Just got my first ficus today. Never messed with a bonsai before and the lady at the nursery said they are forgiving. took quite a bit off, Hope she lives!!!
+Mafiameowr they are pretty tough plants and can handle a hard prune. Just make sure it has plenty of light after you prune it. Summer is a good time to prune it.
Thanks for the advice. Ill be putting it outside tomorrow after the rain stops. Already watered it and don't wanna drown it on its first day haha. Or do you think I should let it stay in a bright window for now? figured a little of both wouldn't hurt it too much.
It depends where you live, for example I live in Scotland where its always too cold outside for them. Its probably best to keep it where it is for now, and let it adapt after its pruning. Its always best not to do more than one change in a short period of time, otherwise it shocks the plant. Once its put on some new growth after being pruned and has settled down then it can cope with a change in environment.
It took mine about a year, when it gets plenty of warmth and sunlight it grows pretty quickly. Yours is a different species, mine is Ficus benjamina, so yours may grow a little slower. Its very normal for Ficus microcarpa to have a very thick trunk with thin stems on top as this is the fastest way to create the bonsai affect. But with training you can make it look more natural and like an ancient tree. Ficus microcarpa grows a fat trunk fairly easily.
I haven't defoliated or pruned this plant since this video, I've been letting it grow a lot in order to thicken up its stems, but I have been doing a lot of wiring to get a good stem structure. I will probably prune it again in about a months time.
If you want to bonsai i ficus benjamina try looking for a "Ficus Benjamina (Natasha)" sometimes spelt (Natasja) This type of Benjamina has much smaller leaves already about half the size of those in this video and the internodes are shorter too. NEVER do a full defoliation on a Benjamina, you have to leave a few leaves on the branches otherwise the branches will die! If you remove all leaves the tree will die! (unlike a Ficus Microcarpa) Ficus Microcarpas / Tiger bark have smaller leaves then benjaminas too and they can handle a FULL defoliation as long as its in good health :)
It needs more root pruning and a feed lower in Nitrogen to reduce the leaf size. I'm currently encouraging strong growth to thicken up the stems, thats why the leaves are so large.
@@Mary-uo7pi It depends on how big the tree is, how big the pot is, what soil you are using and what place the tree is on. Keep it watered but not to wet. give the soil the chance to dry out a bit befor you water it again. In winter time better stay a bit on the dry side then to wet.
Came here trying learn how to print my Ficus, and you answered all my questions! Cheers brother
Thanks, I'm glad my video managed to answer all your questions. If you ever have anymore questions just leave a comment.
This was exactly what I was looking for, thank you so very much
Just got my first ficus today. Never messed with a bonsai before and the lady at the nursery said they are forgiving. took quite a bit off, Hope she lives!!!
+Mafiameowr they are pretty tough plants and can handle a hard prune. Just make sure it has plenty of light after you prune it. Summer is a good time to prune it.
Thanks for the advice. Ill be putting it outside tomorrow after the rain stops. Already watered it and don't wanna drown it on its first day haha. Or do you think I should let it stay in a bright window for now? figured a little of both wouldn't hurt it too much.
It depends where you live, for example I live in Scotland where its always too cold outside for them. Its probably best to keep it where it is for now, and let it adapt after its pruning. Its always best not to do more than one change in a short period of time, otherwise it shocks the plant. Once its put on some new growth after being pruned and has settled down then it can cope with a change in environment.
If you ever have cuttings available I would be happy to buy some from you!
How long does it take to grow to that size? I'm worried because the stem is so thick and its tiny. My label says ficus microcarpa ginseng
It took mine about a year, when it gets plenty of warmth and sunlight it grows pretty quickly. Yours is a different species, mine is Ficus benjamina, so yours may grow a little slower. Its very normal for Ficus microcarpa to have a very thick trunk with thin stems on top as this is the fastest way to create the bonsai affect. But with training you can make it look more natural and like an ancient tree. Ficus microcarpa grows a fat trunk fairly easily.
Looks goood! How long did you wait before you did another pruning and defoliation?
I haven't defoliated or pruned this plant since this video, I've been letting it grow a lot in order to thicken up its stems, but I have been doing a lot of wiring to get a good stem structure. I will probably prune it again in about a months time.
If you want to bonsai i ficus benjamina try looking for a "Ficus Benjamina (Natasha)" sometimes spelt (Natasja) This type of Benjamina has much smaller leaves already about half the size of those in this video and the internodes are shorter too.
NEVER do a full defoliation on a Benjamina, you have to leave a few leaves on the branches otherwise the branches will die!
If you remove all leaves the tree will die! (unlike a Ficus Microcarpa)
Ficus Microcarpas / Tiger bark have smaller leaves then benjaminas too and they can handle a FULL defoliation as long as its in good health :)
Is it ficus microcarpa?
Sorry not sorry, but this is kinda sloppy. I don’t have this exact species fo tree but it shouldn’t look like this at the end
Judging by the tree leaves, I don't think your tree was meant to be a bonsai... let it grow
It needs more root pruning and a feed lower in Nitrogen to reduce the leaf size. I'm currently encouraging strong growth to thicken up the stems, thats why the leaves are so large.
Bad work.
Hi just wanted to know why are the leafs of my tree falling off
@@Mary-uo7pi Ficus? That's normal in this time of the year. Don't worry. Just wait for the spring growth! ;)
How often do i water my ficus tree
@@Mary-uo7pi It depends on how big the tree is, how big the pot is, what soil you are using and what place the tree is on. Keep it watered but not to wet. give the soil the chance to dry out a bit befor you water it again. In winter time better stay a bit on the dry side then to wet.
@@Mary-uo7pi Use your finger and dig about 1 cm into the soil... if its damp, leave it! If its dry water it :)