Ficus benjamina Fusion project Update, The Bonsai Zone, April 2018
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- It's been over a year since I attached a new top to my Ficus bonsai. I can finally begin to style the tree after letting it grow wild.
Today's updates are my Ficus microcarpa, Acacia trees and the 3D printed Vietnam style pot plantings.
Music by Jo San.....
/ @josanproductions8322
As a newcomer to bonsai I get lots of inspiration and education from your videos. you have wonderful passion and I know you take extra time to make your videos awesome. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work. I'm sure many other silent watchers are out there who feel the same way. Great work. Thanks.
Thank you very much, nice to hear you enjoy the videos as much as I like to make them!
So Beautiful!!!!!! Thanks for the update on the Vietnamese 3D pots I was looking forward to that and I gotta say: you're the man!!! :) in many cases I try to prevent which branches you will be cutting and I guess right, that shows I am learning a lot from you. Thanks Nigel!!
Thank you Sal, you must be developing a good eye for bonsai!
I know this was several years ago, but the timelaps of pictures with music in the middle was absolutely amazing! Dont be afraid to do similar in the future!
That's a really cool idea for dealing with trees that you might lose. And helps reinforce that with bonsai they're never really done. Cheers!
Thank you Jonah, sometimes it's two steps forward and one step backwards!
I so enjoy these videos. Relaxing after a long work week. The trees are beautiful. Awesome.
Thank you Marc, I like to catch up on other peoples bonsai videos at the end of the day before bed!
For me this in probably your most interesting projects you are working on, I am always very joyful when you make a video on this tree!
Thank you AB!
Wowww Nigel what a beautiful tree, I have a benjamina on my back yard but unfortunately this past winter temperatures were too low and it froze almost all its canopy. I think he is still alive its trying to put up some green, let's see what happens when temps go up a little bit. That is a beautiful bonsai tree...What a beauty honestly..Congrats!!!
Danny W.
Thank you Danny, I hope yours recovers!
Thank you Nigel, after some rainy week and then temps increased my Benjamina is looking better, its putting up some leaves but I still have to wait maybe a couple of weeks to trim almost all its canopy because it got toasted. He is alive, so I'm happy!!!..
Regards from Orlando Fl, Nigel..
Very cool! The fusion project has really taken off and already looking good. The Acacia trees have grown alot, I really like the branching and leaves on these trees. The ficus in the printed pots are looking amazing, what a job! Thanks for sharing
Gud to see them in a perfect condition... The 3d pots r looking gr8....
Thank you Sathya!
Great video! I am so glad that you removed that lower vertically growing branch on the fusion project. I kept hoping you would do that. The fusion tree looks really awesome! Appreciate the updates on the other trees as well. The two ficus in the printed pots are, indeed, looking good. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Pat, I'm looking forward to more work on the tree this summer!
Hi Nigel, this ficus looks awesome! Stunning tree!
Thank you, I'm looking forward to working on the tree again!
Thanks for the update! I was thinking about this Benjamina this week as I was pruning mine. Glad to see the fusion is coming along nicely and survived this winter with no problems!
Thank you Geoff, I have hopes it will look like a tree again some day!
Oh, thats a new lesson for me on the Bonasai. 'replant a broken piece of plant on top of the plant itself' Thanks
Really beautiful. I love how one can really imagine how the trees will look in the future from the judicious way you prune them.
Thank you, it will be interesting to see the tree develop!
love it just was waiting for the screaming mandrake root to be pulled. good video
wow i've been long awaiting for the update for this tree. this tree got some nice history. i believe whenever someone ask nigel why the tree look so unusual from other tree, sure he has a history to tell them. hahaha. i feel happy for you too that the tree survive.
Thank you Vince, this tree definitely has a story to tell!
Looks awesome - this project is one of your best. It worked according to your original plan. The fact that it was a 'salvage' of sorts makes it even sweeter - many would have given up on the tree after the top froze.
Sorry to see you inside, still, my friend. Winter won't go away this year and it seems more cold on the way...I think you should move South given the chance!!!
Thanks Mark, I'm looking out the window at a snow storm right now! I'm still busy with the indoor trees, so I don't mind the cold weather. I'll have to make a lot of training pots this year, there is never a shortage of work around here! I'll have to get my son Julian to help me out!
