bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - First timer with a Ficus Retusa

FYI - I've seen similar size & shaped retusa's like yours go for 250-300$ here. So price wise I think you did well. The age of the tree is probably 10-15 years old as it is a bunch of smaller trees fused together. Age is usually a guess and is less important than how old it looks.

It is autumn now so don't worry about repotting till spring- while it's true that tropicals can be reppoted any time of the year, doing it now will stress the tree. It would survive but could lose branches. Read alot over the fall/winter learn more and you'll be ready to repot in the spring. Plus it will give you time to find a new pot to repot it into.

I would get it closer to a window (no less than a foot)- The growth you're getting now may be just residual energy. Plus more light will keep the internodes shorter and the tree will keep its lush appearance.

Forget the moss- moss is only put on trees when they are being shown or for pictures. You'll never get moss to grow inside. And could harm the tree trying to keep the moss moist.

The reason a tree shaped like this is always a good buy is they don't fit the puriest standards and lean more towards penjing being more whimsical and less natural. However this tree has a great lower half or you can just enjoy it as is. I have plenty of trees that are unusal and would never make into a traditional show. But I enjoy them.

Enjoy the tree- you're not letting it down- you asked the right questions and choose a great species to start bonsai with. BTW- It was years before I spent that much on a tree- good job jumping right in. After 8 years my most expensive tree I paid $170 for (and it is a bursera fagaroides which is a species I enjoy, but you never see in shows).

25-Sep-2007	#5
STA4 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Aug-2003 Location: Milwaukee Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 21	FYI - I've seen similar size & shaped retusa's like yours go for 250-300$ here. So price wise I think you did well. The age of the tree is probably 10-15 years old as it is a bunch of smaller trees fused together. Age is usually a guess and is less important than how old it looks. It is autumn now so don't worry about repotting till spring- while it's true that tropicals can be reppoted any time of the year, doing it now will stress the tree. It would survive but could lose branches. Read alot over the fall/winter learn more and you'll be ready to repot in the spring. Plus it will give you time to find a new pot to repot it into. I would get it closer to a window (no less than a foot)- The growth you're getting now may be just residual energy. Plus more light will keep the internodes shorter and the tree will keep its lush appearance. Forget the moss- moss is only put on trees when they are being shown or for pictures. You'll never get moss to grow inside. And could harm the tree trying to keep the moss moist. The reason a tree shaped like this is always a good buy is they don't fit the puriest standards and lean more towards penjing being more whimsical and less natural. However this tree has a great lower half or you can just enjoy it as is. I have plenty of trees that are unusal and would never make into a traditional show. But I enjoy them. Enjoy the tree- you're not letting it down- you asked the right questions and choose a great species to start bonsai with. BTW- It was years before I spent that much on a tree- good job jumping right in. After 8 years my most expensive tree I paid $170 for (and it is a bursera fagaroides which is a species I enjoy, but you never see in shows).