I've read a lot of posts, read what I could about soil (I plan on getting a "kitty litter" soil), about watering and how over watering is about as bad as letting it not get any water. I'm trying to learn the basics before I start trying to form an actual bonsai. Right now I have a "mallsai" - as a matter of fact, I didn't even expect to get one. Here's my story, then some questions afterwards, you can ignore me for the most part as I'm long winded though. I'll clearly mark where my questions are below so that you can skip my long winded story.
I told my fiancee I always wanted to get a bonsai, or more accurately, learn how to grow a bonsai, as I've always been told that it can be very calming to work with because of the time required to "see" the tree, form the tree, care for the tree, etc. As far as tree types that I want? I always wanted a juniper I guess, those are the ones I usually see being called "bonsai". Well, what I ended up with was a Ficus "ginseng" (Banyan). Not very big at all (maybe 10-12 inches tall). It was purchased from Walmart (for those who somehow do not know what that is, its a department store). Much to my dismay the plant's soil was covered in a layer of rock that was glued together. Even before I read information about bonsai I knew this could not be healthy, so I got some tools to carefully remove the rock, washed it, rinsed it, and then broke it all up so that it was looser than before. I put it back on top simply because, well, quite frankly - the dark soil beneath is ugly. The rocks on top I would think (well, hope) won't hurt anything as they're more decorative now, and should easily allow for the passage of water.
I don't have the ability to take a picture of it, but its got some decent growth, but there is definitely room for improvement, especially considering what I've seen so far.
Like I said, I'm not going to attempt pruning, shaping, wiring or anything else until I get the basics of keeping it alive down. After all, I would imagine that is probably the hardest part. After you can care for them, shaping them into works of art is all about taking the time to find the right specimen and then the time to cultivate it into the work of art you saw when you first picked it up.
I hope this tree doesn't die, mostly because I hope that a good first experience will keep me going until I can learn how to do even better.
Now, for questions!
Told you' I'd make it obvious, lol - ok, here are a few of my questions I have.
A) Is the Diatomaceous Earth that I'm planning on using really as good as I hear? Since I plan on being 100% inorganic is it then pretty much absolutely required to use fertilizer w/ the water and/or pellets?
B) As stated, it was from walmart. With rocks being glued above it. The label on the side says its from Florida. It is now spring here. There are quite a few leaves on the tree. Should I let the soil be or should I repot it? I know it would be tricky being new and all, but it didn't seem like the soil was of the highest quality when I pulled the rocks from it, and I'm worried that if left until next spring I won't have a tree.
C) I have a florescent light bulb in my desk lamp that is shining straight onto it from about 6 inches away, I don't really have any windows that it can be put in right now (they'll all have AC in them in about a month or my cats will knock the plant from the window and/or I'll forget about it
) - Will this work for the plant I have for now until I can find a suitable window?
D) Just general advice. I know there is a lot on the forum, and I'm reading through it. But any advice that you can give in the forms of clear "do's or do not's" would be great, as I would prefer to get told now that something is a stupid idea instead of having my tree die and reading why later.
At any rate, thanks for listening to my ridiculously long post.