Repotting and Thinning Mature Ficus and Jades: Steps for Maintenance of Historic Bonsai

Source material: August 2020

            Recently, I randomly ran into someone who inherited some historic bonsai trees that I had previously been caring for alongside the former owner. Mrs. E had 3 different indoor bonsai - a Ficus benjamina dwarf variety, a Ficus macrocarpa, and a jade (Crassula ovata) grove - all 20-30 years old or more. While Mrs. E had an excellent garden and a proven track record for the maintenance watering and care of these trees, she did not have the nuanced experience in bonsai for more serious operations such as repotting and styling. This is why I and other Columbus Bonsai Society members before me were asked to come help her every few years to keep the trees healthy and not let them get too unshapely. She was my first bonsai client when I moved back to Columbus. Normally Mrs. E sat out with me, and we'd chat while I was doing the bonsai work. In this article you can see the before and after from their repotting when I first met her and these trees.

            In Part 2 next week, I will share an "Open Letter to First Time Bonsai Owners" which is adapted from the email I sent to the new owners of these trees. My goal was to provide the essential points needed to keep the trees happy and healthy and to assess their needs for a novice bonsai artist especially for dealing with precious older trees as your first foray into bonsai.

Sections:

1. Repotting of Historic, Mature Tropical Ficus and Jade Bonsai (this week)
1. Ficus benjamina
2. Ficus macrocarpa
3. Crassula ovata, aka Jade
2. Open Letter to First Time Bonsai Owners (next week)
1. How to assess a bonsai's immediate care needs
2. More recent pictures from pruning these historic Ficus bonsai.

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• April 12, 2025 - 4TH Annual Columbus Bonsai Society INVASIVE Alliance / Yamadori Study Group Dig. I am organizing this free event for the 4th year in a row. As I have written about previously, come out and learn your native vs invasive plant ID, get some advice on digging trees and getting them to live, and on turning our home-grown species from wild bonsai/yamadori into successful bonsai. RSVP here by 4/11.
• April 27, 2025 - Columbus Bonsai Society Monthly meeting on Techniques for All Stages of Deciduous Development. I will be leading the discussion and presentation. All members are encouraged to bring one or more deciduous tree and think ahead on what techniques or next steps you think that tree needs for this growing season. Facebook event here.
• May 03, 2025 - Bonsai and Coffee. Intro to Indoor Bonsai Workshop at Casa Cacao Cafe in Columbus, OH hosted by yours truly. Sign up here.

After repotting and pruning on these historic, mature ficus bonsai.

What's in a Grow Tent? The Science and Tools Behind Keeping Indoor Bonsai Healthy

Source material: November 21, 2021

        While we're on the subject of my latest Youtube ventures such as the Todd Schlafer demonstration I posted on the Columbus Bonsai Society's new Youtube channel last week, I wanted to also take a moment to share another recording from a recent CBS Meeting. Last November while the final few deciduous leaves were falling in Ohio and the first nightly frosts were appearing, CBS held a meeting focused on preparing trees for winter. One of our seasoned members lectured on how to protect outdoor bonsai over winter and I volunteered to present on preparing an indoor space for your tropical bonsai over winter. Given my background in academia and in science, my lecture focused on the biology of tropical trees, the physical aspects of tropical environments compared to the conditions inside typical homes, and how we can improve those conditions to help our trees grow better. Although many parts of the northern hemisphere are already exiting winter, for many apartment-dwelling bonsai hobbyists or those who otherwise are only focused on indoor growing, this lecture will be relevant at any time of year. A tree growing indoors on a windowsill will simply never grow at its full potential unless we supplement things like light, humidity, airflow, and warmth. You can watch the full lecture below to learn more about how you can improve the health of your indoor bonsai and develop them faster. I'll include some additional details at the end of the article including the exact products I've used in the past just to give you an idea of the possibilities.

Sections

1. Full Lecture - Time-Saving Tools for Growing Tropical Bonsai Indoors
2. Supplies to Improve Indoor Growing
1. My starter supplies:
2. My current supplies with grow tent:
3. Current setup with pictures:
3. Blog Announcements

Apparently, I'M in a grow tent! But seriously, read on to see what type of lights I've been using. This picture is from when I first got my grow tent in the fall of 2020. I have definitely noticed it helped my tropical trees stay happier in winter.