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Sensei-in-Training (Very)
Join Date: Jun-2006
Location: Baltimore
Country: USA
Posts: 559
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Amanning,
Yep, ficus microcarpa (as the rest of the world already told you). I'm caring for/working on one that was given to my daughter and her husband as a wedding present last October. Sounds like you're doing the research you need to be doing. I'll just offer a few tidbits based on my rather limited experience.
First, it's good that you removed the rocks. I would guess that it's not potted in bonsai soil at the moment, so you'll want to repot it. You can buy premixed soil from a bonsai supplier or you can mix some yourself from appropriate components. You can probably safely repot it now, but given the state it appears to be in I wouldn't root prune it unless absolutely necessary. (Someone with more experience can snarl at me if I'm wrong about any of that.)
Second, it seems that these trees will drop leaves rather readily when they're not entirely happy, but it doesn't necessarily mean you need to be too alarmed. With proper watering and sufficient light, it should bounce back. Actually, these trees seem to tolerate lower light levels pretty well, at least if they are reasonably healthy, but more light will do them good.
Third, the broken branch may mend itself. I did a preliminary styling on mine this past weekend and broke a branch I really wanted to keep. I used cut paste to hold it together and so far it seems to have survived. I've never tied using a twist tie for the purpose, but the main thing is that the break is closed up and held in place, so it probably will work about as well as anything else. (A guy in my club swears by glue. Most people laugh when he suggests it, but he says it works great.)
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