Thank you! I must say I'm also really happy with how it turned out. Now it's back to waiting 😅

It's a pumice and lava rock mixture

Thank you for the kind words!

Sounds interesting, I will definitely read up more on them

Oh that sounds so interesting!

If you want to keep it small and tidy, pruning will be necessary. Otherwise it will grow out over time and either become very leggy or shrub-like.

Yes, I am really happy with how it is coming along :)

You can let it grow a bit, and the next time you repot your ficus, and this new tree has developed its own roots, you can separate it from the main tree and pot it up in its own pot ;)

Thank you Mike!!​@@ThatBonsaiGuy

Either straight into soil or I water propagate them

Happy to hear that! 😄

Yes they can be grown hydroponically

Happy to hear I played a role in getting you interested in portulacaria afra 😉 Also here they are not available all the time, so I make sure to grab one whenever I see them somewhere. Now in summer they seem a bit more widely available in my area. Hope you will find one as well!

@@ThatBonsaiGuy I constantly keep my eyes open for them. Best wishes, stay well.

@@None2Lose you too!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks! The soil is a mixture of pumice and lava rock.

It depends on the tree. Generally you should water when the top layer of the soil is dry. This normally is every 2 to 3 days. In summer it could be multiple times a day though.

Yes I know sadly, switched mics since then 😅

@@ThatBonsaiGuy no problem, I stayed until the end of your video... it was really good. I'm wondering if you could help me with my Judas tree, which is still a seedling that hasn't been pruned into a bonsai. it is about 55 cm long and 1 cm thick at the bottom of the trunk

​@@mateuszrybinski4716sure, how can I help you with it?

@@ThatBonsaiGuy I have 4 problems the first is the fact that I have no idea how to send you a photo of my seedling and it seems necessary to me secondly, I wonder if I cut the tree down about halfway, whether it will die... thirdly, breeding takes place on a sunny windowsill. I wonder if the tree will survive the winter at +18 degrees Celsius Fourth, the tree has brown things on the leaves... I don't really know what it is. can you help me with that?

​@@mateuszrybinski4716For such a severe cut-back definitely wait until late winter, before the tree starts to flower. It will react better when it is still dormant. The species is fully hardy, it should be able to deal with temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius - best Google the species for details on how to best keep it over winter if you cannot keep it outside (but basically the coldest room you have alternatively, like an unheated basement or garage). For the spots on the leaves I would need a pic. In case you use Instagram you can send me a pic there: instagram.com/_thatbonsaiguy_/

I water when the top layer of the soil is dry. However, I switched to inorganic soil by now also for my Ming Aralias and since then they seem to do way better. I guess it is the better aeration.

Thank you! 😊

It is by defoliating the tree! However, ficus benjamina is one variety that does not react well to having all foliage removed at once. So only partially defoliate on benjamina, always leaving some leaves on branches

@@ThatBonsaiGuy thanks a lot

I think so too!

Thanks!

Happy to hear that!

Thanks for the tip!

I agree! :)

Oh, I should definitely make a video about the soil in the future!

I gifted it to a friend, but still doing good 😊

Yes, most ficus varieties can regrow leaves from bare branches (as long as the branch itself is not dead)

Yes it was a bit droopy afterwards

@@ThatBonsaiGuy well that’s reassuring! Thank you , mine is droopy and I was worried I messed up something or moved it into bad soil, glad to know it’s just adjusting^^

I actually never tried to grow a new tree from a cut ficus microcarpa root, but I would guess that it could work! This species does bud back very well so new growth could develop around where the root was cut off 😉

@@ThatBonsaiGuy I just hope that root didn't end up in the trash 😊why don't you try to plant it? Bring some new baby buds to life🤗Thank you for the reply🙏🤍

If your tree is overall healthy, a prune should not harm it, but generally lead to healthier growth. Just look for information on how to prune and give it a go! 😄 My tip, start with a light prune to get a feeling for it first 😉

@@ThatBonsaiGuy ohhh...thank youuuu so much🙏if only I could save those leaves life! I will try with only one branch.. let's see how it will react😁😊

It gets easier with time! 😉😄

@@ThatBonsaiGuy please....see my other comment🙏help for my little friend...I feel sorry to cut his leaves🙏🤗

Tbh I simply use a balanced allrounder liquid fertilizer for indoor plants from the garden center, nothing specific for bonsai 😅

And how often roughly?

@@tony7777777tony The liquid fertilizer I use every one to two weeks during growth season and maybe once a month or even less during dormancy.

Yes, if the root does not reach the soil it will dry up and die back to a point that is still supported by the other roots

@@ThatBonsaiGuy Do you know if it can be saved by getting it into some soil or is it too late?

​@@Kyle_Schaffif it has not dried up yet you can simply cover it with soil

That sounds awesome 😎

I guess mixing both makes sense: First carefully removing the majority of the soil manually, and then washing off the rest by dipping the roots in water.