Bonsaify | Mass Market to Masterpiece Ficus, Part 4
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Eric continues his journey with a Golden Gate ficus that he got from a mass-market retailer. Check the previous videos in this series here:
Part 1: • Bonsaify | Ficus: From...
Part 2: • Bonsaify | From Mass M...
Part 3: • Bonsaify | Mass Market...
SiDiao book website:
www.sidiao.com
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. The goal of this series is to follow the tree through a few years of development work to make it into a tree that conforms more to Japanese shohin rules.
00:00:30 Eric takes a look at the wound he created in the last video and how it is healing.
00:01:25 Eric discusses the effect of the seasons on his decisions.
00:02:10 Discussion of the SiDao book by Cheng, Cheng Kung
00:03:00 Back to our tree - Eric is going to cut off all the branching much the way the tree was cut back in the first session.
00:03:15 - Big Cuts!
00:03:42 - Much smaller tree again! We expect to do the same cycle of grow out and cut back a couple more times. We don't want to leave more of the branching to build taper and movement and character in the tree.
00:04:50 - Eric discusses the decisions about design - contemplating more movement by using the side portion rather than the center shoot as the new section of trunk.
00:05:20 Contemplating whether there is enough space as a shohin for all the branching, Eric elects to cut a bit further back.
00:05:50 Discussing the exact cutback points of each branch, and how similar to part 3, further cutback will be needed once the new shoots have emerged and started to make wood.
00:06:25 Eric measures the lower trunk above the nebari as about 2" x 1.75" depending on the angle. Recording this to see how much the trunk changes over time.
00:06:39 For aftercare - the tree will be kept in the greenhouse from here through the winter. (although we have mild winters in the bay area the tree will do better in as much warmth as possible.)
Eric anticipates little growth after September so he plans to follow up again in March, April or May of 2024!
Part 1: ua-cam.com/video/eRDa1Bl8TcU/v-deo.html
Part 2: ua-cam.com/video/b5y-LfIivpk/v-deo.html
Part 3: ua-cam.com/video/Ry4QqT5HiQk/v-deo.html
Also filmed using the same tree: ua-cam.com/video/r5K10lud4qo/v-deo.html
Great work Eric, this is going to be a great tree, see you this weekend if you are heading to the Nationals!
Thanks Nigel! I will not be there - although I did contemplate going...I got my fill of flying back and forth to New York during my college years lol.
I'm sure we'll meet some day!!!@@Bonsaify
Wow I’m so excited to watch this grow in the future. Thanks for the book recommendation, I’m going to try and track that down!
I'm really enjoying this series! I have a ficus that I just did a similar trunk chop on so it's nice to see the process I will be going through explained so thoroughly.
Looking forward to part five
can't wait for part 5!
GJ I do same with my ficus tree's. I just did same thing on 70 trees .
Waiting for march/ april 🤩🤩
4:37 if you were to stick that whole branch in soil do you think it would successfully root?
Most likely yes. But I'd prefer more smaller cuttings for my purposes.
Do u have any update on this Tree right now?
I did just do a bit of work to it, but new video will be coming out in another couple months. I want to wait until the new branching gets a bit larger.
Thanks
Do you grow this in your greenhouse? Ive always considered getting a Ficus, but I don't want to deal with grow lights. I'm not sure if ambient light in my house would support one. I'm sure I could move it outside during the summer months, but wondering if it would survive indoors the rest of the year.
Yes, for the most part it lives in the greenhouse. Although I did have it outdoors at my growing grounds after this video for a while. It's not super hot here so they grow more modestly outdoors in summer. They're actually quite well adapted to low light - but you'll get better growth if you have hot-humid and bright full sun. I keep a Willow-Leaf in my yard year round (zone 10b so no freezing) and it does fine. I have not tried growing them indoors in my house for long periods.
Something of a little one there then ERIC?
Any advice for changing a ficus ginseng
I've never worked with one myself....I know the roots are crazy big. More like willow - leaf in terms of root growth?
@@Bonsaify correct the root is very bulbous I see only one option and that's to air layer and create a completely new base
Great video! What time of the year did u actually makes these heavy prunes? I have a “tiger bark” ficus that is kinda getting overgrown and I am thinking of cutting back hard to reset the structure. Thanks
I cut it and did the video two days ago - September 7th, 2023. And as I mentioned I think it'll be fine but I have a greenhouse I use also. If you're in a colder area you might wait for spring. If you're in a hotter or tropical area go for it now!
Great, thank you for the prompt response!
Can’t wait to see the next step in this series!
WE NEED A NEW VIDEO ON THISSSSSS
The tree has been growing well, but I think the next video will be in the coming summer. (June 2024 or after.)
Very interesting project. I’m looking forward to watching this develop into the future. Thanks, keep growing
Love your work, insights and experience. Really happy I've found your channel!
Seems like a good technique for about any deciduous species maybe
Yes, similar work to many deciduous trees.
Well youll have 1000 baby ficus now...
I hope we wan see a part 5
Exellent!
👍👌
Congratulations on driving; your plant is looking very beautiful...more success and greetings from Brazil! 23/9/23
What kind of fertilizer do you use, I have a couple of ficus that dont seem to be doing much at all
Usually this is more a matter of lack of light. Do you keep it inside? Literally any fertiliser will do the trick for ficuses in my humble experience. But as I said it is usually an issue with the light.
@nessi5413 hank you for your responce, I have been growing them outside on my bench in full morning light.
@@brianbarnes1362 mmmh, given that soil and other conditions are also fine, maybe a fertilizer can help then... For my ficuses in development I use a combination of slow releasing organic fertilizer and liquid fertilizer (for plants that don't need overwintering and don't flower I think a nitrogen-rich fertilizer would be good. but I really take what is available (sometimes liquid organic, sometimes liquid mineral and I think ficuses are very unpretentious in that regard).
But maybe Eric has a better suggestion!?
How's the ficus Eric?
Well - here's part 5 in case you missed it: ua-cam.com/video/3m92CMIlGlw/v-deo.html
And I also compiled all the parts into a free eCourse here:
www.bonsaify.com/collections/ecourses/products/ficus-bonsai-from-mass-market-to-masterpiece
Since part 5 ended I've had the tree growing - some aerial roots starting to form. I have it in a greenhouse under misters to help simulate a tropical environment. The shoots are growing nicely...so it's just down to waiting for the roots to get big enough to manipulate.
@@Bonsaify Thanks Eric, I did indeed miss it! Mine is coming on well, but doesn't seem to be growing as quickly - Still on part 2! Really enjoyed this series so thanks again.
Did any or all the cuttings from the original cuttings grow? I’m just wondering if I should bother
I neglected to stick them fast enough - I think they sat in my garage for 4 days first so I tossed them. These were stuck the next day so I anticipate no issue with rooting them.