Hi,
I am really beginner of beginners and I need some advice how to prune (actually I think how to save) my bonsai. It is "Ficus microcarpa ginseng" or at least this is written on the pot. Please help!

I woudl focus on getting this healthy. Currently it is only marginally healthy. After you get decent growth (10-20cm of growth in a few weeks) you can think about pruning. At that point, prune to shape. TO be honest, this plant is really a little removed from bonsai as typically discussed on the forum.

leatherback wrote: TO be honest, this plant is really a little removed from bonsai as typically discussed on the forum.

I would chop it down to the middle of the fat root and treat it as a cutting to make a better tree.
A friend of mine located in the border of Netherlands/Germany just did that with a much more difficult tree.
If done correctly, it will survive.

Clicio wrote: I would chop it down to the middle of the fat root and treat it as a cutting to make a better tree.
A friend of mine located in the border of Netherlands/Germany just did that with a much more difficult tree.
If done correctly, it will survive.

True. But "if done correctly" would include getting it healthy first.

Do you mean that I have to cut where is the YELLOW line? or maybe the RED one?

NaTo wrote: Do you mean that I have to cut where is the YELLOW line? or maybe the RED one?

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What I think Clicio meant is cutting it, but keeping the top, not the bottom.

The advise given is very unrealistic. This is not a bonsai and not even good bonsai material - and you have no bonsai experience. So, this will not become a bonsai.

Don't cut it. Just do as LB said, get it healthy, and treat it as what it is: a house plant. Once healthy, just prune it a bit when the branches get too long to keep its shape.

Auk wrote:

NaTo wrote: Do you mean that I have to cut where is the YELLOW line? or maybe the RED one?

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What I think Clicio meant is cutting it, but keeping the top, not the bottom.

Exactly, that's what I meant.