Ficus benjamina, or weeping fig, is notorious for dropping its leaves, and it's typically easy to grow — until you move it. Please have a browse of some more articles. When you do this you will then have to chop off some relatively thick branches to get it back into bonsai shape (It feels hard to make this decision but has to be done). Ficus Retusa, also called Cuban Laurel, is a common bonsai variety that can also be found in a larger potted form. Ficus are one of the most popular and easy to care for indoor Bonsai. A mix of 3 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite, and 1 part compost will keep the soil well-drained while also retaining water for your ficus. Choose a growing location that receives full to partial sunlight with a temperature above 55 degrees F. Keep the plant away from drafts or areas with temperature fluctuations. Only fertilize Ficus retusa during the winter months when it appears weak or pale. Keep it in a sunny, warm location with consistent moisture. Ficus Indoor Bonsai Tree care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in animal science and business from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Garden Care By Ruth de Jauregui The Moraceae, or ficus, family is a large group with more than 500 species of tropical trees, shrubs and vines. : Ficus Panda (Ficus Retusa) performs well when kept in presence of Bright indirect or filtered light or even medium light. If you create or live in a hot environment for your bonsai it will obviously dry out quicker than if you create or live in a cooler environment. Care Instructions - Ficus Ginseng . Jennifer Loucks has been writing since 1998. This ficus ginseng despite being an easy plant to grow does need a little care. If you don’t have a bonsai yet you should definitely buy one as it is an amazing and satisfying hobby to have. Banyan fig - with proper care, your ficus retusa bonsai will remain healthy, beautiful and miniature for many years to come, since your bonsai is a living miniature tree, it will increase in beauty as it matures throughout the years, the instructions below are just the basics and, therefore, we recommend that you purchase one of the many fine books available on the subject of bonsai tree care Ginseng ficus naturally grows in warm, moist climates. Bonsai trees don’t like their soil to completely dry out yet at the same time they don’t like the soil to be completely soaking all the time so it is a balancing act. By doing any major pruning work in the spring it will mean your bonsai will be going through its recovery from the pruning during the summer which is the peak growing time and this should result in a nice and healthy bonsai that produces fresh growth after you prune it. It looks terrific and requires minimal care when compared to other Bonsai, which can be quite difficult to maintain. Avoid letting the fertilizer make contact with the stem or leaves to prevent burning the tissue. Ficus retusa is a rapidly growing, rounded, broad-headed, evergreen shrub or tree that can reach 10 metres (33 ft) in height with an equal spread. It has beautiful bark which makes for a great looking trunk. There’s ficus microcarpa, often confused with one of its similar-looking cousins, ficus retusa. Ficus Bonsai Trees are mainly tropical plants growing throughout south-eastern Asia. How often should you water your ficus retusa bonsai? To confirm your ficus retusa bonsai needs to be watered you should stick your finger in the soil and if it is dry for more than the top centimeter it’s time to give it some water. A healthy ficus tree will not see these problems, but a stressed ficus tree (likely losing leaves) will surely develop a pest problem quickly. Scales are hard-shelled insects that chew on the stem and leaves. Small leaves make it easy to shape to look like a full-sized tree. Pruning the roots by one-third their size allows you to repot the tree in the same container to keep the small bonsai shape. Reduce the water applications in the fall and winter months by applying water only once the soil becomes slightly dry to prevent over-saturation that promotes root rot. Unfortunately, the common ficus bonsais are a bit of a taxonomical mess. Give the Ficus retusa enough water to keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet, during the spring and summer months. When root rot sets in you will notice your bonsai starting to wither and it will start to drop its leaves.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',117,'0','0'])); To solve overwatering leaf drop you should repot your bonsai in fresh soil that has better drainage and cut back on watering. Description. If your ficus is losing its leaves, go through the checklist of proper ficus tree care and correct anything that you find wrong. Also, it’s not simply a case of giving it fertilizer once or twice per year as you may do on a lawn, you will have to give it pretty constant fertilizer on a regular basis throughout the year. For your tree to be affected by root rot it’s not a case of overwatering it once or twice but actually overwatering it for a period of months. Ficus retusa thrives particularly well indoors when the temperature stays from 60 to 75°F (15 to 25°C). Closely related to the common Fig tree, this non-native tree gained popularity because of its multi-season interest as an evergreen tree with versatile uses. You should do any major pruning during spring but this is not the only time to prune your bonsai. Last Lawn Cut Before Winter [Best Time, Best Height], Complete Growing Guides, Grow Fruit Indoors, Ultimate Aerogarden vs Click And Grow Comparison Review, What To Do After Lawn Aeration To Achieve The Best Results, Ficus Retusa Bonsai For Sale + Care Guide. If you want more light: check out my article on the best cheap grow lights. There are up to 2,000 species of Ficus, but the most commonly used Ficus for bonsai trees are the Ficus ginseng and the Ficus retusa. She previously worked as a technical writer for a software development company, creating software documentation, help documents and training curriculum. Depending on the type of fertilizer you choose you are going to have to apply it as per the instructions but you may end up having to apply fertilizer every week to keep your bonsai nice and healthy. Ficus retusa is highly valued for its great strength and adaptability. That way, the plant will continue to grow evenly. This is fairly easy on a ficus retusa because the branches are pretty flexible. The bark of this tree is a reddish to grey color and it has horizontal markings on it which make it appear kind of like a tigers markings. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-box-4','ezslot_1',122,'0','0']));How often you need to water your ficus retusa bonsai depends mostly on your local climate or the temperature you keep your house at. It is an excellent tree for beginners and pros alike. When you are choosing the best fertilizer for your ficus retusa bonsai tree there are lots of different products you could choose. Ficus Retusa bonsai are able to tolerate full sun so if you want to keep your bonsai in a south-facing window or even move it outside during the summer months then go for it your bonsai will be fine. If you have a ficus tree that you move from a patio to the indoors, or vice versa, you may have noticed leaf drop. check out my article on the best cheap grow lights. It's a good idea to rotate your ficus a quarter turn or so at least weekly, so different parts of the plant face the light from the window. If there are branches that are growing upwards or at the wrong angle and you don’t want to chop them off then you should use wire to guide them to your preferred angle. Different than the Ficus Benjamin, the Ginseng Ficus will have two or more thick exposed aerial roots that appear to look more like tree trunks than a typical root. Like other cultivars of this species, it grows somewhat faster and is easier to care for than other bonsai species, making it great for first-timers. Beginners or experts can create stunning bonsai with this tree. First, find a good place for your tree. Ficus Retusa - ST2016FR; Ficus Retusa - ST2016FR. It requires a lot of light, preferably full … If you have an indoor ficus retusa bonsai tree then it should not lose its leaves during the winter. The species name has been widely mis-applied to Ficus microcarpa.. Ficus are also prone to pests such as mealybugs, scale and spider mites. There are many general-purpose fertilizers that will work just fine on bonsai and you could choose one of them. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com Amazon.ca & Amazon.co.uk as an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases. Check out my full article on the best fertilizers for bonsai. Ficus bonsai don’t need to be in the full blazing and direct sun for many hours every day to survive, the main thing is that it gets enough light which can be acquired by keeping it in a bright room. Prune during the winter months when the tree isn't actively growing to reduce plant stress. Ficus indoor bonsai tree care involves getting the location, watering, pruning and feeding right, aiding the successful growing of these popular bonsai trees. Ficus trees have been widely used in Southern California landscaping and as street trees for the past several decades. Repot the Ficus retusa every two to three years to refresh the growing medium. The main tool you have to shape your ficus retusa bonsai is how you prune it. I hope you have found some useful information in my ficus retusa bonsai for sale article. Clip off up to four leaves at a time once at least 10 have grown on the branch. GINSENG FICUS (Ficus Retusa) Native to Malaysia, Taiwan and other Southeast and East Asian countries, the Ginseng Ficus is an excellent choice for bonsai tree growers. The glossy, small, dark-green, leathery leaves, which alternate up the stem, are … In fact, the seemingly simple and harmless act of moving it from one corner of the room to the next, or even a few feet for that matter, may cause it to lose its leaves. Ficus retusa is a species of evergreen woody plant in the fig genus, native to the Malay Archipelago and Malesia floristic region. Ficus trees grow in all tropical regions and are ideal for growing indoors. BONSAI BOY OF NEW YORK bonsaiboy.com . Bring the plant inside when the temperature drops below 55 degrees to prevent stunting growth or killing the tree. You will probably notice fresh shoots and branches that spurt out at certain times of the year that ruin the look of your delicately crafted bonsai, chop them off if you really want to. Do you need to use fertilizer on your ficus retusa bonsai? Virtually care free; they tolerate low light and humidity of a heated or air-conditioned house. Insecticide is ineffective on scales due to their hard outer shell. But Ficus Dull (Ficus retusa) does not stand out with something special in appearance and, nevertheless, it is very beautiful as a home flower. Ficus Retusa Bonsai For Sale + Care Guide Share and help your friends grow The ficus retusa bonsai is an excellent choice if you are a beginner to indoor bonsai trees and also a great choice if you are already an expert at bonsai and that’s why I have made this ficus retusa bonsai for sale … Ginseng Ficus, also called Ficus microcarpa, Ficus retusa, and banyan fig, is not the medicinal ginseng plant but a type of fig.You will be pleasantly surprised to find that a Ginseng Ficus bonsai tree is not only great looking but extremely easy to care for. This website is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Leaf Drop: This is the most common problem people experience with their ficus tree. In addition, the emission of aerial roots give it a special character. Some leaves dropping off is what naturally happens to trees but your indoor bonsai should not drop all of its leaves and if you think your bonsai is heading in that direction then you have a problem. Although it is easy to care for, Ficus ginseng does nonetheless require a little care to give it all the chances it needs to survive over a long period and in proper growing conditions. When you underwater your bonsai and the roots dry out the leaves will start to fall off, unlike overwatering this may only take a couple of days of being dry for the leaves to start falling off. Spring is definitely the best time to prune your ficus retusa bonsai tree. It can be kept outside in the summer as long as temperatures are above 60°F (15°C). 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