How to care for Ficus Bonsai 

Since I started watching you, I have acquired the courage to stop taking lip from my plants and smacking them around some to show who’s boss. As a result, they are thriving like never before. Thanks.

This man is like the Bob Ross of Bonsi.

It’s midnight and I am watching nice guy cutting leafs for half hour, story of my life 😉

after a stressful day, it’s always a pleasure watching your videos

"once a year, you need to do something radical" another life lesson from Mr. Chan

Hi Peter As a fellow nurseryman, to control scale,I suggest spraying 80 to 100 proof vodka on a hot sunny day. Simply spray around noon and scale is dead in 2 hours. It works by dissolving the waxy cover and dries out the inside. This only works in summer, as it does not get hot enough in winter. Much safer and more effective than toxic systemic insecticides

my stepdad went on a 3 week vacation to Turkey and left me with a Ficus Microcarpa to take care of. I have been watching a bunch of videos like these, this is fascinating. I think I found a new hobby outside of martial arts!

Love how he keeps caressing the leaves as he speaks, such care! Would love to visit after this crazy time we're living in. Thank you!

I have a desire to buy a house with a greenhouse or conservatory and make it into a nursery for all sorts of bonsai and exotic plants 🌱

Oh, you guys. My Ficus has been dropping leaves like crazy and I was freaking out, but him saying they can lose all their leaves in winter just made me feel so much better. God, thank you so much.

Thanks for the inspiration Peter! My first Bonsai was a Ficus benjamina. I still have it today and hot a lot of cuttings from it. So it has childrens and grandchildrens 😉🌳

Thanks for the detailed demonstration on ficus bonsais. Very helpful

I nearly spent hundreds of pounds on a bonsai course for beginners (I won x2 ficus in a competition). Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I am learning so much.

My granny gave me a Ficus more than 20 years ago. Since I did not give it a bigger pot in ages it stayed relatively small. One thing became clear now...it needs a haircut just as much as I do :)

I can listen to you for hours. That's how good it feels watching your video. Mention of Botanical Gardens in Calcutta made me happier as my city Calcutta gets mentioned

As a viewer and fan from the tropics (Malaysia) I appreciate you talking about ficuses. I have several ficuses and they are a great specimen for bonsai. They grow rapidly and I guess in temperate climate they won't Grow as fast

Hi Peter. Thanks for another excellent video. I´m from Gran Canaria and I have a lot of ficusses like those. Those are Ficus Microcarpa Tigerbark and probably they are, in my opinnion, the best trees for making bonsai. I love them. I usually defoliate them to see the structure before cutting them and I do that twice a year and I don´t have any problem with them. Greettings regards from Gran Canaria.

You have the loudest pruning scissors I've ever come across! :D Thanks for the lesson. I have a new cutting I took from my mother's ficus. Preparing to be a good ficus owner with your videos :)

I've found one way to grow Ficus nitida as a very low care Bonsai...you place its pot on the ground. Use a quality Bonsai clay pot and the tree will root into the ground while never outgrowing the pot with minimal pruning. For me in California,it also takes much less water and fertilizer to keep them lush green.

Thank you for this important lesson on ficus pruning.

Hello, sir i am Sachi from India. I have been wanting to pursue Bonsai as a hobby and i am really learning alot from your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in the best way. I am already into Terrarium making and i want to learn Bonsai as well.

I love my ficus. Curley Benjamina, too little is my favorite. Then the willow, which they changed the name but I didn't. Then the regular benjaminas, green and variegated. And the rubber tree died from too much cold. I would trim all the leaves 3 times a year and they came back smaller each time. I've had them from cuttings since 2004. They grow wonderfully here in Florida. They go down to 20° sometimes with protection. They take drought and rainy seasons. Perfect tree for beginners.

It's great watching you work peter I also have a ficus which I got from B&Q and it was nearly dead I planted it in molor clay and bark and it is thriving now I promise to make a trip to see you Peter I have not forgot the Horn beam that you said I could have next year as you got a load for free .. thanks again for the knowledge that you share...

