Tiger Bark Ficus microcarpa retusa indoor bonsai 3 year progression - December 2020

This is a three year progression video of me in my small NYC apartment pruning and repotting my Ficus microcarpa retusa "Tiger Bark Fig" indoor bonsai.
Follow me on instagram for my photos of beautiful bonsai I capture in the outside world / bonsaibylan
My bonsai tools:
Joshua Roth professional grade bonsai shear amzn.to/2sMZ7RW
Joshua Roth intermediate grade knob cutter amzn.to/2sI9QgU
Joshua Roth 8 inch angle point bonsai tweezers amzn.to/2sI647i
Joshua Roth professional grade stainless steel bonsai rake amzn.to/2sEKPCu
Bonsai tool set for beginners amzn.to/2tCtyqz
Fiskars bypass pruning shears for medium sized branches amzn.to/2sF7A96
Fiskars pruning snip for leaves and small branches amzn.to/2sF0IbR
Bonsai roll up tool bag amzn.to/2sEZo8O
Joebonsai bonsai pruning cut paste amzn.to/2sI1WUP
My bonsai soil mix:
Turface - I bought mine from a local agricultural store, but here is some turface on Amazon amzn.to/2sEKmQu
Potting mix - I bought mine from a local garden center, but here it is on Amazon amzn.to/2sF8uT2
Perlite - I bought mine from a local garden center, but here it is on Amazon amzn.to/2sF8BOs
Soil scoops - I use dog/cat food scoops that I got from a local pet store, but here is one on Amazon amzn.to/2sHT5m6
Soil sifter - I use a food strainer that I bought from a local home goods store, but here is one on Amazon amzn.to/2ruaYQW

[@TheBonsaiZone]

The trunk and branches are getting tremendous character and the tree is looking really ancient!

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Thanks! I am still trying to decide whether or not I want the three main branches coming from the main trunk, or if I should cut back to one or two.

[@BonsaiJCan]

Awesome job! The tree is looking really good 👍

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Thank you!

[@smallblog66]

Hallo, nice tree. Development shown over the years. Thank you very much for sharing your work. Greetings from Germany, liebe Grüße aus dem Schwarzwald

[@txrtletj]

Thank you for posting this video I have a ficus microcarpa and it has a full canopy and I was unsure what style I wanted

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Great! Do you have any photos of it online that I can see?

[@ernsttencate6699]

Very nice video. I like your way of showing the progression over the years.

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Thank you!

[@CConn-df7hy]

Those aerial roots are really developing what a great and interesting progression, thanks for sharing!

[@BonsaiByLAN]

I appreciate hearing that! 🙏

[@Andi_M.]

Nice one, mate!! I like it!!

[@thegroundtone]

Love it man. I have a particular love of ficus, and yours rock. I'm curious to know how long you leave them in plastic bags? I'm impressed with the rapid growth you get out of them. I have a few Tiger Barks, and even more Ficus Rubiginosa or "Port Jackson Figs" They're native around these parts in Sydney, and great to work with. Not sure if you can find them over your way, but they're worth it if you can get your hands on one. They develop thick, flared, tapered trunks quickly and easily. Their only disadvantage is larger leaves, but you can get them small with lots of branch ramification.

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Thanks! I don’t have specific amount of time I leave them in plastic bag. It could be 1-2 weeks up to 2-3 months! I just open the back once a week to check progress and to make sure it hasn’t dried out or mold isn’t growing.

[@yann5524]

Dope !!

[@BonsaiByLAN]

🙌

[@wadmadhushan4434]

Wow super

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Thank you!

[@bonsaipetualang]

Spesial ficus

[@BonsaiByLAN]

🙏

[@kino410]

Hi
Why you put her in the plastic bag?
And for how long you live it in the plastic bag?
And do you water it after while when she is in the plastic bag??
Thanks
(Sorry for my English)😊

[@ibrahimcak5625]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@chrisrose323]

Whats in your soil mix my man?

[@BonsaiByLAN]

Hey! My soil mix is turface, pumice (or perlite) and pine bark (or sifted miracle grow citrus) in equal parts.

[@chrisrose323]

@@BonsaiByLAN Thanks. Still Cant find what turface would be in sweden. No idea.

[@BonsaiByLAN]

@@chrisrose323 if you cannot find turface, you can use lava rock or pumice for similar effect. chicken grit / crushed up gravel can also be used. It doesn't retain water like turface, lava rock, or pumice, but it will help the soil with drainage and aeration .

[@chrisrose323]

@@BonsaiByLAN I have thought alot about it and Will most likly end up with a very plain pumice/bark mix. Even through I dont like the light colour of the pumice XD

[@kino410]

Sorry it’s me again
When you put it in plastic bag…do you place the bag under horticulture light for 12 h à day??