I did the same thing 23 years ago and the tree is a stunner. The base and nebari are massive. I grew it for a long time in a much larger pot to let it develop into the monster it is today.
Great progress on the fusion. Thank you for sharing the technique. I am a year into a technique I am using where I flatten 2mm wire using a hammer and anvil portion of my vise to produce a ribbon of aluminum. It is a bit tricky to keep it consistent width but with some care it works. I then wrap the trunk of several ficus cuttings with no gaps between the ribbon. The result is tight compression of the trunks and no evidence of wire bite. At a year in the trunks are nearly fused. I will check the ribbon for removal during next seasons growth. Thanks again for a great video.
Very cool to see your 'vision' come to fruition...Looks very healthy and robust. I think the Teflon tape is genius...It cheap enough that you can put it on tight and thick...i use the packing wrap for m y 'air-layering' projects with great success...Well done B/B and thanks for sharing...
Thank you! The tephlon tape has been working well. However, I've recently started to see it kind of fray out when removing it. Not sure what to think of that yet. More time will tell.
Looks like they are coming along nicely. Tip though. When you wrap the clear film you’ll get much better results if you stretch it to almost is breaking point.
I used cable ties. That works well. Yours is excellent. Not sure if you need the wire at this stage. I would have thought once the process has started, just let it go.
You know, I’m really interested to see what properties the wood an old, large tree originating from fused cuttings would have. It appears quite intense to be accomplish, but it seems possible. Perhaps I shall have to experiment with this
NIce! Thanks for sharing a cool project and keeping up with all the footage over time. Production quality 💪🏻! Have you experienced die back of any single cuttings once fusion has started?
Thank you! And I have, yes. Not on this particular one but on a few others I have. It's kind of a bummer, depending on whether the trunk that dies is in the middle or on the outside somewhere. But I also think it will add to the character in the long run because the trunk ends up looking different and kind of weird/cool.
You slowly getting there and appreciate you tell us all details in this journey. Not sure about the better growth due to fusion but it could be because some trees actually thrive in early stages to grow close to others?
Yeah I'm not 100% sure yet either. It's just a theory for now. I might do a little searching and see if anyone out there has similar theories or have ever tested the theory
I have one that is very similar to yours which I'm going for a banyan style wide canopy with aerial roots. I've planted it in a much larger pot though hoping it would grow faster. I did braid some of the smaller branches through hoping for more interesting shapes have you had experience doing that?
I haven't really been able to do a successful banyon style yet. I've tried once or twice but it didn't work out. I might try again now that you reminded me. And yes on braiding the branches. I have what I call my "main ficus fusion" where I did that. It does give some character to the branches!
@@ShayanGivehchian I do, yes! Posted an update on it recently and several others before that over the last 4 or 5 years. To be honest, it was my first attempt at it so I don't think it looks quite as good as this one does
Just found your channel and enjoying so much! That fusion is going to look fabulous after the summer. I’ve been experimenting with some fusions tiger bark and green island. Been using vet tape and that’s been working well for - wondering if you’ve tried it?
Thank you! And actually I have not tried vet tape but someone else told me about that recently so I think I'm going to. I'm hoping it looks a bit less obvious and ugly compared to the plumbers tape
@ definitely better than the white plumber tape , it’s a kinda beige color. It is also thicker and softer, you can build it up a bit to cushion any wiring you put on top. I’ve seen people wrap wire with it as cushioning but in my opinion tubing may be better for that. - learned it from Tony’s Bonsai (RIP) RUclips, and I really do miss him.
I have a 35-year old 3rd generation ficus descended from an original cutting taken 50 years ago. It had outgrown its pot and was very stressed, probably dying. When pulled it out, I found a softball sized bulbous growth had replaced almost all the roots. It reminded me of celeriac, or water chestnut, very crispy. I cut the bulbous part in half, keeping as many of the few rootlets as possible, repotted, and pruned severely. After about 3 months it has recovered nicely, almost all the bare branches having sprouted new leaves and twigs. Has anybody else seen this bulbous root growth, know what it is?
@@philbaer4004 Sounds like a cool tree! And yes, I see ficus benjaminas get those big potato roots sometimes. Seems like they're prone to it, especially in deeper pots.
I used to think that too, but now I'm not so sure. I have others in deep pots but what ends up happening is that the roots grow like crazy and that's where the bulk really ends up happening. But in the much longer run, once the pot starts to fill up, the grow starts to bulge up the trunks. Kind of like a balloon. Grow follows the path of least resistance
I did the same thing 23 years ago and the tree is a stunner. The base and nebari are massive. I grew it for a long time in a much larger pot to let it develop into the monster it is today.
@@jameslangschied7900 nice! Have any pictures of it?
Would love to see
Me too
A cool project, they are looking good!!
@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks Nigel!
Love the progress, great update!
@@ThatBonsaiGuy thank you!
it really has fused 👏wow great job and thanks for showing🌳👍
Thank you!
8:45 I appreciate your technique, i do a similar thing with Creeping Fig. I also appreciate your little Ladybug Guardian.
