Eric’s back with his mass market Golden Gate Ficus that he first shared last year in two videos (Trimming and Wiring https://youtu.be/r5K10lud4qo and Unwiring Bonsai https://youtu.be/avF7V0VukNs). Today he’s putting on his grower’s hat and sharing how he plans to create a much more interesting bonsai out of this mass market tree.
There’s nothing fundamentally “wrong” with a mass market Ficus like this. Typically they are produced in China and imported into the U.S. with a predictable “S” curve. They’re just repetitive and not what Eric likes to work with, typically.
00:01:29 This species is actually great for bonsai, and some of the most incredible and beautiful bonsai in the world are created from this species in Indonesia and Taiwan.
00:02:14 If all Eric was going to do was improve the aesthetics of the tree, he would just cut off the long shoots. Does the tree look better to you after he completes the cutback?
00:4:35 When working on a broadleaf evergreen or deciduous tree like this, you want to create movement, branch taper, and more refinement.
00:05:03 ERIC PUTS ON HIS GROWERS HAT in anticipation of doing something more DRASTIC to the tree!
00:05:36 Eric explains how he plans to make a big cut way down low on the tree to enable budding and to create the type of composition he wants to make.
00:06:23 This is Step 1 of making this tree a nice, more classically proportioned shohin bonsai.
00:06:55 Here comes the saw! Eric shares where he’s going to cut, and why.
00:08:15 The CUT! Ficus sap can be irritating to the skin, so Eric usually wears gloves.
00:09:00 The next step will be to put the tree into a larger pot and add a ton of fertilizer, for really strong growth. Eric shares his sketches of his planned design and the steps to get there.
Update: Part 2 is now live! https://youtu.be/b5y-LfIivpk
Thank you for watching! Do you have a good “Grower” hat? Let us know in the comments below, so we can order one for Eric! 😉 Please like and share this video, and subscribe to Bonsaify on YouTube!