It’s been around 40 the past few days at my house as long as I keep mine in the shade they’re good I live near Death Valley I have a 1500 gallon water tank I use as a greenhouse they absolutely love it

Thank you Peter. I live in Brisbane, subtropics. Ficus do very well here. Your explanations are excellent no matter what the species. I really appreciate your videos😊

I just found this channel! I’m new to bonsai. I absolutely love this mans confidence and boldness in pruning his trees! I’m still way too apprehensive when pruning my trees.

Thank you Peter for that demonstration. I live in southern Australia so it does get down to 1-2 degrees at night during winter. I now know what to do with my Ficus Figs, of which I have many. I found by experimenting with cuttings a few years ago, that it is possible to strike new plants. 🎍🇦🇺

Thank you for another great video! One thing I've noticed is that living in a cold country like Finland is, it's ofcourse not great for Bonsai growing, and even the indoor Bonsais struggle. Always when I get a new tree from nursery, I change the soil straight away. The electrical heaters we use gives a far too dry growing environment and most nursery stock trees have clay or something like it in the soil. This turns hard as concrete if you don't change it.. Thank you for one of the best channels out here! Cheers! Mika

Thanks for this informative video! I have recently inherited 3 ficus bonsai and would love to know more about feeing/fertilizing. Thanks!

We must be in sync, just got a ficus from my uncle, it was in bad shape, never re potted and it was like cement, I trimmed the branches and re potted with a lot of sphagnum, hoping it comes back, the few leaves left died so now it's bare, we will see but that is the only indoor bonsai I have dealt with. Also I got a bristlecone pine cone from a friend of mine after mentioning it, I extracted about 12 seeds, after a 12 hour float I got about 7 good seeds, 3 I am trying to sprout in a baggie/damp towel, the others in the fridge to stratify. Looking forward to see progress.

Buying a Bonsai tomorrow. This guy is great!

As always a wealth of information and inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing with us here on RU-vid. 🥃cheers🍻

Afraid of pruning -You are so right. I admire your talent.

this is a very useful video, i have tried to grow bonsai many times over the years without success, but your channel is giving me the confidence to try again. thank you

This has got to be one of the best youtube channels i've ever came across

I am the proud cultivator of an eighteen year old benjamin ficus Bonsai which I obtained when it was in a 4" pot from Walmart for $4.00 USD (It was about 3-5 inches tall). Over these years I have encouraged it into a two foot(approx) tall Surface root old tree style Bonsai. My inspiration was that in 2004 I learned that the oldest Bonsai in the world was a 1000 year old benjamin ficus. My intent is that one day when I shuffle the mortal coil I will pass it down to my son who will in turn pass it to his. Alternately the benefit of using this species is that they are extremely resilient to abuse and mistreatment which is an important aspect of the Bonsai process. Also they pop out random branches and sucker regularly which means that with a little encouragement you can encourage new branches to fill hallow spots or achieve a change in overall look. Then on top of it all the cuttings root readily by just putting them in soil down to a node making them great gifts and giving you the option of cultivating more wee trees. I have to say that Ficus are probably the best species for people just starting their Bonsai journey.

This is wonderful! Thank you so much for passing on your time and talent! Could you could do a video on the philosophy of bonsai? I understand it is a fusion of art (and you being a maverick) and horticulture (science) - of making a 'natural' shaped tree vs a topiary. What exactly makes a 'good' vs 'mediocre' tree - why are there 'pads', why the particular silhouette etc? I have picked up bits and pieces in many of your vids (I especially like the poetry of "... the bottom branches are like arms welcoming you and the top like it bows to you" ... ) Thank you so much.

Your videos are so inspiring and I learn so much from them! Thank you so much for your time and effort, you're the best! I'm starting my adventure with bonsai and I believe your videos are helping me a lot :)

At 14:05 he starts losing a battle with that single leaf on top. He misses it a TON! His first swipe at it is actually at 13:53.

I’m so happy I found this video. Thank you for all the knowledge and insight! I truly appreciate it!

