Benjamin ficus repot

[Lagavulin30]

I live here in Alberta Canada and spring is just kicking off. Still not warm enough to leave trees out overnight. I’m wondering when is it ok to re pot my ficus? It’s a large tree, when I started growing it I never intended for it to be a bonsai of any kind. Wasn’t really interested in the topic at the time. Now that I’ve taken an interest in it I would like to start trying to shape it into something if possible.

 

[canoeguide]

Repotting of ficus is best done in the middle of summer, when it's as hot and humid as it gets in your area.

That's a beautiful ficus plant, but it may be difficult to turn into a bonsai which would be far, far shorter. Benjamina are tricker to chop low down (generally, pruning a branch or trunk should always leave some green leaves on the end, or it may just die). Air layering the top off of the whole thing, or a branch, or taking cuttings would all be viable ways of starting a bonsai from this.

"The Art of Ficus Bonsai" by Jerry Meislik is an excellent book for a good overview of using ficus species for bonsai.

 

[Lagavulin30]

Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it

 

[sorce]

Truth truth.....

Actually 2 truths....

One, I miss having a full sized ficus in the living room.
2, I've taken a pencil size whip to as large as that base with one season in a little earth.

That, combined with the fact that that base is kinda uninteresting and budless, I would hope you make a couple airlayers for your bonsai project and hang on to your indoor air filter.

It's just downright more valuable/productive/beautiful/time saving,etc etc.

Sorce

 

[Lagavulin30]

I think I might just let this ficus be. When I started it I wanted it to be a large presence in the room and that’s what it’s become. Sounds like it would be better to start a new bonsai from a cutting. Thanks.

 

[AnutterBonsai]

how do you water it indoors so that it doesnt get on your floors?

 

[Lagavulin30]

I don’t water it much in winter but when I do I have a large plastic base that sits underneath it. During the summer it’s stays outdoors so it not an issue when the watering increases