Ficus – Expressions of Grace Bonsai

My Top 5 Trees for Bonsai

Xavier Martinez — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:10:05 +0000

If I were starting bonsai today what tree would I buy and why?

In this episode I am going to explain my Top 5 ‘beginner-tree’ choices in relation to several critieria. This will take into account: relative experience, indoor or outdoor, flowering, cheapest and quickest results. Then, I will follow my own advice and start a brand new tree – next episode; as part of my Bonsai Basics series.

I also explain why I chose to ignore one of the world’s most popular starter bonsai. Let me know if you agree in the comments…

Don’t I look great!

Topics Covered:

01:25 My best Flowering Option – Dwarf Azalea.
03:58 My first starter-tree Option – Japanese Larch.
05:54 My easiest to source Option – English Oak
07:52 My best indoor Option – Tigerbark Ficus.
09:23 My favourite Option – Italian Alder.

Which species do you think I should have chosen???

God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier

Bonsai in Bloom – Spring Catwalk Display

Xavier Martinez — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:43:49 +0000

"Baby Ficus Bonsai is banned from all future competitions after admitting the use of performance enhancing wire."

Despite this shocking revelation there are still some exceptional bonsai gracing today’s catwalk displays. Allow yourself 9 minutes to relax and enjoy the spring show. The fashion is dazzling and opens with three Dwarf Azalea sisters at the peak of their abilities. They are followed by twin Fuji Cherry models – each survivors of near catastrophic separations at birth!

A couple of aging elite bonsai models then take the applause by showing off their curves – well done Lucinda Larch. With the crowds in raptures, sudden and unexpected complaints are received from the Forsythia camp, when she notices that the youngest entrant – a baby Ficus – is clearly using performance enhancing 1mm wire. An instant lifetime ban follows with further threats that fertiliser will be tested…

Thankfully, the bonsai display is saved by the late entry of Zita the Chinese Elm and her cousin, Twin-Trunk Maple – surely stars of the future?

Several other complaints have been lodged after enquiries suggest some ‘insider trading’ has unfairly advantaged many of the bonsai dress choices. The designer of the costumes – Dawn Isaac ( of deiCeramics), has been unavailable for comment. More information on this uncertain situation may be found on her website: deiceramics.co.uk

It is also worth noting that this is the first competition allowing both disability and LGBTQ+ bonsai to compete on an equal rooting. Definitely a step forward for diversity :()

I hope you enjoyed this light hearted approach to showing my bonsai in bloom. Regular informative videos are being uploaded to YouTube so please subscribe and keep on watching…

Happy Bonsaiing

Xav

Developing my Ficus and Jade Bonsai

Xavier Martinez — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 13:35:36 +0000

Happy New Year from Expressions of Grace Bonsai. I pray that your Christmas celebrations find you all rejuvenated and ready to dig deeply into bonsai for 2022! January is always challenging because it is the only month when I truly do nothing to my trees. Instead, I spend the time reviewing my website and bonsai database. I was very lucky that my daughter developed a very detailed Access database that has all manner of ‘drop downs’ and reminders…

This year I finally intend to upload lots of bonsai pictures into a gallery/shop section. I have thought about internet sales through Woo Commerce but I am not set up with appropriate banking and I don’t like the idea of posting. I do intend to encourage more visits to my private nursery where I will be more than happy to sell direct and chat lots

Wiring out my Ficus retusa

During the first few weeks of December I spent time reviewing my Tigerbark Ficus. I obtained the two pictured above in 2017 from Savin Nurseries and have been slowly developing the secondary branch structure. They are pretty easy to work with but can be problematic when dealing with pests. Mine get regularly infested with aphids that secrete a clear sticky substance that then ‘drips’ onto surfaces!

This year I decided it was time to do some major branch wiring which has finally allowed me to spread the growth out and maximise air and light circulation. It has also made it easier for me to see the pesky critters before hitting them with the spray! If you zoom into the images you will hopefully see that all branches have been wired – many hours of work

During late 2017 I planted about a dozen cuttings taken from my biggest tree. These were left to grow for 2 years and then wire applied to provide some trunk movement. Last year I pruned them back and continued to wire out promising branches. They all stand around 10″ and look to become great bonsai for the future.

Ficus are very easy to grow from cuttings and do not need rooting hormone. Just take the extra few minutes to plant some of your bigger pruning scraps and you will be rewarded. All of these are available for purchase – just drop me an email.

Needless to say I planted another batch of cuttings in 2019 which all appear to be thriving as well

Fun with Jade

I purchased my first Jade in 2016 and it forms the backbone for this forest planting. It is the largest tree to the rear left and is also the parent to several of the smaller plants. Jade is the easiest indoor plant to care for and cuttings develop from a single leaf.

This is planted in a 320 x 200 cm chinese ceramic and stands around about 40cm high.

As with the Ficus, I have taken cuttings regularly. Jade can be a little more challenging to style and I have found it best to let them run wild for a year before pruning them heavily back. They bud as ‘pairs’ from the cut site so you can ‘plan’ how it should develop.

Jade can be wired and I happily apply movement to any of the more juvenile growth. It is a slow process, but again, well worth the work.

That’s about all for now but please accept notifications to ensure you are alerted when I do any new posts. My next effort is a ‘catch-up’ on the autumnal pruning and wiring work I carried out on my Maples and Hornbeams last November.

Happy bonsaiing