DIY: Ficus Bonsai – Bonsai Empire

In this weblog post we’ll picture the ultimate formula to assign stunning Bonsai out of humble, mass-produced Ficus bushes.

The Ficus is by a long way basically the most standard tree chosen by learners, because it grows successfully indoors. Most bushes sold as Ficus Bonsai on the other hand have glaring flaws that had been created for the length of the short pattern of these bushes. They are as soon as in some time propagated in huge nurseries in China, the set hundreds creep is created in young trunks, and then they are left to develop out several meters gargantuan to thicken the trunks swiftly. A 365 days later the trunks are chopped back to assign tiny bushes, and young shoots are selected to form the fresh branches. This outcomes in tiny, thick trunked Ficus bushes, with a huge spoil on the terminate of the trunk and about a undeveloped branches. One term aged by skilled bonsai growers for these bushes is ‘Malsai’.

For learners on the artwork of Bonsai on the other hand, these bushes are huge; they are robust, also will seemingly be kept within the lounge, develop like a flash and are rather cheap. But even for the intermediate to excellent bonsai enthusiasts, these bushes is fundamentally a source of low-budget topic cloth to manufacture huge bonsai. In this text we’ll point out the ultimate formula to make a subtle Bonsai out of an affordable imported Ficus tree. It all started with inserting the Ficus tree in a big container and let it develop out unimpeded for 1-2 years. This scheme, we make the branches and ensure the tree is healthy earlier than we beginning up working on it.

Ficus Bonsai tree
The Ficus tree earlier than styling in plunge.
Ficus Bonsai tree
After styling (describe taken about one 365 days later).

Video of styling the Ficus retusa Bonsai

The styling steps outlined

After shopping the Ficus tree, we placed it in a big container and let it develop unimpeded for 1-2 years time. This scheme the branches would possibly possibly presumably well make and thicken, and the tree’s health became as soon as ensured. The steps below picture the progression of the tree over about one 365 days time – so the total time desired to make the tree to the terminate result proven here became as soon as easiest about 2 years time.

Ficus Bonsai tree
Pruning begins. Witness how after making a lower straight the wounds are covered with white sap.
Ficus Bonsai tree
Pruning thick branches back to younger express, which will seemingly be extra versatile and usable in our supposed originate.
Ficus Bonsai tree
Scaling down the Apex of the Ficus bonsai, as correct now the apex is amazingly fat and overgrown.
Ficus Bonsai tree
Pruning is accomplished, though the tree looks grand nicer now, we’ll must wire it to be able to form its branches in ingredient.
Ficus Bonsai tree
The usage of a man-wire we bring down this thick department. The department peaceable wants to make over time to become basically the most foremost directional department of the Bonsai.
Ficus Bonsai tree
Subsequent we ingredient wire the final Ficus Bonsai. The wire will stop on unless it nearly begins to chew into the bark, presumably about 6 months.
Ficus Bonsai tree
Six months later we repot the tree in early spring. Now we have furthermore removed the wire from the branches.
Ficus Bonsai tree
We prune the roots to suit the tree in its fresh, tiny, bonsai pot. The pot is no longer specifically huge, however it indubitably is a pleasant match for the tree. Within the waste we’ll take hold of a better container for this tree.
Ficus Bonsai tree
The usage of a chopstick we work within the soil. Guaranteeing no air pockets remain is wanted for the health of the tree.

Aftercare and subsequent steps

Although the silhouette of the tree has improved critically, the tree peaceable wants to be sophisticated over time. Most critically, we’ll prune the tree regularly (about as soon as a month for the length of spring til plunge). Within the waste we would furthermore take care of to residing it in a grand nicer Bonsai pot.

Ficus Bonsai tree
The Ficus Bonsai three months after repotting, after a like a flash neat in leisurely Spring.

For extra knowledge about Ficus Bonsai care take a look at our web field. Be particular to subscribe to our YouTube channel to scrutinize future updates of this tree!

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