Every time I see Peter start chopping away I think to myself "Oh god... he's removing that?! what is he... what? OH GOD". He'll keep hacking away and it gets scruffier and scruffier, and then suddenly it clicks, and within seconds he turns it around to a lovely looking tree! It's like watching a magic trick. Gets me every time.

All ways watch ur videos for guidance I have had a lot of bonsais from herons and got a small broom style ficus carnt wait for my next purchase I am getting a large ficus I only get my bonsai off peter and his team at herons because I no iv I buy I get well look afterd bonsai I highly recommend herons for bonsai and guidance

I love ALL YOUR VIDEOS. I SEE A BONSAI AND THINK SO PRETTY THEN YOU GET TO CUTTING AND JUST MAKE THEM MORE BEAUTIFUL

Thx for sharing Peter,.those are beautiful large ficus trees 😊 indeed. Can't wait for the next video, hope to see some Olive Europa if possible..😃

Thank you again Peter for all your help. I will have to sharpen my shears and get to work on my ficus.

I just got myself a ficus and your videos are very informative. Thank you!

Thanks. Our indoor ficus bonsai is nearly all yellow and we were worried but now we know this is normal for February.

More commonly know as the Banyan tree in India (Ficus benghalensis); The Calcutta botanical garden tree is of this type, also Peepal tree is a type of Ficus( Ficus religiosa).

I have a Ficus Retusa Bonsai. I live in Australia. My ficus never loses it leaves, although I don't get new growth over the Winter. It is ok outside with temperatures up to about 38 degrees celcius. If it gets hotter than that, I'll bring it inside. It doesn't seem to get too cold for it in the winter, it gets down to about 5 degrees celcius here.

Very helpful. The figus I inherited has no trunk. Just lanky pikes shooting from the lovely root. I will feed it from now on.

Another excellent video Peter, many thanks for all the information👍☺️

Well, Peter, I guess I won't have to worry about getting one of your trees someday. I want one of your trees or a Forest from you so bad. I just got Diagnose with liver cancer. About two months ago So they got me on the transplant list. Yes, I won't ever get one of the damn trees now. LOL. Keep making your shows, I'll keep watching.😊 I haven't given up on one yet

I am from Indonesia, I have several bonsai from ficus trees and tamarin trees from seed. I try to make bonsai as my hobby. Many kind spesimen of ficus in here, local said in bahasa as kimeng, iprik, benjamina, dollar leaf, diamond leaf

The Red Balete of the Philippines (I am not sure if it is ficus philippinensis or ficus concinna) is the best looking ficus plant. It sprouts a bright red leaf after defoliation and can rival those temperate trees in colors.

Thanks for that Peter , think I'll give the ficus a trim 👍🙏

Can you please make a video for ginseng Ficus? I know you said that it’s not favorite but I want to know more about it because I own one. Thank you 😊

Mahalo🤙 from Hawaii just got mine and very excited it’s still baby now and want to make it great tree and this gave me a lot of information to teach me how to make great

Thank you! I've been hoping for a ficus video!

My friend gifted me her beautiful curtain fig tree that she no longer wanted❤️ she didn’t know what it was and once I told her she fell back in love and comes over and visits her fig tree :)

You are so cool in your creativity and making something out it seems nothing! Make it something beautiful! I wish I could have been in your school! God Bless you. Cincinnati Ohio

I Love your creativity❤❤❤❤❤

Petting my ginseng, "he didn't mean it" 🥺

I keep my Benjamin fig in full sun all year round and I live in queensland...

Interestingly my neighbour is growing a Ficus benjamina plant in his garden and it's been there for years now, thriving. Just to give you an idea on the climate, we are in northern Slovakia (temperate mountain climate) where the winter temperatures often drop below -20°C at night in January

wow no words for the bonsai Just awesome Sir

Those larger ones are amazing. So beautiful.

Considering he doesn’t like them much, he sure knows a lot about Ficus Ginseng! True dedication to plants.

I've started a Ficus Watkinsiniana - A type of Australian strangling fig and boy does it move fast in summertime in Queensland - Australia. Within 3 weeks Its got a root wrapping my surrogate around 8cms in length, moving atleast 4-5mm per day. Amazing tree's.