I don't envy the long winters but you have a beautiful place there with your own personal forest. My friends in Rochester tell me that winter is brutal but it makes spring like a religious experience! I wanted to explore an opportunity at U of R but the wife said no way. We still have trouble with the winters, we are both from the Gulf Coast FL.
Again very informative. Well done on the Ficus Benjamina !!!
Thank you Fanie, so far it's all going well and I have hopes it will look like a tree again some day!
Hi Nigel, the star of the show has to be the two ficus in the printed pots, extremely well matched.
Thank you Iqbal, I have a special 3D printed pot video coming soon! I'm looking forward to making a video with you over the summer! I'll have to think of some really hard questions and also some fun ones!
Great, look forward to both.
Hey rufio, nice to see you here.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone
Nice video Nigel on the trees can't wait to see some Q&A video with you & Mikbonsai👍
Just found your channel and watched the progress of your Acacia seedlings. I just started with some Jacaranda seedlings, and will eagerly follow your progress.
More updates will be coming soon! Thanks Juan.
I never thought of growing a Frankentree! I have 2 myrtle trunks that didn’t survive the winter, I was devastated but not anymore ❤️🤟
Spring can be like a Monty Python movie "bring out your dead, bring out your dead"
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone I’m wondering if using a pecan planter would help establish long roots to eventually wrap around a tall, skinny trunk.
Most enjoyable Nigel 🌳
Thank you!
@@TheBonsaiZone I am getting addicted to Your videos Nigel I am very like you in I also don't believe in using wire I try to let the tree discide how it wants to grow ..I only have a very small collection but they are all my own grown from seed or cuttings I hope to have a larger collection in the spring get winter out of the way ..thank you for replying much appreciated ..
🐝🌻🐝🐝love the bonsai zone- thx -- for all the great points you make on your vid's. 🌻🐝🌻🌻
another great video nigel like always, the ficus with the carved roots looks well m8, i like that trick :)
Thank you, should be interesting to see it in a couple of years!
the benjamina fusion work is great. good to see it growing well despite the setback.
Thank you, I'm hoping it grows well this summer so the work can continue!
Wow what a bit of time does to those trees in the 3d printed pots! They look so nice
Thanks Ryan, I have a feeling they will grow very quickly once the leaves are out!
Love the fusion tree: it's a surviver!
grts
Kennet
Have a great weekend Nigel.
I may have to wax up the ski's, it's really snowing hard outside at the moment! Thanks, Craig.
Typical Canadian spring. Makes us appreciate Summer that much more!
Done a great work on ur beautiful bonsais ....
And also really nice plants I think I found this really old because it looks like as 5000 years old and your plan this really nice
Nigel, very nice films
I have now developed a hobby of guessing which branch or roots you will select to keep. And believe me, It's fun.😊
That sounds like a good game! Thanks Rajesh!
Thanks for the video, we have a cold spring this year. I am also waiting to repot my trees
I am looking out the window now and I can hardly see across the street, it's snowing so hard! Thanks Shany!
i know you have a"avatar" tree. but this one really reminds me of the home tree. just watched the movie on tv last night too. thanQ as always nigel
A great movie! I'll be doing some more work to this tree soon, it's growing really well!
VERY NICE FRIEND..CONGRATULATIONS
Thank you very much!
Would you perhaps have a video of how you care for your cutting to get them to root? If not is it possible that you will make one?
Nigel, I've watched your channel long enough, now, to know you have quite a large number of trees. But, I've noticed you always know what a tree is, when you last pruned or repotted, etc. Do you keep a log or Journal recording what was done and when? Do you schedule the next pruning and repotting? What is your "system" for keeping up with so many trees?
Good question, I'd also like to know.
I believe he said that he watches the previous videos before working again on the trees. Besides, there's the playlists on his channel, sorted by tree if you want to see the progression over time :)
Yeah, that makes sense.
Hello Bonnie, I try and work on the trees that need the work the most. I do check my videos to see what I did to the tree last and I listen to myself talk about the next steps ahead. Trees that are going into a show get extra care and also trees that have just been worked on. Thanks to all for helping me answer the question!
So, you're doing a daily check on all your trees to see who needs attention now...in a few days...next week. And if a specific tree is going to be in a show, then they get the attention they need for such an event. And, to use your videos as reference....that all makes good, common sense. Thank you, sir!
Dear Nigel,
I am a subscriber of your channel for a long time now and i really appreciate you for doing these and sharing your experience with your viewers. Your content is one reason why I not only started Bonsai, but also planned to start with doing UA-cam videos. My first video is in progress.
