My 1st Bonsai - Ficus Microcarpa

[9isHokage]

Hi all
I am new to the forum and to the art of bonsai. English is not my main language, so I may be wrong, sorry)

Last month, I bought this wonderful ficus at the shopping centre. I approach this hobby responsibly, and I don't want to harm the tree. So I immediately bought Japanese tools, fertiliser, akadama, kiryu and other necessary things to start with.

I have read a lot of literature and watched quality videos, so I have the basic beginner's knowledge)

Initially I want to transplant the tree in the autumn to colander. Fix it to a plate to start forming a proper root system.

But I have a big problem, I don't know where to start the tree design, which branches to cut off and which are better to leave. I look at my tree and I am lost. Can you please help me with advice on where to start? Which branches should I cut off? And what is the best way to start shaping my tree at this stage?

I am also interested in the topic of nebari, please share your experience, where to start shaping a beautiful nebari?

Thank you all so much!

 

[yamadoriboi]

No replies yet so I'll throw in my 2 cents.
I would start with a good repot. Your soil looks compact and not bonsai specific. Figure out a fertilizer situation that you'll stick true to. Bio gold is easy peasy.
Use knob cutters to hollow out the large cut marks so that they can heal properly. You want to cut down I to the wood so that the bulge isn't as noticeable. As for styling there is a you tube series by bosify about creating a masterpiece from that type of ficus.

 

[JonathanBonzai]

Do you have any tips for my Blue Jacaranda bonsai?

 

[9isHokage]

No replies yet so I'll throw in my 2 cents.
I would start with a good repot. Your soil looks compact and not bonsai specific. Figure out a fertilizer situation that you'll stick true to. Bio gold is easy peasy.
Use knob cutters to hollow out the large cut marks so that they can heal properly. You want to cut down I to the wood so that the bulge isn't as noticeable. As for styling there is a you tube series by bosify about creating a masterpiece from that type of ficus.

Thanks, mate! I bought two types of fertiliser Biogold fertilizer and Hanagokoro bonsai fertilizer. I plan to replant in autumn, in 70% Akadama and 30% Kiryu. I've been told that this is an excellent proportion for bonsai soil

 

[Melospiza]

Congrats on a healthy, well-branched tree that seems to be in great health. I would let it grow and maybe cut into the knobs. Always good to do that while tree is growing strongly, as it seems to be now.

 

[yamadoriboi]

Thanks, mate! I bought two types of fertiliser Biogold fertilizer and Hanagokoro bonsai fertilizer. I plan to replant in autumn, in 70% Akadama and 30% Kiryu. I've been told that this is an excellent proportion for bonsai soil

I heard spruce bark and akadama is a great mix.

 

[Dabbler]

I would repot and figure what branches you want to keep for a good start - then getting great growth and health would be the next. Great looking ficus btw

 

[9isHokage]

Congrats on a healthy, well-branched tree that seems to be in great health. I would let it grow and maybe cut into the knobs. Always good to do that while tree is growing strongly, as it seems to be now.

I would repot and figure what branches you want to keep for a good start - then getting great growth and health would be the next. Great looking ficus btw

Thanks, guys)

 

[eugenev2]

Hi all
I am new to the forum and to the art of bonsai. English is not my main language, so I may be wrong, sorry)

Last month, I bought this wonderful ficus at the shopping centre. I approach this hobby responsibly, and I don't want to harm the tree. So I immediately bought Japanese tools, fertiliser, akadama, kiryu and other necessary things to start with.

I have read a lot of literature and watched quality videos, so I have the basic beginner's knowledge)

Initially I want to transplant the tree in the autumn to colander. Fix it to a plate to start forming a proper root system.

But I have a big problem, I don't know where to start the tree design, which branches to cut off and which are better to leave. I look at my tree and I am lost. Can you please help me with advice on where to start? Which branches should I cut off? And what is the best way to start shaping my tree at this stage?

I am also interested in the topic of nebari, please share your experience, where to start shaping a beautiful nebari?

Thank you all so much!

No location provided, so difficult, to provide proper advice. But you mention autumn, so i'm guess northern hemisphere. As this is a ficus and they prefer warmer temperatures and not knowing your location, i would suggest to wait on repotting this tree until late spring/early summer next year. But this is based on assuming that your temperatures will start cooling down

 

[9isHokage]

No location provided, so difficult, to provide proper advice. But you mention autumn, so i'm guess northern hemisphere. As this is a ficus and they prefer warmer temperatures and not knowing your location, i would suggest to wait on repotting this tree until late spring/early summer next year. But this is based on assuming that your temperatures will start cooling down

Hi! I live in Ireland at the moment and my ficus lives at my house where the temperature is around 20 degrees. Outdoors here in autumn the temperature is usually between 14-18 degrees Celsius. In winter 5-8 degrees, it can rarely drop to 0 degrees. Thank you for your reply!

 

[*tree*]

If you have greenhouse, you could grow it in there. Eric Shrader (bonsaify) with similar climate has his in the greenhouse all the time and it grows very fast.