Thank you, Mr. Peter!

Peter is a good man

Great help good thing u meantion that it is really having a time of falling leaves- i am living in dubai its is really 🥵 in here specially in summer may- aug

hi peter ..i come from indonesia , its nice to watching ur videos , love ur chanell, very interesting, gave me lot of information, honestly its surprised me that u have ficus on your collections. in my country we can found many ficus types and yes ficus most popular for bonsai hobby over here but nowdays we have lots types tree for bonsai ... sorry english is not my native language , hope u understand what i want to say

I have Ficus Bonsai, its tiny now, but hope will get bigger soon. I have replaced its pot to a bigger one, with soil I've bought from supermarket.

Thanks peter love your work, have a few of your books. Please can you do a vid on golden larch, Buddhist pine or picea abies ✌

(not a Bonsai ficus but I want to air layer it...) My ficus is not bushy, it is tall and sparse. There is a section of the trunk at least 6-7 foot with no branches or leaves... We have had this tree since 1992 and moved it from El Paso, TX to Aurora, CO when I left the military.

I love ficus😍

I adore those trunks

Thanks sir for showing us your beautiful ficus bonsai.

Be bold! thank you for this informative video

Ficus trees are very hardy and often chosen by new bonsai hobbyists. I used it when I tried growing bonsai.

Sir thank you very much, your guidance is very much useful to beginners

In Indonesia, as a tropical country, we prune ficus carefully, so we can get smaller leaves.

Thank you sir! Amazing work yet again!

I would like to know more about Bonsai fruit trees I just started a pomegranate

Ohh, im so in love with scissors sound

Sir , I am from INDIA . Normally it's quite impossible to create this massive type of ficus bonsai trunk within 5 years . If I am wrong pls tell me . I am a great fan of yours . Thank you . Have a nice day .

Beautiful Bonnie, very near to nature as well excellent to understand

I love them I just bought tiger bark

Can you do more videos on ficus bonsai? I have a bonsai plant that has two branches growing straight up, that’s it and I do not know what to do with it. Most ficus bonsai videos feature the ficus you displayed, but my bonsai is a different variety. I would like to create a bushy shape to my plant. I do not know how to do that. Thanks for the content!

Those commercial ficus with aerial roots sell for about 120GBP equivalent in the middle east. Certain European shop chains for plants have a monopoly in places like Oman and Qatar. Good quality commercial bonsai material though. Plant passports and everything.

Absolutely excellent video as always. Thanks.

I've been worried about my ficus bonsai (bought a month ago) dropping a lot of leaves and relieved to hear when you said they drop their leaves. I'm hoping it's due to the time of year and it's not dying

Thank you Sir! 👍🏾

Hi, This may sound like a super naive and reused question, but is there a way to drastically reduce the leaf size of a Ficus? And if not, what are the Ficus species/cultivars that are considered smallest in this area? And thank you a lot for your videos. They are informative, and you provide both a chill style of conveying your points and some dramatic action movement when you cut branches. Your videos are a pleasure to watch.

I live on the east coast of US and fall is approaching followed by winter. I am new to bonsai and have a 0 nitrogen fertilizer to stop growth?..when do I start applying and I will be keeping my Chinese elm outside for the winter. Do you have any tips for winter care and should it be kept close to the ground or in a high location? As my questions indicate my knowledge is very sparce...please advise...

Hello sir. Your video was very helpful. I am right now starting my first bonsai. It is an Indian Banyan Tree (Ficus Benghalensis). You were saying that the trees grow much faster in tropical environments and very slow otherwise. I live in Maryland, USA, so I am not in such an environment. If I keep the bonsai in heat similar to the tropics, will it grow just as fast? Or does it depend on something else? Thank you.

Awesome video Sensei.

Bonsai merupakan seni tingkat tinggi ...😂👍👍👍

Greetings from indonesia !

Great video Peter, would you consider a video like this for Ligustrum/Privet bonsai care?