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.

4 Tips to Pick the Right Species for Your First/Next Bonsai

            How can you learn to keep a bonsai alive to enjoy for generations to come? There's no magic, really, but there are a few bonsai tricks to learn. Some basic skills serve you well when growing any type of plant, but the first thing you should think about is how to pick a plant that can tolerate the conditions you will provide it. I'll share 4 tips here to help you get started for those thinking about entering bonsai or thinking about trying to add new species to your collection, but if you're in Columbus, Ohio, check out my upcoming beginner workshop where you can get your bonsai journey off on a running start! 

In Vivo / Central Ohio Bonsai Announcements:

1. My next beginner indoor bonsai workshop is on Saturday 2/24 at Nocterra Brewing. Full details can be found on Eventbrite! Briefly, we will cover all the basics of caring for indoor bonsai, and basic techniques for bonsai maintenance such as how to prune, wire, and repot to create the miniature tree look. All workshop participants will be gifted 1-year memberships to the Columbus Bonsai Society and the Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society - A $55 value! The total price for the workshop is $56 and also includes prebonsai trees and locally made pots for you to take home after our work and a drink from our gracious host.
2. I now sell pots! I received a special shipment to sell on behalf of Blue Nose Trading. See the pieces of her work I have available here or schedule an appointment to visit my nursery in Columbus, OH via the contact form here. These are mainly for local pickup/delivery only.
3. The Bonsai Time Podcast has moved! While I am still heavily involved in producing that podcast, the show notes for it now lives on its own website, its own YouTube channel, and it now has its own TikTok account.

The pots were made by the same person who took pictures of a beginner class we taught together last year - Mark Passerrello of Ancient Art Bonsai. Mark was featured in Bonsai Time Podcast Episode 08.

Repotting Scenarios for a Shohin Privet and Intro to Bonsai Soil

Source Material: March 02, 2023

             Welcome back bonsai enthusiasts, today I share a short article focused on a recent repot which illustrates some larger questions we must ask for our trees to look their best. Where should I position my tree in the pot? To the center? To the left? To the right? How do I want the nebari/root flare to look given the options the tree provides? Read on for a closer look at the unique challenges and character of this tree, think through what you would have done if it was your tree, and feel free to share those ideas in the comments below.

Sections:

1. Reviewing Repotting Basics
1. Previous Posts on Repotting
2. Intro to Bonsai Soil
3. An Akadama Substitute?
2. History of the Tree
3. Nebari Decisions
4. Planting Position - What Fits Best?
5. Final Result
6. Announcements

The final product of our repot. March 2023. The pot is from Ancient Art Bonsai by Mark Passerrello.