I have a question that I hope you can answer me or maybe even do a tutorial video for. When I try to do cuttings, they always have problems developing new roots. Doesn' matter if they were placed in soil or a water bottle. Do you have any tipps for the cuttings to start rooting?
Thank you and best regards,
ARiL
Great video Nigel . I was wondering that if i missed a root , on a radial root system , would the ones cut grow thicker , oppose to the ones missed. ? Thank you for your videos, and time you give us
The roots that are not pruned should catch up in thickness with the ones that are cut shorter. It may take several re pots and a lot of time, before you notice the size of the roots even out.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone . Thank you for your response. Its a little salmon berry plant.
I went back and cut them all. This plant is a survivor, should handle the stress
Great to see the updates on the trees l am getting to know rather well now. 😊
However there doesn't seem to be time for viewers' pics.
I have gotten so many viewers pics that I'm way behind. I have 522 pages of email to go through still. I hope to tackle a bit each day and some day catch up! Thanks for your patience.
nigel are we talking Fahrenheit or Celsius when u talk about how cold it still is cause i repotted a couple of my evergreens and weve had about 40F for daytime highs for a while now in the midwest and im a llittle worried i started too early
Fun stuff as always Sensai!🙏
Thank you Ray, I'm looking forward to the hot days of summer!
Wow what a awesome tree do you have a video of you do the fusing this tree also how often do you take the plastic off thanks;)
Did you ever do a video on how you fused the top tree on the other is it possible to do 2 different types of trees like one pine and one oke tree
And also nice plant really really nice I wish I had one of them
Nice creativity...
Super neat video! I've been watching your videos for several months and am considering getting into the bonsai hobby.
I really prefer your style over some of the traditional styles that have heavy jin and wiring.
1) Do you always look at nature for your inspirations?
2) is there a particular plant that would be ideal for a small indoor bonsai for us apartment dwellers?
3) Thank you so much for for all your videos!
Hello Devin, I try and make my trees appear like miniature trees that you could see somewhere in nature. I try and bring out the natural characteristics of the species of the tree. I don't like to style every tree into a pine tree type style!
I would grow a Portulacaria afra or a Jade. Most of the Ficus trees and the dwarf Schefflera are also good indoors if you want a more leafy green tree.
You are most welcome, thank you!
Hey! So I was wondering if you already have or have done a update on your Apple tree, I know you might not be working on it soon but I'd love to see where it is at.
bravo! Great tree/s Nigel!
Thank you, they are slowly improving!
Always great videos, Nigel! I'm wondering if you'd be interested in doing an updated tour of your growing areas (e.g. outside area, greenhouse area, etc.)? I noticed that your last "tour" was three years ago when you just built your greenhouse! It would be cool to see, thank you :D
love to have all the updates! im growing acacia trees also I have 5 and they're 8 month old. should I replant it in a pot all together or individually? thank you!
I would concentrate on the roots at the early stages, trying to get them sorted out with lots of fine feeder roots!
Hi. Nigel. Thanks for lovely bonsai videos. Awesome. Can share your experience about branches wiring ?
Here is a video on wiring branches.....
ua-cam.com/video/YGhQjOma8gQ/v-deo.html
Wiring can be a great tool to use for shaping trees, but it also can be over used!
It looks good.
Please also look at Japanese bonsai and garden
Hey Nigel, may I ask how you keep the humidity up in the plant room? I live in Montreal and we heat our apartment with radiators, and it really dries out the air, I have a hard time keeping moss and ferns happy. Any tip? don't have a humidifier, but thought maybe there is a low tech way. Great vid! -sam
Hello Sam, my plant room is closed off from the gas furnace house heating. The room is almost sealed, so any humidity stays in the air longer than a regular room in the house. I heat the room with a plug in electric oil filled portable heater. You can but these at Canadian Tire. With the large number of plants and puddles of water under them in trays, the room stays humid and gets even more humid on sunny days as the air temperature rises. You can't tell in the videos, but some days it's almost 40 C and really humid, I have to turn off the fan because it is too noisy, so it is like working in a sauna! Once the fan is turned back on, it's feels good again. I would try an indoor window type greenhouse, the box stores sell them and they are very inexpensive. You can also add LED lighting to help the trees out on cloudy days.
