I actually liked it when you cut that big chunk off at the top, it really made it look better, my wife disagrees, but hey, you really can't go wrong with trees because it grows back🤣😂 I really want to see how it looks now after a year of growing back.
@@BlueJayBonsai I hear that. I've been at it for going on 10 years and still don't have anything too amazing yet. Got a handful that are on their way though! Funny how you never really know which ones are going to go the distance.
I love working with Benjaminas they are great with directional pruning. They do have a little die back so you have to take care not to cut too close to a leaf or bud. The big chop you did to get the new leader was exactly what I was looking at, you made the right choice - adds some nice taper to the trunk :)
Thank you! It's been some time since this video but it's really worked out well in the long run. Tough to make the big cuts but it usually works out better in the end.
Thank you for walking us through your process, very educational, and exceptional job with your discipline to stick to it! I just traded for a FicBen to learn with this winter, my first real attempt w/tropical. It’s a rooted cutting and very two dimensional as well. Your video here was just perfectly timed for me, almost kismet, so thank you. Great decision on the big chop there! Gave you automatic taper, and a newly forming back branch for depth! Please keep us posted (at least on Instagram) of how it back buds and flushes back out!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the video. Good luck on your new ficus!
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Nice big chop! I'm doing something similar but whit key limes, I'm happy to see that I'm not crazy trying to grow bonsais on my little apartment on Chicago!
Nice healthy tree. I would have cut the ones you kept and kept the branches you cut. The two lower branches would have thickened the trunk and the new lead had some movement which you could have wired. But that’s art and it’s your tree. Happy bonsai!
Thank you! And yeah I was tempted to go that route. But in the end, I went with correcting them now before the taper issues got too crazy. Just did some more cuts and wiring on this one today!
Fix for a one sided plant from container gardening 101: rotate your plant a quarter turn everytimge you water it. That way you don't end up with a plant growing unevenly toward the light source.
I think that's a great tip to keep an even sided plant. Traditionally with Bonsai they are given a front. This gives the tree one side which is the viewers and the other side where big cuts and scars are obscured.
From an untrained bonsai eye guy, it looks way more interesting. You kept talking about reverse tapers, some 1 to 2, 2 to 4, etc. rules but I couldn't figure out what you were talking about🤪.
Not specifically, but I do a quick look type of update on a few recent videos. i think it was my most recent grow tent video where I pull it out and have a look.
To get even growth rotate the pot every couple of days - this should also be done with air layers but even the most experienced forget about that. Its not just about light, people forget about heat too.
Every couple days might be a little too frequent for me. But I usually remember once a month or so perhaps, (that's a guess). I look for signs of all the leaves/branches growing in a single direction, etc.
Thank you! And in my experience they do, but sort of in clusters. So it's like, they won't for a long time, then out of nowhere they push out a bunch of back budding.
Yes it does, maybe my patience gets the best of me. Bonsai is always a lesson in restraint. I’ve done a few Benjamina and just struggled with getting the trunk to thicken to where I wanted and resorted to major chop backs( I.e. cutting back the tree with a half inch trunk to 4 inches tall. ) But you pruned her wisely, and your tree looks great!keep the vids coming, i think it’s really informative hearing your thoughts and reasons with each branch/trim you do.
You mean the little starter ones? Or the larger ones? The starter ones you can usually find at Fred Meyers, zamzows, etc. I've yet to find the larger ones anywhere around here.
Easy, just state your opinion on any bonsai forum and wait for the "rules" to come to you. Lol. Kidding, but I don't think there is a universal rulebook anywhere because everything is so subjective to the combination of your environment, soil type, watering and pruning schedule, etc.
@@kerisek11 Gotya. No, sorry. But I can recommend a few good UA-cam channels for the same thing? Nigel Saunders from the bonsai zone is one. Peter Chan from Herons bonsai nursery is another.
I actually liked it when you cut that big chunk off at the top, it really made it look better, my wife disagrees, but hey, you really can't go wrong with trees because it grows back🤣😂 I really want to see how it looks now after a year of growing back.
It does look a lot better now that it's grown back a bit!
Nice big chop and directional pruning! It’s so easy to be decisive on other’s peoples trees, but on our own trees it’s a lot harder. 👍😀
Thanks! This was one where I had 2 or 3 directions I could go with it and I had analysis paralysis. By the way I've been enjoying your content!
@@BonsaiBoise oh, awesome thanks! My motto is - if you don’t have great trees, visit someone who does! 🤣
@@BlueJayBonsai I hear that. I've been at it for going on 10 years and still don't have anything too amazing yet. Got a handful that are on their way though! Funny how you never really know which ones are going to go the distance.
