all your trees and updates on projects that you’ve been working on.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you for the suggestion. Many people have asked about a garden tour but I’m afraid not yet. I do occasionally post a collection of updates on a video. Will do it again some time.

[@nathanbunney705]

We love your videos in Australia as we have the same season times. It’s good you describe season type and give the dates. It makes it harder to work out the seasons from the northern hemisphere videos. Great work Terry

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Nathan. Appreciate that feedback very much. Yes, I know, I have the same problem when I am trying to “convert” seasons from Japan. Plus I think your climate (well depending on where in Australia I would guess) is similar to what I have in Cape Town. Thanks for watching. Really appreciate it.

[@yacineaberkane1009]

Thank you Terry ! Very pleasant to watch as usual!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you 🙏🏻 so much!

[@grahamleonard8060]

A cool tree Terry!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much my friend. 🙇🏼‍♂️

[@hassimgora]

Beautifully proportioned tree. Under your expert hands, this tree can only get better with time. ❤

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Gora! ☺️

[@DerStiglitz]

Very nice work 👍🏼

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much 🙇🏼‍♂️

[@edumoretti6723]

Linda figueira. Parabéns e grato por compartilhar seu conhecimento, Terry.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your compliment

[@G.M..]

Beautiful tree 👍🏽

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you kindly!

[@egoebonsai37]

Nice ficur microcarpa bonsai tree Sir. Good Job. I am appretiate for your acitvity n hobby. Greetingbone hobby bonsai from Indonesia.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much for confirming the species! And I appreciate you watching. Greetings to you in Indonesia, make wonderful bonsai.

[@TOMSAI]

Wow that is an Amazing Tree . Thx for showing us ! It was very intresting 👍

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

My pleasure, thanks so much for watching!

[@oussamachaachoui3727]

Thank you Thierry gor the video Nice tree and beautiful work like always 👏👏👏👏

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Most kind of you to say Oussama. 😂

[@alfredoespino9026]

Thanks a lot Terry 🙂

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for watching Alfredo.

[@geraldrandall1566]

Nice tree Terry

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Very kind of you Gerald. Thanks for commenting.

[@scottbredin2882]

Lekker tree with great potential! The video is an excellent guide to styling ficus bonsai

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Scott. That’s very kind of you to say!

[@mvlameiras]

Planta e trabalho notáveis...Parabéns e mais sucesso pro canal !

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that very much. 🙏🏻

[@TheBonsaiCreator_Krish]

Beautiful ficus bonsai. New subscriber here

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks and welcome! 🙏🏻

[@antwonevis5249]

Hi Terry, amazing tree, and beautiful work, can't wait to see this tree when it's ready for show! I was wonder if you have any videos on our lovely kan nie dood trees 😅 I have one now but I've never had any information regarding them.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you kindly for your compliments! Actually I don’t grow that species so I cannot give advice. I am sorry.

[@antwonevis5249]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai my pleasure! Ah damn, thank you anyway, I'll try joining a club and maybe asking around there.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@antwonevis5249 a club would be a good idea or at least meeting up with someone at the club who lives near you and would be willing to share their knowledge and experience with you.

[@moniqueverhelst7278]

I like your explication! Well done 👍

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Monique! That feedback is appreciated. 🙌🏻

[@gurkhasbonsai.7093]

Great love From Nepal❤❤❤ Master

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

You are very kind, thank you 🙏🏻

[@KennetDeBondt]

Great work, great tree!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Ahhhh thanks so much Kennet! 🙏🏻

[@rin7074]

great video, in my experience with these types of Ficus is although thinner wire can be used to get the desired shape, it bites extremely fast, i like to use afew sizes larger than required. It doesn't seem to bite in quite as fast.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for sharing! If using thick wire though, how do you prevent damaging the branch when applying it?

[@rin7074]

@TerryErasmusbonsai oddly enough I don't experience the damaging like I would on a maple

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@rin7074 ok. Thanks!

[@thebonsaiarea]

beautiful tree, beautiful strong trunk

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

It is isn’t it! Thanks so much for your kind words 🙇🏼‍♂️

[@vlozity]

We call it a Balete tree locally, it grows everywhere, creeks, riverbanks, cracks on cement walls, etc. It is a very hardy tree and can take so much abuse here in the tropics. Birds usually eat their berries which is the reason it grows everywhere. I am not a real fan of this tigerbark variety (Ficus microcarpa), just because it is so common here... I do love a specific variety which we call "Red Balete" (Ficus virens), usually we defoliate them during the months of December and when they start growing the juvenile leaves have a beautiful red color.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much for sharing that information, I appreciate it very much. I have not heard of 'virens' but it sounds awesome!

[@TreeVibes]

Is it ficus microcarpa or macrocarpa?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Good question. I believe it to be microcarpa but am not certain.

[@TreeVibes]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai i think it's definitely a microcarpa

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@TreeVibes thanks for confirming. I was also of that opinion and I appreciate your vote on that too!

[@jameslangschied7900]

Ficus microcarpa "green island."

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much James!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Foist!!

[@ignaziod5372]

😂

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Nigel! Seems I need to change the timing of my video launches to give others a chance to be "foist"!

[@billrayner8611]

Thanks

[@billrayner8611]

A lot of bonsai tutorials and books mention to maintain the structure of a tree after pruning , I should Leave the wire on for 2 seasons or so. Some trees, my junipers grow vigorously so wire bite becomes very deep. Is it standard practice to rewire annually ? In the northern hemisphere where I am now, it is advised to wire in winter because the bark is harder. Your advice please.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much Bill, it’s greatly appreciated sir.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks I’ll for the great question. I have wired old pines and the wire has remained for several years without biting on but growth is being controlled. Young pines which are growing vigorously will develop wire bite much faster. Yes you generally need to wire a branch several times before it remains in position, that is with conifers anyways. Deciduous not. Wiring in winter dormancy can be problematic as micro breaks occur when you bend and as there is little sap flow you could end up losing the branch. I find it better to wire between growth spurts, so summer. With pines it’s after the spring needles have matured. With junipers it’s even the spring growth has changed from vibrant green to the more mature foliage colour of that tree. Wiring loosely is not a good strategy, but wiring too tight will result in having to remove the wire faster. What I would suggest however is when you remove wire from a tree, only remove the wire which is biting in, not the wire which is not causing any issues. Usually this means you will be removing wire from the ends of branches but not on the structural portions at first as they thicken at a slower pace. Hope that helps, keep well my friend