I have a question my question is how old is the tree is it billions of billions years old or is it just five years old
Hi Nigel, If I may give you a suggestion, I think you should start with a Baobab tree for your new tropical tree
I am going to try to grow some. I'll be putting in a big seed order this spring!
Good Afternoon
Nigel , The ficus microcarpa is clumb style , I think no , then how did you grow it. Any previous video.
Yes here is the playlist for this tree...
ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQow33hNUHMspuLIADinmz-mM.html
11:21 ...I liked the way the tree looked before you cut it. But great work though.
Nigel, you said that if it was the summer you would put the cuttings in the ground to root. I've heard you mention rooting before, as well. How do you do it? All of my cuttings die. Thanks.
I just plant the cuttings deep in a pot of bonsai soil and keep them well watered in full sun. In mid July almost all of them make it!
OK, thanks. Is there a sort of "minimum size" the cutting should be? I've seen others mention to cut the leaves in half. Is there a recommended amount of leaves that should be on the cutting?
Did you repot the Acacia forest this Summer? Would love to see the update!
I didn't re pot it over the summer, but I think I'll be doing this in the new year. It does need pruning, so an update will be coming!
Hi Nigel. Your Ficus Benjamina is look amazing. I have a few smaller ones that I’m developing, and yours is a big inspiration. Also, what is the piece of music playing during the repotting pictures?
The music is by JO San, here is his UA-cam channel....
ua-cam.com/channels/ODk-KWU_78TW7y3eEWbCzw.html
Thank you Shaun, I'm very lucky to be able to use his music!
Thanks for the link. I’ll go and enjoy some more of his music now :)
Ficus Benjamina is my favorite tree ever. Especially the "Pandora" kind. I almost got 10 of them lol
I do have a video on this style....
ua-cam.com/video/IIx3cp_vZEI/v-deo.html
also this...
ua-cam.com/video/7Ty3iDSZJYU/v-deo.html
These are my favorite styles also!
Hi Nigel, i really like how the 3D printed pots turned out. I heard you mention that you printed them at the library, excuse my boldness but how much would a pot like that cost to print?
Hello Fabian, the library charges only for the plastic used in the printing. These pots were 9 dollars each, and the smaller ones were 4 to 6 dollars.
The ficus Baby Ben cuttings can be easily rooted in a glass of water. That method is more successful than putting straight in a pot with hormone powder. You can try it. But once you have too many bonsai trees, you will not bother to save the cuttings anymore.
Thank you, great suggestion!
Hello Sir, how to grow roots like the fancy ficus microcarpa that you have. Are those bunch of few plants fused together or it is just a single tree ?
This is appreciation for the plant :)
A little tip sir,
You can use dried sphagnum moss to get a better root base around the trunk
Thank you Sunny, sphagnum moss does work great!
Most welcome sir
Nice video . how old is that tiger ficus at end of video ?.
On the last video on the twin trunk, you used some tin foil around the aerial roots of the ficus Benjamina. What happened to them ?
I replaced the tin foil with plastic last year, here is the playlist for this tree....
ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQow33hNUHMspuLIADinmz-mM.html
Just in case you missed any updates!
Hello nigel ive seen a lot of your video and im so amazed in every detail of your video..actually this is my favorite channel..but...
I ddnt see a video of bucida or black olive? Do u grow... any??? Want to see how u care for bucida bonsai..thanks.
I do have an old black Olive bonsai that was started from a tiny cutting, I'll get a video out on it in future!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone thanks nigel ill wait for that...👍👍👍
Hi Nigel, can I use conifer bark from the local lumber mill as the organic additive with turface and perlite?
Thanks, Steve
Yes, it should be composted in a pile for a year before using it.
Wow.....Nigel yesterday I found that now in Canada it's scorching heat and almost 200 people dies ......how r you ? Be safe and cautious.
Regarding this video you have any previous and new update video if you have please share me.
Hello Deb, yes it's strange to see heat like that in Canada, we are just getting through a hot and humid week here, we only went up to 32 C, but it was very humid. It's good weather for the Ficus!
Here is the playlist for this tree, you can see the latest updates at the bottom!
ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQow33hNUHMspuLIADinmz-mM.html
Frankin-tree!! My fav!
It's alive!!!!!
AAP inglish me baat karte hai mujhe inglish nhi aati hai Lekin AAP ka pura video dekhta hu AAP bonsai banaane ke kalaa Ko besst besst... India se hu I lab bonsai kalekhasn
Hi Nigel. What soil do you use? and how do you mix it?
