Watch the Magic Happen: Ficus Bonsai Transformation Like Never Before

[@helland11]

I wonder if you could make a crash course for ficus, similar as you did for black pines :). Thanks!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

A very cool tree Josh! Looking forward to more videos with the Ficus!

[@BonsaiEn]

Who would have thought I'd be working on a ficus, but it will be a nice tree once day and I can appreciate material with potential when I see it.

[@andreasp6694]

A long way to become a FrankenFicus... ;-) This tree really seems to have plenty potential!

[@shahnawazhassan9775]

Very nice description I have got. Thanks

[@DarthArkady]

You're right it's stunning tachiagari! I love ficus, is my first tree and it's always a pleasure look at you while working. Thank you for that video and for the knowledge you are sharing with us

[@cyndy338]

Nicely done! Good wishes from Florida!🌴🐊🦩😎

[@joshwolf6512]

Love the bonsai relief style 100% .. also I feel like the ficus is the one people need the most guidance with .. it’s hard to find information on how to make them look amazing compared to say a juniper so please keep it up I have three of these now most from family giving up on them and passing them off as they have no bonsai experience.. so wouldn’t mind a bit more tips to help them get to the same level as junipers .. mostly defoliation of leafs to make them smaller and how to shape them .. trunk thickness is really easy so I see potential but I just hate how big the leafs are and how they don’t catch the eye

[@BonsaiEn]

Cheers mate, we have been doing this style since we started, you can see it back in our earlier video and in most of the andrew edge videos. im just getting better as we go on and learning new things all the time.

[@benauber9921]

I remember saying my first ficus was going to be my only ficus… was like 5 ficus ago! Great video

[@TropicalBonsai]

Nice work. I’ve never had any problem pruning ficus in summer with sap bleed out.

[@CUTESTKITSANDCATS]

Beautiful

[@Blaydrnnnr]

Great Ficus. Such massive nebari. Makes my Benjimina look like such a baby, even though I've had it for over a decade...I also have a Ficus Salicifolia ( salicaria ) LOL I know its personal preference, but I always use raffia when using guide wires. Especially on a Ficus, where the bark can grow over so quickly, as you mentioned. I like your technique. Very elegant. Great vid, thanks again.

[@jacktaylor6190]

Now that one will be a great looking bonsai one day, look forward to the progress on this one. My 2 cents another pot please when you repot.

[@gaetanozammit4824]

This is my favourite bonsai channel, keep it up lad!

[@BonsaiEn]

Thank you for your support!

[@nickkarlsons673]

Beautiful artwork

[@planterbanter]

Great progress made on the video, and great editing!

[@BonsaiEn]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@TOMSAI]

Very nice Work ! 👍 Good Job

[@1carlosguitar]

I have the same focus upright. When is the best time to defoliate for smaller leaves? And to trip down branches for more compact look? Is currently in a green house for winter temperature over 70 Fahrenheit

[@tuhinpodder9399]

Thanks for the nice video. What is the black paste you applied after cutting the branches.

[@josiehardy6988]

Just a thought, but have you considered cutting the two outside trunks and just leave the middle trunk, making it a single trunk tree. It might leave to big of scars though. Then again it might be my amateur showing, maybe that's my issue i don't think outside of the box enough. Either way amazing tree and thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@wadmadhushan4434]

Very nice. Super

[@helland11]

Amazing video. Thanks! I wonder if ficus Benjamin requires winter dormancy time?

[@BonsaiEn]

No, this is a tropical species. It doesn't like temperatures under 5c. If you live in a cold environment you would need some winter protection for the tree.

[@helland11]

@@BonsaiEn I was told that they still need to have dormancy period with +15, in order to grow better during the next season. However my problem with that is that I don't see how to achieve it in a climate I have (Stockholm), the thing is that during the winter we have a hitted flat, and there is +21 - +21 in the flat, and I don't see how to achieve +15.

[@shaneallen3502]

Forgot to ask Josh, what is the music score behind this video, it is amazing!

[@jarrenp6396]

Great video Josh, thanks mate! How long will you leave those guy wires on for now? Will you remove them in spring before the next flush or wait longer? Also, putty vs cut paste? Thanks again

[@BonsaiEn]

The guy wires will remain until the branch feels as though it has set which will likely be the end of spring. im not worried about them as the branch has room to grow inside the loop that is around the branch which is why i chose the guy wires instead of wiring as the wire will bite in way too quick. With the putty vs paste it depends what your application is, they both have different uses.

[@creightonfreeman8059]

On the left-most trunk there is an odd notch towards the bottom that looks like reverse taper. From the back you can't see it though. Perhaps another angle for the front? Or perhaps a graft below the notch could thicken up the trunk down there....or at least eventually hide it. Do you have ideas for it?

[@BonsaiEn]

Yeah that is where part of the root / trunk had rotted away, I am planning on carving that section to take that reverse taper out.

[@DFBONSAI]

Woww 😍😍😍

[@Matt6644]

Do you worry about wire bite with the guy wires? could you spread the load by putting some mesh between the branch and wire to spread the load or is this not needed?

[@BonsaiEn]

The use of guy wire actually reduces thr amount of wire bite as there is enough room for the branch to grow in the loop, also this method actually spreads the load across the entire branch although with ficus this isn't really an issue, I use it a lot on natives that are very fragile. You need to watch you don't make arching gental curved though, we call them tea cup handles, they look terrible on bonsai.

[@1Mutton1]

Looks very old. Amazing textures. I wish it was a twin trunk though - there is somthings slightly off-putting about the symmetry of a triple

[@spencer5082]

I'm REALLY curious how much a tree like this is worth? Reason being is I own one very similar. It was found at my work, "out back"! A woman that worked there 10yrs ago had two of them going then she left. Someone put them out back where the AC Condensation dripped on them to keep them watered and wow they got big like this! They definitely need work but have a very similar trunk.

[@BonsaiEn]

what its worth can vary Widley depending on lots of factors so its never easy to give an evaluation unless you are standing in front of the tree.

[@KairosOrenda]

Bro.......forget all about the 2nd and 3rd far left, and far right trunks. Theres a great tapered single trunk design hidden in the middle. Then remove that straight root to shoot slightly left of center. Theres a beautiful hidden highly tapered pig in there.

[@sandaruwanpathirana-uf9qq]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😮