Making a Ficus Bonsai tree

Learn how to create a beautiful Bonsai out of affordable Ficus trees, sold widely at garden centers and Bonsai stores. In this video we show the progression of a Ficus retusa over the course of about two years time.
Bonsai Empire is dedicated to share the living art of Bonsai - we created this video as a DIY tutorial to help and motivate beginners. The video is part of the online courses that we offer, for more free videos go to:
www.bonsaiempire.com/courses
Bonsai techniques explained:
- Pruning: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/s...
- Tools: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/g...
- Wiring: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/s...
- Repotting: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/b...
- Substrate: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/b...
- Bonsai care: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/b...
We like to thank:
Clingendael (Japanese garden) and Bob Ruitenbeek (Technical supervision) for their help working with this Ficus Bonsai tree.
Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to:
www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

[@ChuckLikes2F]

My friend gifted me a ficus, I’ve always wanted a bonsai but have never been interested enough to actually do it. I am so excited for my lil tree.

[@bonsaiempire]

Good luck!

[@filmowe4289]

Thanks, you helped me start my adventure with bonsai. Now I have two nice trees at my home.

[@bonsaiempire]

That's great! Also a Ficus retusa by any chance? Thanks for following us.

[@jizreellima3180]

Ótimo vídeo... 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Muito bom o passo a passo...

[@eelctrogamingtec3154]

¡Great video! I am beginning with my first bonsai tree, a ficus microcarpa this video is very helpful, thank you a lot

[@bonsaiempire]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pengen_bonsai]

Menyenangkan bisa seperti itu 😊

[@sarahredmond4057]

Great video for a brand new bonsai enthusiast.

[@bonsaiempire]

So nice of you

[@DikaBonsai23]

Nice video sharing sir. Making a ficus bonsai👍

[@bonsaiempire]

Great 👍

[@bonsailifebali9817]

👌👌👌

[@mygardeningnature579]

Beautiful

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mygardeningnature579]

@@bonsaiempire most welcome

[@petualangbonsaipemula]

👍👍

[@henzobonsai]

Very nice

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks

[@Alfaro_Bonsai]

greetings Indonesian bonsai lovers

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks for visiting

[@bonsai_life_style]

But nice garden definitely 👍

[@j.r.bertolet3644]

💚

[@livylong-lj4lv]

Watching Davao city Philippines

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks :)

[@R-Nesta]

In welke plaats bevinden jullie zich met dat park? Ik heb nu trouwens net mijn ficus binnengekregen maar er zitten heel weinig takken aan. Heb je tips om er zelf meer takken aan te laten groeien? Goeie video trouwens👌🏼

[@birendrasingh5492]

Nice

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks

[@findinghappiness3194]

I am a botany graduate, good informative video, nice

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks for watching!

[@bonshaicollection3692]

very nice sir

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks and welcome

[@lierbagtrebmar]

Where is that jacket from? 🤩

[@oliveambros9887]

I wish your camera is on close up while you are cuttigg ng the branches.. that helps a newbie like me

[@DBonsaiLoverKuyaElmerG]

Thanks for sharing sir. New subscriber sir

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks for the sub!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@FaridSultonik]

Likeee❤

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks for the visit

[@projectsali]

Beringin kimeng adenya beringin iprik..

[@barkatem]

starting my bonsai journey with a butchered one from lowes..needs a trim, putty, wire, and a new pot but i hope she grows up to be a majestic lil tree
edit: its some sort of ficus tree? not sure

[@bonsaiempire]

Yes its a ficus :)

[@Nbaplays412]

First ❤

[@DeadBeatLoser69]

I just have one question, is it ok to repot a indoor bonsai anytime? You would think because it's kept inside where the climate never really changes it would be ok, right?

[@bonsaiempire]

You can indeed repot year round - though light intensity will (in most places) differ through the seasons. I personally stick to repotting in spring because I do see my indoors grow faster then.

[@DeadBeatLoser69]

@@bonsaiempire Ok thank you, I will make sure to wait till spring.

[@elbow6380]

@@bonsaiempire Why do you misidentify this ficus tho? Its not a retusa. Its hard to take advice from someone that cant even get the species right

[@katharinaverhagen4002]

Why do you wire two branches at the same time? :) So the branch looks thicker/for ethetic reasons?

[@bonsaiempire]

Why we wire, or why we wire two branches with one wire? The latter: it stabilizes the wire if you connect two branches with it (so it doesn't wiggle) and it looks better (you'll need less wire on your tree).

[@AgusEdiChanel]

👍👍👍 24:56

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks!

[@aeabdu]

hey bonsai empirr i have an urgent question if i thoroughly water my juniper and it starts heavily raining shortly after should i protect it from the rain or should i let it get more water but there would be a chance on waterlogging no?

[@bonsaiempire]

You need to use good bonsai substrate (read our website, or check our video here on youtube) - with good substrate there is no issue at all.

[@aeabdu]

@@bonsaiempire i just got my first juniper its pretty young as of right now its in some regular soil but the drainage isnt too bad im getting some soil mix in about a week so ill shift it into that soil mix of some pumice gravel peat moss spaghnum moss clay and pine bark

[@Iam_loveadvocate]

How do you keep bugs out of the soul in 🌳 you take inside from outside

[@veenay9151]

I have a juniper bonsai but the leaves are so dry i water it as much as needed but the leaves dont seem to get better. And also the trunk seemd it needs a bigger pot but im scared is not time to repot. Please help i was gufted this bonsai and want to keep it alive

[@bonsaiempire]

Perhaps share some photos on our forum at www.bonsaiempire.com

[@linaallegro6585]

Can a bonsai put in a regular pot and put stone on the bottom

[@bonsaiempire]

Sure why not.

[@hpanyar8292]

Exotis of retusa

[@frankthetank5496]

Where should i buy my ficus tree?

[@bonsaiempire]

Depends on where you live and what your budget is! On our site we have some maps - or simply purchase at an online store?

[@uttamray7015]

Hallo Sir, I am Roy from India. Will you please share me the name of this bonsi plant by writing. Thanks🙏

[@saeed_koraylee]

آیا گلدان کوچک نیست؟

[@bonsai_life_style]

It looks like tree from shop. Ahhh what a pithy pot is not so good and give that cheap look to the tree. And if you take that akadama off and put some bark tree could be much happier and soil could stand in good shape for longer.

[@tamanficus]

Ficus microcarpa,, know Ficus retusa sir😅😅

[@blusukanbonsai]

Permission to listen and learn about bonsai care

[@nonamaae]

ur showing educational how to for newbies but ur making mistake by cleaning roots before preparing pot and soil mix.

[@elbow6380]

He also misidentify the tree. Its not a retusa. Its microcarpa

[@elbow6380]

Thats a microcarpa and not a retusa. Leaves are very different. Mislabeling for years. Even big nurseries get it wrong.

[@Axlepaxle]

I thought so! Looked at it and said to myself “isn’t that a ginseng?”

[@elbow6380]

@@Axlepaxle its kinda annoying how even experienced guys and nurseries get it wrong.