Nice hair Nigel like bonsai 😁
i think its to be perfect if the branches in wiring sir
I am in to aquascape and i have ben thinking of make a aquaponic system on top of the aquarium. Is ther any tre that can make it in a aquaponic system?
There are a few trees that like to have the roots wet in water all the time, here is an article that lists water loving trees...
www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/wet-soil-trees.htm
Hi Nigel I have recently started following your channel. Can you suggest some books/web pages for beginners
Here is a list of good UA-cam channels....
blog.feedspot.com/bonsai_youtube_channels/
Here are some good blog sites...
blog.feedspot.com/bonsai_blogs/
It is best to follow someone with the style of trees that you prefer. Bonsai comes in many different shapes and sizes!
Do you have any of the "too little" cultivar? I just picked one up to make into a bonsai.
I do and it has grown well this winter. It usually doesn't like the dark winters much, I think the lights helped keep it happy.
Nigel, great video as usual) I wonder, how to you keep humidity at a high level in your greenhouse? Do you use any humidifiers? Thanks)
Hello Luka, Sam asked the same question, here is my answer....
My plant room is closed off from the gas furnace house heating. The room is almost sealed, so any humidity stays in the air longer than a regular room in the house. I heat the room with a plug in electric oil filled portable heater. You can but these at Canadian Tire. With the large number of plants and puddles of water under them in trays, the room stays humid and gets even more humid on sunny days as the air temperature rises. You can't tell in the videos, but some days it's almost 40 C and really humid, I have to turn off the fan because it is too noisy, so it is like working in a sauna! Once the fan is turned back on, it's feels good again.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone thank you for the answer!
My question is how you fuse the stems together ?
Time!
Sir G nameskar
I Love you ar Bonsai Master
Best Regards
Ashok Kumar
Nigel what type of soil do you start seeds in?
I have started them in bonsai soil or just regular garden soil. Both seem to works equally as well. Once the root system starts to get more developed I get them in bonsai soil to develop a really fine root system.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone thank you i appreciate the reply i do want to add for whatever its worth i have emmense respect and admiration for what you do and your clear passion for the trees.
Mujhe inglish nhi aati hai Lekin AAP ka pura video dekhta ho AAP ke pallnt ki kating karne ke tarike ko India se hu ch se
Should the bonsai tree put in sun ?
Yes most trees require about 4 hours of sunlight each day, if possible. This will keep them healthy and strong.
thank you
Hey Nigel, I just wonder, do you still have that wierd feeling, when you hear your own voice? Or did you just get used to, by watching your videos? :D
Not any more, I'm used to my own voice when I edit the videos. At first it was very strange and I hated watching myself. Now I find myself wishing I had said this, or explained things better or I wish I had gotten a better camera shot without my hand in the way! I look on the bright side and think, I've got lots of room for improvement!
It's always good to be open to self-criticism, but you're doing more than great job, inspiring houndreds of people to start with bonsai, explore nature and do something green in their life ;) Just make it last :D
Would yo be willing to root some of the clipings and sell them to other bonsai lovers i have me 2 bonsais so far one oke and one pine i also have 4 seeds growing 2 acorns one of them already started rooting and two apple seeds
Jakkas 👌👌👌...!!!
Thanks Sunit, have a great weekend!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone same to you...sir...!!!
so interesting, thank you!
Thank you Julia!
Nice hair. 😊
It's an experimental work in progress!
I'm having trouble finding seeds and saplings online. Do you have any suggestions?
Jake Grammer look in your garden and take clippings and just see what happens
He doesn't know or why he never mention wiring ?
how do you grow the aerial roots...
You need high humidity, good sunlight and let the tree grow wild to gain vigor. The roots will begin to form. Mist the roots to keep them wet most of the day and they'll grow down into the soil.
@@TheBonsaiZone thanks
Any update this 2020
Finally an update! :D
More to come, hopefully over the summer!
amazing
Thank you Dallas!
So how is it doing currently?
It has been growing really well over the winter, I can't wait to get it outside for the summer, I think it will grow even better!
@@TheBonsaiZone Looking forward to a new video!
Sir don't you have any dessert plant bonsais like adenium or any babool etc.
Anyways I just loved your videos.
I have Yucca bonsai, Aloe, Portulacaria afra, Jades and more, check out the playlists tab to see these trees!