Thank you! The lady bugs in the grow tent take care of all the little bugs for me. Like little soldiers
Great progress on the fusion. Thank you for sharing the technique. I am a year into a technique I am using where I flatten 2mm wire using a hammer and anvil portion of my vise to produce a ribbon of aluminum. It is a bit tricky to keep it consistent width but with some care it works. I then wrap the trunk of several ficus cuttings with no gaps between the ribbon. The result is tight compression of the trunks and no evidence of wire bite. At a year in the trunks are nearly fused. I will check the ribbon for removal during next seasons growth. Thanks again for a great video.
That's a great idea! I might try to find a way to do something like that and try it out.
Un grand merci à vous pour le partage de votre expérience!
Thank you!
Very cool to see your 'vision' come to fruition...Looks very healthy and robust. I think the Teflon tape is genius...It cheap enough that you can put it on tight and thick...i use the packing wrap for m y 'air-layering' projects with great success...Well done B/B and thanks for sharing...
Thank you! The tephlon tape has been working well. However, I've recently started to see it kind of fray out when removing it. Not sure what to think of that yet. More time will tell.
Nice job Mike!
Thanks Kennet!
Very nice nebari such early on in the process
Thank you!
How long do you normally leave the cuttings in water, or how long do they take to root in water?
Usually within about a month or so, depending on conditions
@BonsaiBoise cool
Looks like they are coming along nicely. Tip though. When you wrap the clear film you’ll get much better results if you stretch it to almost is breaking point.
Good tip!
nice project ... might try compression tape...its light brown/tan color plus many other colors ...
Just googled it, that's a great idea!
I used cable ties. That works well. Yours is excellent. Not sure if you need the wire at this stage. I would have thought once the process has started, just let it go.
Yeah you might be right, I'm not 100% sure. I've seen other videos where they let it go once the fusion started and it did seem to work out well.
You know, I’m really interested to see what properties the wood an old, large tree originating from fused cuttings would have. It appears quite intense to be accomplish, but it seems possible. Perhaps I shall have to experiment with this
@Randomrainfrog it's pretty fun and easy to do. Especially when you end up with a whole bunch of cuttings like I always do.
NIce! Thanks for sharing a cool project and keeping up with all the footage over time. Production quality 💪🏻! Have you experienced die back of any single cuttings once fusion has started?
Thank you! And I have, yes. Not on this particular one but on a few others I have. It's kind of a bummer, depending on whether the trunk that dies is in the middle or on the outside somewhere. But I also think it will add to the character in the long run because the trunk ends up looking different and kind of weird/cool.
@@BonsaiBoise Embrace the process!
Nice work! If you put it in bigger pot or even in the ground, the process will take less time😊
You slowly getting there and appreciate you tell us all details in this journey. Not sure about the better growth due to fusion but it could be because some trees actually thrive in early stages to grow close to others?
Yeah I'm not 100% sure yet either. It's just a theory for now. I might do a little searching and see if anyone out there has similar theories or have ever tested the theory
I have one that is very similar to yours which I'm going for a banyan style wide canopy with aerial roots. I've planted it in a much larger pot though hoping it would grow faster. I did braid some of the smaller branches through hoping for more interesting shapes have you had experience doing that?
I haven't really been able to do a successful banyon style yet. I've tried once or twice but it didn't work out. I might try again now that you reminded me. And yes on braiding the branches. I have what I call my "main ficus fusion" where I did that. It does give some character to the branches!
You have a video featuring that tree? I'd like to see it.
@@ShayanGivehchian I do, yes! Posted an update on it recently and several others before that over the last 4 or 5 years. To be honest, it was my first attempt at it so I don't think it looks quite as good as this one does
Just found your channel and enjoying so much! That fusion is going to look fabulous after the summer. I’ve been experimenting with some fusions tiger bark and green island. Been using vet tape and that’s been working well for - wondering if you’ve tried it?
Thank you! And actually I have not tried vet tape but someone else told me about that recently so I think I'm going to. I'm hoping it looks a bit less obvious and ugly compared to the plumbers tape
@ definitely better than the white plumber tape , it’s a kinda beige color. It is also thicker and softer, you can build it up a bit to cushion any wiring you put on top. I’ve seen people wrap wire with it as cushioning but in my opinion tubing may be better for that. - learned it from Tony’s Bonsai (RIP) RUclips, and I really do miss him.
I have a 35-year old 3rd generation ficus descended from an original cutting taken 50 years ago. It had outgrown its pot and was very stressed, probably dying. When pulled it out, I found a softball sized bulbous growth had replaced almost all the roots. It reminded me of celeriac, or water chestnut, very crispy. I cut the bulbous part in half, keeping as many of the few rootlets as possible, repotted, and pruned severely. After about 3 months it has recovered nicely, almost all the bare branches having sprouted new leaves and twigs. Has anybody else seen this bulbous root growth, know what it is?
@@philbaer4004 Sounds like a cool tree! And yes, I see ficus benjaminas get those big potato roots sometimes. Seems like they're prone to it, especially in deeper pots.
Funny, there is a ladybug from 6.53 fw😂😂😂
My little soldier, fighting all the aphids. 🪖🐞
The bigger and deeper the pot quicker the fusion
I used to think that too, but now I'm not so sure. I have others in deep pots but what ends up happening is that the roots grow like crazy and that's where the bulk really ends up happening. But in the much longer run, once the pot starts to fill up, the grow starts to bulge up the trunks. Kind of like a balloon. Grow follows the path of least resistance