I love working with Benjaminas they are great with directional pruning. They do have a little die back so you have to take care not to cut too close to a leaf or bud. The big chop you did to get the new leader was exactly what I was looking at, you made the right choice - adds some nice taper to the trunk :)
Thank you! It's been some time since this video but it's really worked out well in the long run. Tough to make the big cuts but it usually works out better in the end.
Nice work. One of your best videos. I like the choices you’ve made. Ala Peter Chan ‘You must be bold” Thanks, keep growing
Hey thanks Matt! I appreciate hearing that. I haven't had as many opportunities to make videos lately so I'm trying to make up for that a little bit.
Thank you for walking us through your process, very educational, and exceptional job with your discipline to stick to it! I just traded for a FicBen to learn with this winter, my first real attempt w/tropical. It’s a rooted cutting and very two dimensional as well. Your video here was just perfectly timed for me, almost kismet, so thank you.
Great decision on the big chop there! Gave you automatic taper, and a newly forming back branch for depth! Please keep us posted (at least on Instagram) of how it back buds and flushes back out!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the video. Good luck on your new ficus!
Nice big chop! I'm doing something similar but whit key limes, I'm happy to see that I'm not crazy trying to grow bonsais on my little apartment on Chicago!
Thanks for the video! Recently received a ficus benjamina from a friend that moved. Trying to learn how to care for it.
You did a great job on the Benjamina, helped me make some decisions
Thank you!
Nice healthy tree. I would have cut the ones you kept and kept the branches you cut. The two lower branches would have thickened the trunk and the new lead had some movement which you could have wired. But that’s art and it’s your tree. Happy bonsai!
Thank you! And yeah I was tempted to go that route. But in the end, I went with correcting them now before the taper issues got too crazy. Just did some more cuts and wiring on this one today!
@@BonsaiBoise time for ficus update 👍🏼
Fix for a one sided plant from container gardening 101: rotate your plant a quarter turn everytimge you water it. That way you don't end up with a plant growing unevenly toward the light source.
I think that's a great tip to keep an even sided plant. Traditionally with Bonsai they are given a front.
This gives the tree one side which is the viewers and the other side where big cuts and scars are obscured.
From an untrained bonsai eye guy, it looks way more interesting. You kept talking about reverse tapers, some 1 to 2, 2 to 4, etc. rules but I couldn't figure out what you were talking about🤪.
Cool stuff! Funny how i have pretty much the exact same tree at the same stage as you did. I think I will prune it today as well lol thx :)
Good luck on yours! Hopefully you are more decisive than I was on mine lol.
Is there an updated video on this one? I'm kinda curious to see how it faired 🤣😂
Not specifically, but I do a quick look type of update on a few recent videos. i think it was my most recent grow tent video where I pull it out and have a look.
Tropical Trees are so fun.
Agreed! Without tropical trees I don't know what I would do all winter.
To get even growth rotate the pot every couple of days - this should also be done with air layers but even the most experienced forget about that. Its not just about light, people forget about heat too.
Every couple days might be a little too frequent for me. But I usually remember once a month or so perhaps, (that's a guess). I look for signs of all the leaves/branches growing in a single direction, etc.
You done an amazing job of this. Do Benjamina bud back easily?
Thank you! And in my experience they do, but sort of in clusters. So it's like, they won't for a long time, then out of nowhere they push out a bunch of back budding.
I tried cuttings in soil and now have only two that are still alive. Will try water next time.
Nice job. Thanks
Thank you!
You could air layer the trunk to shorten it.
Thought about it, ended up going for a longer term goal of letting the rest of the tree catch up with the size. (If that makes sense?)
Yes it does, maybe my patience gets the best of me. Bonsai is always a lesson in restraint. I’ve done a few Benjamina and just struggled with getting the trunk to thicken to where I wanted and resorted to major chop backs( I.e. cutting back the tree with a half inch trunk to 4 inches tall. )
But you pruned her wisely, and your tree looks great!keep the vids coming, i think it’s really informative hearing your thoughts and reasons with each branch/trim you do.
@@jerryromon6622 thank you!
Where can you find ficus benjamina's in Boise? Thanks.
You mean the little starter ones? Or the larger ones? The starter ones you can usually find at Fred Meyers, zamzows, etc. I've yet to find the larger ones anywhere around here.
I have a ficus I've been neglecting too...
You talk about "rules". Where can i found these rules?
Easy, just state your opinion on any bonsai forum and wait for the "rules" to come to you. Lol. Kidding, but I don't think there is a universal rulebook anywhere because everything is so subjective to the combination of your environment, soil type, watering and pruning schedule, etc.
@@BonsaiBoise I see. I just though that you could recommend a book, website or something :)
@@kerisek11 Gotya. No, sorry. But I can recommend a few good UA-cam channels for the same thing? Nigel Saunders from the bonsai zone is one. Peter Chan from Herons bonsai nursery is another.